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Iowa state lawmaker proposes to buy 9 Minnesota counties

Iowa state lawmaker proposes to buy 9 Minnesota counties
IOWA鈥橲 NEWS LEADER. ALSO AT THE STATE HOUSE, ONE LAWMAKER WANTS TO EXPAND IOWA BY BUYING THESE NINE SOUTHERN MINNESOTA COUNTIES. WHO KNEW THEY WERE FOR SALE? IT鈥橲 FAR FROM A DONE DEAL, BUT IT鈥橲 ALREADY STIRRING UP CONVERSATION AT THE STATE HOUSE. 糖心vlog MARCUS MCINTOSH TELLS US ABOUT THE EFFORT. THERE IS A PROPOSAL HERE AT THE IOWA STATE HOUSE THAT HAS PEOPLE TALKING. IT INVOLVES BUYING PARTS OF MINNESOTA. IT鈥橲 A MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS STRATEGY FOR GROWING OUR STATE. REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR MIKE BUFFALO FROM ANKENY IS SPEARHEADING THIS EFFORT. THIS IS A MAP OF THE NINE COUNTIES. SENATOR BUFFALO IS FOCUSING ON COUNTIES HE SAYS WERE ORIGINALLY PART OF THE IOWA TERRITORY. SENATOR BUFFALO IS NOT WASTING ANY TIME. AND RIGHT NOW THERE鈥橲 A BILL IN DRAFTING IN THE IOWA HOUSE AND IN THE IOWA SENATE THAT WOULD ANNOUNCE OUR INTENT TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS TO PURCHASE THOSE COUNTIES. HE SAYS THE HOUSE, SENATE AND GOVERNOR WOULD ALL NEED TO SIGN OFF ON THE PROPOSAL TO BEGIN NEGOTIATING WITH MINNESOTA. THEN IT WILL GO TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO APPROVE THE NEW BORDER. IOWA HOUSE SPEAKER PAT GRASSLEY SAID MONDAY HE鈥橲 WILLING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSAL. I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION ANYTIME WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW IOWA, SOMETHING WE SHOULD AT LEAST ENGAGE IN. WE FOUND PEOPLE AT THE MERLE HAY MALL, INCLUDING CLARION NASH, WHO ARE NOT RACING TO MAKE A DECISION BUT, SAY BUYING MINNESOTA IS A SMART MOVE. I THINK GOOD THOUGHTS, BECAUSE WE NEED MORE ROOM TO EXPAND FOR AGRICULTURE. NOT EVERYONE THINKS BUYING NON SOUTHERN MINNESOTA COUNTIES IS THE BEST WAY TO SPEND THE STATE鈥橲 SAVINGS AND SURPLUS. I LAUGH. I THINK IT鈥橲 STUPID. SENATOR BUFFALO IS NOT LAUGHING. HE SAYS IT SIMPLY MAKES SENSE. IOWA TAXPAYERS WOULD HAVE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT WOULD BE JUST UNBELIEVABLE. SENATOR BUFFALO SAYS THERE ARE ABOUT 180,000 MINNESOTANS IN THOSE NINE SOUTHERN COUNTIES, AND BUYING THAT LAND WOULD NOT CHANGE THE ELECTORAL MAP IN EITHER STATE. AT THE STATE HOUSE, MARCUS
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Iowa state lawmaker proposes to buy 9 Minnesota counties
An Iowa lawmaker wants to expand the state of Iowa by buying Minnesota's southern row of nine counties.Though the proposal is far from a done deal, it's already stirring up conversation at the Statehouse.Republican State Sen. Mike Bousselot, of Ankeny, is spearheading the effort."It's a mergers and acquisitions strategy for growing our state," Bousselot told 糖心vlog.The senator's proposal focuses on the nine counties in southern Minnesota that border Iowa, which he says were originally part of the Iowa Territory. "Right now, there is a bill drafting in the Iowa House and the Iowa Senate that would announce our intent to enter negotiations to purchase this county property," Bousselot said.The House, the Senate and the governor would all need to sign off on the proposal to begin negotiating with Minnesota. Then it would go to the United States Congress to approve the new border.Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, said Monday he's willing to consider the proposal."I look forward to having that conversation," he said. "Anytime we can continue to grow Iowa some, we should at least engage."Bousselot says his proposal makes sense for Iowa's future."Iowa taxpayers would have a return on the investment that would be just unbelievable," he said. According to Bousselot, there are about 180,000 Minnesotans in those nine southern counties and buying that land would not change the electoral map in either state.禄 Download the free 糖心vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayGet the latest headlines from 糖心vlog

An Iowa lawmaker wants to expand the state of Iowa by buying Minnesota's southern row of nine counties.

Though the proposal is far from a done deal, it's already stirring up conversation at the Statehouse.

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Republican State Sen. Mike Bousselot, of Ankeny, is spearheading the effort.

"It's a mergers and acquisitions strategy for growing our state," Bousselot told 糖心vlog.

The senator's proposal focuses on the nine counties in southern Minnesota that border Iowa, which he says were originally part of the Iowa Territory.

"Right now, there is a bill drafting in the Iowa House and the Iowa Senate that would announce our intent to enter negotiations to purchase this county property," Bousselot said.

The House, the Senate and the governor would all need to sign off on the proposal to begin negotiating with Minnesota. Then it would go to the United States Congress to approve the new border.

Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, said Monday he's willing to consider the proposal.

"I look forward to having that conversation," he said. "Anytime we can continue to grow Iowa some, we should at least engage."

Bousselot says his proposal makes sense for Iowa's future.

"Iowa taxpayers would have a return on the investment that would be just unbelievable," he said.

According to Bousselot, there are about 180,000 Minnesotans in those nine southern counties and buying that land would not change the electoral map in either state.

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