FARGO (KFGO) – Democratic Legislative leaders have laid out their vision for key investments in North Dakota during the November special session.
Sen. Tim Mathern of Fargo, the primary sponsor, and Rep. Alisa Mitskog from Wahpeton outlined the proposal for using the more than $1 billion the state received through the American Rescue Plan.
Mitskog says their goals include infrastructure and childcare. The measure would allocate $400 million to child care, $200 million for a direct assistance formula, providing $1,400 to licensed facilities for each child. Another $200 million would go to schools to build child care facilities on school property.
Another $100 million would go toward a paid family leave program, through Workforce Safety and Insurance. $25 million would go toward building a new women’s prison in Mandan, $75 million toward behavioral health, and $7 million to provide incentives for people to work for state and local public health units.
Republicans control both houses of the legislature and Democrats will likely have a difficult time getting their specific proposals approved.
The session, which will also cover legislative redistricting, convenes Nov. 8.
