PIERRE - A comprehensive bipartisan economic development fund plan aimed at helping to recruit projects to South Dakota has survived an attempt by a Republican lawmaker to split the bill in five parts.

Rep. Stace Nelson of Fulton argued that the measure is full of pork and covers too many unrelated topics such as housing and workforce education. But lawmakers shot down his attempt to divide and then approved the bill 56-13.

Republicans and Democrats worked for the past two months to find a compromise to help level the playing field with other states that do a better job recruiting large projects.

House Republican Leader David Lust of Rapid City says the bill is one framework that addresses economic development, and the issues are intertwined, intermingled and interdependent.

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