Senate kills Northwood aid bill

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BISMARCK — The state Senate turned down a bill Monday that would have given Northwood, N.D., $1.5 million in state general funds.

Those who argued against the bill said Northwood has already received a lot of state and federal aid including from FEMA.

Sen. Dick Dever, R-Bismarck, said one of the reasons the bill came in was that the state has a surplus.

“What happens when another (tornado) comes along and we don’t have a surplus?” he asked.

Sen. Layton Freborg, R-Underwood, said Northwood’s other aid after the tornado has resulted in the school district getting a “new, $14 million school building for $3.5 million.”

But several senators argued for passage of the bill.

“The people of North Dakota have traditionally helped those who are in need,” said Sen. Carolyn Nelson, D-Fargo. She said it’s not the people of Northwood’s fault that they were struck by a tornado or that the land they had to purchase for a new school was expensive.

“It is not their fault that the (state) Fire and Tornado Fund told them that their insurance on their school was adequate,” she said, nor that the Hatton School District voted down a reorganization with Northwood.

The vote against the Senate Bill 1221 was 25-21. It had passed the House 89-4 last month.

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