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N.D. (AP) – Gov. Doug Burgum is calling on lawmakers to control spending with the state facing “revenue uncertainty.”

The new Republican governor gave his State of the State speech to a joint session of the North Dakota Legislature on Tuesday, as lawmakers began their 2017 session.

The budget will be a major topic during the session, with the state experiencing a sharp downturn in tax revenues due to prolonged slumps in oil and agriculture prices.

Burgum has signaled deeper cuts to state government than former Gov. Jack Dalrymple proposed last month, but he hasn’t offered a budgetary starting point yet. He’s said he’ll unveil a spending plan later this month.

The session is likely to run through late April. Photo by  Danielle Webster.