Border City Competition

 

The Problem

You do not need the Red River to define the border between Fargo and Moorhead. The high taxes and regulations imposed on us by the state have seen to crafting a tragic divide for all of us to see. Downtown Moorhead is being punished by these policies. We are in direct competition with Fargo and the state of North Dakota and the state has not done enough for Moorhead to break away from the shadow cast by Fargo. Individuals are just as overtaxed as our businesses. People deserve to keep more of what they have already earned so they have a greater ability to provide for themselves and their families!

 

The Solution

Being as we are in such close competition with North Dakota, one of the most commerce friendly states, it only makes sense to bring Minnesota’s taxes and regulations to a level that doesn’t leave us in the dust. We need to be competitive!

 

– We need to broaden the tax base and eliminate the corporate income tax to stop hurting downtown and consumers. Income tax rates should be cut for everybody to mirror North Dakota’s. It’s your money!

 

– We must cut the regulations that discourage businesses from setting up shop in Moorhead and make doing business here so expensive. For every regulation the legislature passes, we should be cutting two!

 

– The Border-Cities Enterprise Zone Program should be reformed into a Renaissance Zone. The current program far to limited in scope and complicates the tax system unnecessarily. With the Renaissance Zone Program, we will encourage development and investment throughout Moorhead.

Education

 

The Problem

Education has always been a point of pride for Minnesota and Moorhead especially. In this interconnected world, Moorhead and Minnesota are now competing on a global scale and current education policy just isn’t cutting it. The achievement gap between our students and those of the world needs to be closed but the state’s one-size-fits-all policy has only seen it grow. College tuition is also seemingly always on the rise, leading to fewer people who want to attend our universities from doing so and leaving those who are able with a mountain of debt.

 

The Solution

Students of very level are always a worthwhile investment and it is incumbent upon us to ensure they receive the best education possible. A variety of educational alternatives must continue to exist in our community and our state in order to give the next generation of students a competitive advantage.

 

– Different students learn in different ways so we must expand options for these students so that they receive the education that as best for them as determined by them and their parents, not the government. Charter and private schools should be at education’s core as they consistently outperform government schools.

 

– A voucher program should be introduced in support of alternative education so that underprivileged and minority children in Moorhead and Minnesota have a better chance receiving a quality education from these institutions.

 

– A tuition freeze should continue to be implemented on the entirety of the Minnesota University System so that more students who want to attend universities in Moorhead and throughout the state are able. What better way to stop constantly rising tuition rates than to simply say so?

 

-We need to stop pushing all students into a four-year college program. While there is nothing wrong with a college education and it is a very viable option for many, we need to encourage students to enter the trades and encourage students to look at technical schools and trade schools.

Healthcare

 

The Problem

Healthcare in Minnesota is in a state of crisis. The individual market has collapsed and rising costs are still plaguing Minnesotans despite the legislature’s best efforts. The unique thing about our healthcare issue is that it is entirely the fault of the federal government and the Affordable Care Act. Minnesota has fallen victim to federal regulations but that doesn’t mean we are stuck in this position.

 

The Solution

Despite this being a federal problem, there are still some tools available to the state in order to provide some relief to those who are losing significant amounts of their paychecks to healthcare costs. Minnesota was once a leader in healthcare among all of the states and, with the correct measures in place, we can experience a return to form.

 

– Thanks to the Republican controlled legislature, Minnesota now has more control over its health insurance markets than many states. We are knocking down barriers the federal government built from the inside and must continue to do so!

 

– Under the “Affordable” Care Act, it is possible to expand the current marketplace for health insurance for all Minnesotans through an Interstate Health Insurance Compact. Such a compact would allow people to buy insurance plans across state lines and help drive down costs.

 

Government Spending

 

The Problem

When it comes to fiscal matters, Minnesota has performed rather well over the years with regards to its budget. At one point we had more than $1.3 billion in surplus dollars. Now, that figure is closer to $350 million which may appear grim but, in reality it’s a very good thing. The unfortunate reality is how we got to the $1.3 billion mark. Governor Dayton’s massive tax hikes produced a surplus, but it also forced commerce and people alike to flee the state. The legislature has reduced some of those taxes since Republicans gained control, thus reducing the surplus, but increased spending is draining it far quicker than it should be.

 

The Solution

The government’s balance sheet should always equal $0. No surplus and no deficit. If you have a surplus, to much money was taken from the people. If you have a deficit, it isn’t that you didn’t tax the people enough, rather, it’s that you outspent your means. This is a non-partisan issue, in that both parties have a tendency to overspend when in control, but that can and must be prevented.

 

– The biggest thing we can do to curtail government overspending is through a spending freeze. The amount of money the state government would be allowed to spend would be capped at the budget set for the 2018-2019 biennium and last for 6 years.

 

– We must emphasize the prioritization of government funds, rather than throwing more money at every issue that comes along. The government should be forced to make choices when it comes to the budget like everyday Minnesotans have to.