Hoeven Stresses Importance of Continuing to Move State Forward in AP Debate

Press Release

Hoeven Stresses Importance of Continuing to Move State Forward in AP Debate

Gov. John Hoeven today participated in an AP debate with his opponent Democrat Sen. Tim Mathern in Fargo. Gov. Hoeven was positive about North Dakota's progress, highlighting a diversified and growing economy and stressing the importance of continuing this momentum to create even more opportunities for the future.

Gov. Hoeven's administration emphasizes economic development to help diversify and grow the state's economy and to create more job and career opportunities to attract and retain young people to the state. Since 2000, North Dakota has gained 30,000 new jobs with an additional 15,000 yet to fill, and wages and income continue to rise faster than the national average. The state also continues to compete on both a national and global level in energy, advanced manufacturing, research and development and trade. This economic growth has allowed North Dakota to invest in its priorities, including record funding for K-12 education and broad-based tax relief for all North Dakotans.

While Hoeven shared a positive vision for North Dakota's future, his opponent again resorted to negative, unsubstantiated attacks during the debate, showing a clear difference between the two candidates. Mathern has a long record of supporting tax increases more than $1.7 billion and has waffled on important issues including the state prison and his pledge to build a state-owned refinery. Hoeven also pointed out Mathern's lack of credibility in his proposals. Mathern's proposals will spend the state's surplus twice over, and he currently has a health care plan in front of the legislative interim committee that would actually increase taxes $1.5 billion.

"This election is about whether we continue forward or go back to the economic stagnation of the past," said Hoeven. "We need to keep building for a brighter future for North Dakotans."

"I want to make sure we continue to create more jobs, more opportunities and better paying careers in North Dakota for our people. That's what will keep our people here and bring others back, and it's working" said Hoeven. "At the same time, it's creating a larger, more diversified economy that enables us to fund our priorities like education and health care, that enables us to set aside a reserve for the future, and that enables us to provide real tax relief for the citizens of North Dakota."

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