Iowa State Senator Michael Bousselot wants to make Minnesota Iowa again. More specifically, he wants the Hawkeye State to acquire Minnesota’s nine southernmost counties.

“Iowa is a growing state with more people and a higher GDP than ever before,” Bousselot says. “But we want to continue to grow and grow faster.”

Bousselot’s bright idea? Instead of luring new citizens, why not acquire them? Why not make Minnesota Iowa again?

Better Fit

The nine border counties that Bousselot is targeting — Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Jackson, Martin, Mower, Nobles, and Rock — are full of farming communities. All told, they total approximately 185,000 citizens.

From a purely political standpoint, this means no shift in electoral votes from either Minnesota or Iowa. From a cash standpoint, Bousselot has not revealed a specific purchase price.

Outside-the-Box Thinking

As Bousselot sees it, what he’s proposing is indicative of a key new driver in the American experiment: a mergers-and-acquisitions strategy for state growth.

Every new Iowan in each of those nine counties would immediately benefit from lower income taxes, lower sales taxes, and a lower cost of living. Businesses formerly located in Minnesota would pay lower corporate taxes in Iowa.

“These are agricultural counties. For years now, Minnesota has fought farmers and agricultural investment. Iowa embraces agriculture whether through our friendly regulatory environment, farmland-owner protections, or lower taxes,” Bousselot says.

Iowa Territory

Throughout American history, interstate compacts ratified by Congress adjusted state boundaries. For instance in 1961, Minnesota ceded two tracts of land to North Dakota after the US Army Corps of Engineers put flood controls in place on the Red River of the North.

After speaking with colleagues in the Iowa Senate and the Iowa House, Bousselot believes enough momentum exists to take next steps in Iowa — and to reach out to counterparts in Minnesota.

Last but not least, Bousselot believes that history is on his side. The nine counties he is targeting were originally part of the Iowa Territory. But in 1846 when Iowa was granted statehood, they were sheared off.