Grand Forks Democratic State Rep. Corey Mock says Republicans went “too far” this year by putting major policy decisions into a state government budget bill that was rejected Thursday by the State Supreme Court.
The court ruled unanimously that the Legislature stuffed the bill full of too many different subjects. They say that violated the state Constitution, which says bills may not embrace more than one subject.
The budget bill has long been used as a way for minor fixes and adjustments, but as Mock put it: “Generally speaking, this was the Legislature taking it too far.” Mock voted against the bill’s final version.
Republican House Majority Leader Mike Lefor disagreed, saying the bill wasn’t significantly different from how the Legislature has utilized it in past sessions.
A special session is expected to be held to work things out.
One new wrinkle: The state capitol is undergoing a major H-VAC upgrade that could play havoc with a special session.
The chambers currently have no heat or A-C… and officials say there won’t be heat if a session is held in October.
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AP