ND legislators could find lodging hard to find

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Many state legislators could find it difficult to find lodging for the 2013 Legislature.

The Bismarck Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/TqNOo1 ) that the rental vacancy rate in the Bismarck-Mandan area is about 1 percent. The booming western oil patch is a big reason.

Bismarck Rep. Mark Dosch owns a local hotel, and estimates that about 80 percent of out-of-town lawmakers book hotel rooms during legislative sessions. He says it could be the worst year ever for booking hotel rooms. He says another problem is that lawmakers get about $45 per day for lodging, and the average nightly rate for a Bismarck hotel room is $78.

The 2013 session starts in January and will run until late April.

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Information from: Bismarck Tribune, http://www.bismarcktribune.com

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