State-level leaders visit county

Area representatives, senators and candidates took part in a “legislative update” during the August 21 regular meeting of the Waseca County board of commissioners. Speaking for 10 or so minutes each were Representative Peggy Bennet (District 23A); Representative John Petersburg (District 19B); Tom Sexton, running for the District 19B seat for which Petersburg is not seeking reelection; Senator Gene Dornink (District 23); and Senator John Jasinski (District 19).

During the session, Commissioner Doug Christopherson expressed frustration about what he perceives as a shift toward state-level control using farm field drainage as an example. “There are more and more permits needed, with more red tape, more permits, and more fees,” he stated.

Petersburg, who has been a representative since 2013, told commissioners, “This biennium has been quite disappointing in a lot of different ways.” 

Petersburg criticized decisions made this past year as seeking too much jurisdiction at the state level. “We need to let those who are elected locally have more control,” he stated. Drawing a connection between “centralized control” and an increasing number of agencies and employees, he said “That doesn’t sit well with those who actually know what’s best for their communities.” 

He offered the example of school districts, which received funding increases but also had numerous new requirements imposed on them, so that “We haven’t really given them any new money to work with.”

Petersburg also commented that metropolitan area projects seemed to be prioritized, and expressed regret he was not able to steer funding toward infrastructure work and a new water tower for the city of Waseca.

Representative Peggy Bennet also commented on funding for education, also expressing the opinion that, thanks to “sixty to seventy new mandates,” the “unprecedented” amount of funding which went to schools does not provide the local flexibility she would rather see. She referred to the READ Act as “one ray of light” toward helping schools strengthen their literacy programs, and also mentioned some former barriers to having members of law enforcement as a presence in school buildings–referred to as a “resource officer”--have been removed. “Resource officers are back for those districts that want them,” she stated.

Senator Gene Dornink criticized the DFL majority for its emphasis on creating an omnibus spending bill when the second year of a biennium has always previously been dedicated to “bonding” and “infrastructure.” He mentioned a lawsuit has been filed claiming that this year’s “omnibus” bill is unconstitutional.

He expressed pleasure, though, with the bipartisan cooperation he experiences as a member of the agriculture committee, where he feels some good progress was made. As a member of the labor and industry committee, he expressed frustration that recommendations and action seem to be aimed more toward larger businesses, with minimal attention paid to the smaller businesses which are so important in outstate Minnesota.

Senator John Jasinski also referred to 2024 as a “tough” session, in which “lots of bad policy” was passed. He accused democrats of creating the omnibus bill to advance their own agenda and fund initiatives rather than working on infrastructure. 

After eight years in the senate, Jasinski called the 2023-2024 biennium “The worst two years I’ve ever seen.”

He classified this year’s transportation bill, which passed unanimously, as a “bright spot” and expressed frustration with a change which now divides prison sentences for those convicted of minor crimes “half and half,” meaning that 50 percent of the sentence will be spent behind bars and 50 percent will be served as probation.

Jasinski commented he hopes the next round of elections will undo the current DFL “trifecta.” 

“You want some checks and balances in the decision-making process,” he said of this year’s circumstances. “We don’t want to leave 49 percent of the state without representation.”

Candidate Tom Sexton drew attention to the shrinking number of people interested in law enforcement careers. He told commissioners his wife, Waseca resident Jeanne Sexton, had been rear-ended in a traffic accident only hours before, stated his gratitude for the quick, professional response by law enforcement and safety personnel. 

He quickly pointed out, though, that “there is a crisis” in the law enforcement field which stems from the many restrictions and the threat of prosecution which have been imposed on the profession in the recent past. Sexton claimed “We’re going to have to make some tough decisions,” then said he looks forward to the opportunity to represent Waseca-area citizens at the legislative level.

Invited but unable to attend the update session were Representative John Daniels (District 19B) and candidate Edel Fernandez.