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[[Americans are about to hold a national election to determine control of the US Congress for the next two years. All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are at stake, along with one-third of the 100 member U.S. Senate. Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of Congress. If Democrats can win a majority in either chamber, it would become more difficult for President Donald Trump and his Republican party to pass their conservative legislative agenda.
That includes tax cuts, which passed in 2017. President Trump credits those tax cuts for a US economy with unemployment at a 49-year low, the stock market at an all-time high and growing economy. And with an eye on the November 6th midterm elections, the President says another tax cut is coming --- aimed at middle-income Americans.
VOA's Congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson traveled to Fargo, North Dakota to see if the booming economy is making a difference with voters.]]
((NATS - Kid playing a game))
((NARRATOR))
Time for fun and games…
((BRAD RUHRO, LEGACY TOYS))
"We're seeing a continual uptick in customers we're bringing in."
((NATS - Scanner at register))
((NARRATOR))
…a sign that consumers have a little more to spend here in Fargo, North Dakota, says small business owner Brad Ruhro.
((BRAD RUHRO, LEGACY TOYS))
"When the economy's doing better, they're able to spend more on entertainment and fun."
((NARRATOR))
And that means more stores are hiring.
((BRAD RUHRO, LEGACY TOYS))
"It's a very competitive market there are a lot of jobs being offered out there, especially in the retail sectors."
((NARRATOR))
Nationwide, unemployment rates are falling. North Dakota's 2.4 percent is tied for second-lowest among any state.
((NATS - Mall noise))
And people are spending, says one waitress who has noticed an increase in her tips.
((TERESA ERVASTI, WAITRESS)) "I've never done better myself...so."
((NATS - Crop Combine))
((NARRATOR))
But just outside the big city, President Trump's tariffs are causing anxiety for small business owners.
((MARY LEE NIELSON, OWNER, QUILTED CEILING))
"It's a very scary right now I can see where a lot of farmers don't want to spend money at this time."
((NATS - Cash Register))
((NARRATOR))
Farm families from all over North Dakota shop here and business is good. But with a farm of her own in addition to the store, Mary Lee Nielson wants President Trump to back off on tariffs that could hurt North Dakota farmers.
((MARY LEE NIELSON, OWNER, QUILTED CEILING))
"It's a double-hit for us with the store and the farm so it's scary."
((NATS - Monte walking through soybean field))
((NARRATOR))
And with the US and China in the midst of a trade war - soybean farmer Monte Peterson says losing the Chinese market will have an immediate impact.
((MONTE PETERSON, NORTH DAKOTA SOYBEAN COUNCIL))
"Crop that doesn't get delivered to market, doesn't generate income."
((NATS - Smalltown traffic))
((NARRATOR))
The economy looms large here- especially with the US senate race so close between Senator Heidi Heitkamp...
((SENATOR HEIDI HEITKAMP, DEMOCRAT))
"We have an economy in this country where the urban depends on the rural economy."
((NATS - Kevin Cramer: "How are you guys?"))
((NARRATOR))
And her challenger, Congressman Kevin Cramer, hears farmers' concerns about tariffs.
((REP. KEVIN CRAMER, REPUBLICAN))
"What I tell them is good news is coming. We need to look for the good news. We push the administration on a regular basis."
((NARRATOR))
Like Republican candidates across the country, Cramer is running on a strong economy and the benefit of the 2017 tax cut bill.
NATS - Kevin Cramer: "We're the optimists in this country."))
((NARRATOR))
While that bill gave North Dakota voters the highest average tax cut of any state, many lower and middle-class workers say they're not feeling it.
((BRADY MITCHELL, NORTH DAKOTA VOTER))
"It all goes to daycare or mortgage or goes out the window anyway so no I haven't seen enough of a difference."
((Courtesy: Creedence Energy))
((NARRATOR))
Unlike big corporations and oil companies like Creedence Energy which have enjoyed a windfall from Republican tax cuts and a strong economy.
((KEVIN BLACK, CREEDENCE ENERGY))
"We've seen this multiplication effect; more people eager to invest in this industry and our area and a result we see a multiplier force across the economy that everybody's growing."
((NARRATOR))
One struggling worker agrees.
((BRIAN ROSS, NORTH DAKOTA VOTER))
"He's taken some pretty good strides in straightening things out like bringing our jobs back here where they belong."
((NARRATOR))
But will that slowly improving economy be enough to bring voters out to the polls? That's the question this November.
((NATS - Train passing by))
((SUGGESTED ANCHOR TAG))
[[This political cycle has produced contradictions in some of the usual economic-political indicators. Confidence in the government's economic policies is at a 15 year high, according to a monthly survey by the University of Michigan. Yet, all reputable polls consistently show President Trump's approval rating below 50-percent. Meantime, voters polled tell the Wall Street Journal that Republicans will do a better job handling the economy, but Democrats are looking out for the middle class. ]]
