A central Iowa lawmaker, Mike Bousselot a Republican from Ankeny, is proposing that Iowa buy the nine southern Minnesota counties that are on the other side of Iowa’s border. Bousselot is an attorney who was former Governor Terry Branstad’s chief of staff.

He’s now operating a real estate business, but isn’t suggesting now much the State of Iowa would pay Minnesota for those counties. He does suggest to look at tax revenues and the return on investment as a starting point. Bousselot, who is chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, says it’s a very serious proposal. He says those 9 counties “fit into the culture of Iowa”

Zach Tomesch, News Director KFJB