The IP Platform consists of 57 planks and issue statements across 11 topic areas. We provide enough range and depth of issues to provide an identity while leaving room for our candidates to represent themselves and their constituency.
Economic Growth and Small Business
The Independence Party believes a strong, free, and engaged working middle class is a key driver of economic growth and investment. Government policies that favor the political and economic elite restrict growth and lead to wealth inequality. Higher levels of inequality and a smaller working middle class diminish public engagement in government, and reduce broad acceptance of free market values.
We believe that small businesses are the backbone of a strong and thriving economy. We support policy that creates incentives for entrepreneurship, reduces burdensome start-up regulations, provides for opportunities to compete and empowers small business owners to operate as they see fit.
Infrastructure and Transportation
The Independence Party believes that maintaining and improving our entire state’s infrastructure is one of the key duties of state government and thus should be given high priority, something the other parties have failed to do. This failure has resulted in structurally deficient bridges, and aging and crumbling wastewater/sewer systems throughout the state along with inadequate infrastructure and poor regional development in Greater Minnesota.
Election, Campaign and Government Reform
Elections should not be driven by special interest money, overly restrictive ballot access and debate criteria, and/or affiliation with one of two major political parties. We believe a better election process, including partial public funding of campaigns and alternative voting methods (including Ranked Choice Voting), will lead to more civil campaigns, legislatures that are more reflective of the general populace and, ultimately, reformed government that is inclusive and “by the people” in a way that doesn’t exist today.
Civil Rights and Equality
Criminal Justice
The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world to the detriment of the taxpayers and society. We support policies and programs that reverse this trend and allow former offenders to reintegrate into society upon their release. We believe in a fair, affordable, and accessible justice system for all. We believe in restorative justice and an end to the war on drugs.
Education
The Independence Party considers education a primary method of achieving personal freedoms, public safety, public health, and prosperity for all. We expect state government to foster the effectiveness of a multi-faceted educational system. We also consider education a states’ rights issue, and favor significant shifts of responsibility and involvement in education issues from the federal government to state governments.
Taxes and Budgets
The Independence Party believes in a tax system that is simple in its implementation, easy to understand, and structured so it cannot be used as a political tool to favor one group over another.
Furthermore, we believe in fiscal restraint and responsibility in government with a budgeting and spending process that limits irresponsible spending. We believe in budget reporting and formulation that leads to a clear and transparent picture of the financial health of the state and national governments that does not exist today.
Authentic and Innovative Leadership
We look for and offer leadership that acts for the greater good, prepares us for the future and remains accountable to the citizenry while valuing transparency and honesty above expediency.
The Independence Party believes that true leadership demands input and solicitation of opposing viewpoints with fair and open consideration of the same with debate conducted publicly and openly. The use of a variety of methods, including technology, should be utilized to broaden input and allow for affordable and adequate provisions of the citizenry to address grievances.
Natural Resources and Energy
The Independence Party of Minnesota believes in pursuing responsible and sustainable use of our natural resources and that government at all levels must be prudent and responsible when it buys, sells or leases natural resources. As the Land of Sky-Blue Water, special emphasis must be placed on the cleanliness and long term health of our groundwater, lakes and rivers.
Furthermore, we encourage renewable energy and investment in its development to ensure our independence from foreign energy sources, ensure future generations have adequate access to affordable energy, and to ensure ours and future generations enjoy healthy and robust natural resources.
National Security
The foremost responsibility of the federal government is the defense and security of the nation and its people. To that end, we believe in maintaining superiority in our strategic systems including technology, space, and cyber warfare.
Outside of honoring our treaty commitments, we reject military intervention without a clear threat to our national security, expect clear explanations of what that threat is, demand an enumeration of the specific objectives and desired end results, and require the approval of congress except when time requires immediate action.
Agriculture
The Independence Party of Minnesota believes in maintaining agriculture’s traditional role of supporting Minnesota’s economy and recognize its future potential to address the state’s broader nature resource goals. We support the USDA Farm Bill’s trend toward risk management policies, but favor a more coordinated approach between the commodity, energy and conservation titles.
At the state level a continued investment in public-private partnerships to expand the uses of agriculture’s commodities and supporting local food ecosystems can add wealth to the varied sized and diverse agriculture enterprises and bring healthy foods to consumers and institutions. We recognize the emerging “sustainability” demands from corporate supply chains, drinking water utilities, government watershed regulations and NGOs as generally legitimate, but in great need of unifying policies to return value back to the landscapes.