By Donnell Preskey, Assistant News Director - email
North Dakota lawmakers are being pressured to send a larger portion of the state's surplus to oil country.
Representative Kenton Onstad of Parshall is pitching his plan to return 80 percent of the revenues from North Dakota's oil production tax to where the oil was produced.
The bold plan sends $2 billion to those areas.
The significant increase is a one-time allowance for only two years.
Onstad says it allows cities, counties and townships to "catch up".
He says the current level of funding is just allowing for oil impacted areas to maintain.
<< (Rep. Kenton Onstad / (D) Parshall) "Votes for milly levy and bond levy increases don't all pass. The people say they won't vote for that because "I didn't cause the problem. Don't raise my taxes because I wasn't part of it." So they point their fingers back at the state."
(Ron Ness / Pres. ND Petroleum Council) "The operators are pouring tens of millions of dollars into maintaining county and township roads. The cost of the Bakken are extremely high. And I'm here to tell you that is not going to continue. We pay that gross production tax. That is intended to go back to those communities and I think the people in those areas deserve this money.">>
Onstad says currently, 11% of the oil revenue comes back to oil producing counties.
Other oil producing states share a higher percentage with those impacted areas.
Colorado for example returns 68% of their oil revenue.
Saturday, May 18 2013 7:01 PM EDT2013-05-18 23:01:07 GMT
A local health care provider says if you're a child and you have to be in the hospital, your stay should be as fun as possible. "Take a big breath. Go. Good job." They're any hospital's smallest
A local health care provider says if you're a child and you have to be in the hospital, your stay should be as fun as possible. "Take a big breath. Go. Good job." They're any hospital's smallest
Saturday, May 18 2013 6:56 PM EDT2013-05-18 22:56:53 GMT
Everyday, around the world, there's a horse race somewhere. Now, a few local bar owners bring the excitement of live betting and today's Preakness to town. Newly-installed kiosks allowed customers
Everyday, around the world, there's a horse race somewhere. Now, a few local bar owners bring the excitement of live betting and today's Preakness to town. Newly-installed kiosks allowed customers
Saturday, May 18 2013 4:11 PM EDT2013-05-18 20:11:54 GMT
Bismarck police ask for your help investigating the whereabouts of a missing person. According to the Bismarck police department, 18-year-old John Swain has not been heard from since last Saturday (May
According to the Bismarck police department, 18-year-old John Swain has not been heard from since last Saturday (May 11th).
Friday, May 17 2013 7:39 PM EDT2013-05-17 23:39:54 GMT
School is just about out for the summer in Bismarck, but construction will continue to be in full swing, building three new schools. Tonight we check in on each school, to see how the progress is coming
School is just about out for the summer in Bismarck, but construction will continue to be in full swing, building three new schools.
Friday, May 17 2013 6:38 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:38:18 GMT
A full-blown construction boom is underway in Dickinson -- in this week's "Around Town." All the way from Newport News, Virginia, comes Ferguson -- a wholesale plumbing and HVAC supplier serving construction
A full-blown construction boom is underway in Dickinson -- in this week's "Around Town." All the way from Newport News, Virginia, comes Ferguson -- a wholesale plumbing and HVAC supplier serving construction
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David Ortiz homered twice and drove in six runs to torment his former team once again, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 12-5 victory at the Minnesota Twins last night. Scott Diamond gave up six runs on eight hits and walked...
A man who was arrested for burglary after he became trapped in the ventilation system in a Bismarck bar has been sentenced to more than a year in prison.
A man who was arrested for burglary after he became trapped in the ventilation system in a Bismarck bar has been sentenced to more than a year in prison.
Evangelist Franklin Graham prayed on a sidewalk outside the Pentagon Thursday after his invitation to a prayer service inside was withdrawn because of comments that insulted people of other religions. More>>