In North Dakota, we know how to
get things done. We survive blizzards, hold back floods and come to the rescue
of farmers needing harvest help.
We pitch in with our neighbors when times are tough. And right now many
of our neighbors are facing tough times. Fortunately, our state is in better
economic shape than many these days. But for this stability to continue we—as a
state—must use our “know-how” to provide opportunity and ensure prosperity for
all of us and for our next generation.
We must strengthen and protect the wellbeing of all families and
communities in North Dakotans.
We can
do this.
We know how. The middle class in America – and in
North Dakota – has always been the heart of our economic success. And this did
not happen by accident; it was built through proactive policies–like, the GI
Bill that made college affordable for veterans and the home mortgage deduction
that encouraged home ownership. In North Dakota, we understand the importance
of policies that support family farms and encourage young people to graduate
from high school and go on to earn college degrees. Policies like these are
popular fixtures in our independent, “know-how” way of life.
The North Dakota Economic
Security and Prosperity Alliance believes that along with supportive
policymakers and communities, our state can create policies that build on the
hard work of North Dakota families so that they can achieve the prosperity and
the middle class dreams we all have - caring for our families, building assets,
saving for the future, putting our kids through college. We can strengthen the
foundations of our economy by offering all North Dakotans the tools they need
for economic stability and security.
There isn’t one easy answer. But, by tying several efforts together –
savings, healthcare support and higher education – we can begin to build some
of the solutions.
NDESPA supports three policy
initiatives to help families build savings, provide health insurance to their
children and seek higher education for themselves.
1. Savings is an economic foundation.
North Dakota can help working families build savings by establishing a state
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). This tax credit would provide a refund to
working families on the income they have earned. Families typically use EITC
refunds to pay off debt, finance transportation to their jobs, invest in education,
and buy basic necessities – all of which help them to achieve economic
stability. Over 40,000 North Dakotans would be eligible to receive the state
EITC.
2. Affordable healthcare is essential for
economic security. North Dakota can help working families insure their
children by increasing eligibility in the state Children’s Health Insurance
Program (CHIP) to 250%. Many additional North Dakota children would be eligible
for this benefit, preventing the high costs associated with emergent and crisis
care.
3. Higher education is a pathway to
prosperity. North Dakota can help families improve their education and
skills by expanding Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) childcare
subsidies that would allow TANF-eligible parents to use quality childcare while
they complete a 4-year college degree, rather than the current 2-year limit.
Hundreds of North Dakota parents could take advantage of this temporary benefit
that would, in turn, permanently increase their earning power over the life of
their career.
We have the money.
North Dakota is one of only a
handful of states expecting a budget surplus in 2011-2012. We anticipate a
surplus of around $1 billion. Now is the time to invest in families and in the
middle class in North Dakota – now, when the strains on families and
communities are the greatest. Now is the time for responsible, wise choices to
pave the way for future prosperity. These changes will cost money. But, as an
investment to the future of North Dakota, and at this time in our history, it is
a wise investment that will pay off in time.
We know what needs to be done.
It’s clear from the latest US
Census Bureau data; working families among us are struggling to join the ranks
of the middle class. Too many of our North Dakota friends and neighbors live in
poverty – currently, 1 out of every 9 North Dakotans earn less than the federal
poverty guidelines (for example, a family of four living on less than $22,000
per year).
The same data shows that half of
North Dakota households have an annual income of less than $47,806, and one in
three renters pay more than 35% of their household income in rent. And, we know
that North Dakota ranks near the bottom in providing health insurance for
low-income children through CHIP. More importantly, we know that these issues –
growing poverty, high rates of uninsured children and high housing costs – show
that too many families in North Dakota face a dismal economic future. It’s clear that the good economic times in
North Dakota are not reaching all families in the same way. Many hardworking
families are unable to meet even the basic costs of living.
And, simply making ends meet is
not enough to allow families to save for their children’s college education,
consider purchase of a home, have reliable transportation to work or meet the
costs of quality childcare. At this level of income, more than 55,000 citizens
of North Dakota received food stamps, a nearly 13% jump over 2008.
We can build prosperity for all
of North Dakota.
In North Dakota, we know how to
get things done. We can choose the policies that build the foundations of our
economy and create entryways to the middle class. We know that the economic
wellbeing of average North Dakotans matters to us all and that now is the time
to invest in the economic stability of all families and communities in our
state. We have the financial resources; our state has $1 billion that can be
reinvested in its people. And, we have the “know-how.” Let’s get to work.
For more information on the work of the North Dakota Economic Security &
Prosperity Alliance, contact Renee at ndespa@agree.org.
Thanks largely to oil, savings and some decent financial
planning on the part of our state, we are in the black while the rest of the
country is in the red. It is true that we have the lowest unemployment in the
nation, and one of the only state surpluses. 
More and more people are
relying on food banks, food stamps and free school lunch programs for their
meals. 
