ND Democratic lawmakers pleased with GOP gov

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota Democratic legislative

leaders say they're mostly pleased with Republican Gov. Jack

Dalrymple's State of the State speech on Tuesday.

State House Democratic leader Jerome Kelsh of Fullerton says

North Dakota is in good shape. Kelsh says legislative Democrats

will have differences with the Republican governor's agenda, but

Kelsh says they'll probably be minor.

Assistant Democratic Senate leader Mac Schneider says he wants

Dalrymple to support broadening eligibility requirements for a

state health insurance program for children of low-income families.

Schneider says Dalrymple should also emphasize state aid for

pre-kindergarten classes.

Dalrymple wants a new commission to examine how the state

provides aid to its public colleges. Assistant House Democratic

leader Lee Kaldor of Mayville says he's concerned about the

benchmarks a commission would use to determine whether aid is being

well spent.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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