A Democratic plan to raise North Dakota school aid by $195 million over two years was beaten in the state House, with majority Republicans arguing the proposal ignored flaws in the state's system for distributing education aid.

"This is an ill-conceived plan, throwing money at a problem, and thinking it's going to work. It doesn't," said Rep. David Monson, R-Osnabrock, the House assistant majority leader.

Rep. Lee Kaldor, D-Mayville, said the measure would allow schools to spend more improving their teacher salaries and class offerings, and to relieve pressure on property taxes.

"Ultimately, the same amount of dollars are going to be coming down the pike, and it's just a matter of who do you trust," Kaldor said. "We have an opportunity to extend to our school boards, who make these tough decisions, the opportunity to tell them, 'We trust you.'"

The measure was defeated Friday, 59-33, on a straight party-line vote.

Republicans have 61 seats to Democrats' 33. Two GOP House members were absent.

In the 2007 Legislature's debates about state aid to schools, the Legislature's majority Republicans have emphasized a plan that overhauls how the money is distributed while increasing state education spending by $80.5 million over two years.

The bill was crafted during the last year by an education commission, appointed by Gov. John Hoeven as part of an agreement to delay a lawsuit against the state's present education finance system. The measure, SB2200, is awaiting a Senate vote, and the House will review it afterward.