Blame the DFL for some of MnSCU's & SCSU's difficulties

Let's not pull punches with the situation at SCSU. Part of the blame must be affixed to their presidents. It's been a parade of seriously underqualified candidates. Still, the bigger fault lies at the feet of the DFL's governors and the DFL majorities in the legislature. Had the DFL made Minnesota attractive to people to expand their business in, start their business in or grow their business in, Minnesota would've population-wise and enrollment-wise.

Gov. Tim Walz tried spinning Minnesota as an economic juggernaut in his latest state of the state address. That's nonsense and other states know it. It didn't take long for KARE11 to highlight something that I've highlighted many times. KARE11's article stated "According to the 2020 report Knocking at the College Door, the national decline in the birthrate is expected to cause the number of high school graduates to peak by about 2025. 'After that, we expect there to be a steady decline of the next 15 years,' Brower said. 'In the past we've seen growth in that population. We're really expecting to see that taper off.'"

This is the part worth the most highlighting:

But it won't impact states equally. According to the report, graduating classes in North Dakota and South Dakota are projected to grow by 34% and 13%, respectively. By contrast, Wisconsin and Illinois face potential 10% and 24% percent declines. Minnesota is projected for a three percent drop.

Kent Erdahl: "That doesn't sound like a cliff." Brower: "Our decline is relatively minor, which is why I'm using the word taper, but of course, demographics isn't the only thing that's determining enrollment numbers."

Low-tax North Dakota is expected to have increases in graduating class size of 34%. In high-tax Minnesota, our graduation classes are expected to shrink. The difference is eye-popping. Why wouldn't more people be attracted to a well-run, low-tax state that's growing as opposed to a poorly-managed, high tax state? The low taxes is like an annual pay raise compared with Minnesota. Kevin O'Leary's sales pitch in this interview is compelling:

When the recession hits Minnesota, North Dakota will likely still grow. North Dakota's priorities are practical, frugal and wise. Not only does that trifecta attract capital, it attracts talent, too. High school graduating class size predicts the number of candidates for college recruitment. That's only part of the equation, though. The other part of the equation is inmigration/outmigration rates between neighboring states. Though I don't have those statistics on-hand, I know that there's a significant netoutmigration from Minnesota to each of its neighboring states.

Mr. O'Leary made a profound statement during his portion of the interview when he said "where you put the capital is determined by policy. It's determined by tax -- competitive taxes -- and leadership that's pro-business." Minnesota DFL legislators are working on creating a fifth income tax bracket, making Minnesota's income tax system one of the most uncompetitive states in the nation. As Mr. O'Leary hinted, capital goes where it's most welcomed. That's actually both taxes and policy. Q: Why would a new high school grad stay in Minnesota when they can move to North Dakota and, upon graduating, receive a pay raise just based off of North Dakota's cheaper taxes?

St. Cloud State is going through difficult times, some of which isn't of its own making. It will take real leadership to right the SCSU ship. Right now, SCSU is missing presidential leadership.