My Point of View by Jennifer Vogt-Erickson
It is a joyous feeling when we’ve made it through another winter and the trees are spritzing out new leaves overhead. Living in Minnesota means we keep our snow shovels within reach, though, even when we’ve moved out our patio furniture. Why do so many people choose to live here despite some of the longest, harshest winters in the U.S.?
Minnesota is a state with natural beauty, abundant resources and high quality of life. It’s a state that invests in its children and protects its environment.
Minnesota puts people first.
Just 10 miles south of Albert Lea is a state that has chosen a different path. The voting patterns of people in this area match the political majority in Iowa rather than in Minnesota, and I think we should all evaluate the results of this natural experiment.
An overall indicator is population. One hundred years ago, Iowa had a slightly larger population than Minnesota. Today, Iowa’s population hasn’t grown much and is almost down to half of Minnesota’s population. Will Minnesota continue to grow and Iowa continue to stagnate?
What will be the impact of Iowa siphoning away money from public education toward private schools and Minnesota expanding its investments in public education?
What will be the impact of Iowa continuing to be a cheap labor state and Minnesota becoming a more worker friendly state? Iowa still uses the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour (which nobody can afford to live on) and is moving to...
Over the last year, beyond traditional healthcare and federal procurement matters, the government has pursued federal False Claims Act (FCA) investigations and enforcement across high-risk areas, i...