Senator Jasinski Gives Legislative Session a “C Grade”

John Jasinski, (R), Minnesota Senate District 19 was a guest on today's KDHL AM Minnesota program.

The Faribault state lawmaker was asked to grade the recently completed legislative session and he gave it a, "C".

Jasinski says having one party in control of the Senate, House and Governor's Office has led to some "excessive spending."

He pointed out the budget grew from approximately 52 billion dollars to approximately 72 billion dollars.   The largest increase ever seen in Minnesota.

A new State Department of Families and Children will include over 400 employees and administer the Medical Leave legislation that was passed.

Education got a bump in funding including free school breakfast and lunch for all school students that participate in the National School Lunch Program.  That would include private schools.

Jasinski would have liked to see some of that money go to help with literacy improvements in schools.

He said, "Faribault is helping to pay for Edina kid's free meals."

The District 19 State Senator did not favor the recently passed legalization of marijuana bill saying, "It's not a good bill for Minnesota."

He contends the state is not ready for the legalization beginning August 1, 2023, because there is no roadside test to determine what drivers are under the influence.

The bill includes a $15 million component for funding additional law enforcement training to detect impaired drivers.

Another aspect of the legislation is the expungement of past misdemeanor marijuana-related convictions for Minnesotans.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) estimates it will take until August 2024 to erase all of those convictions.

There will be a new Office of Cannabis Management.

Jasinski was happy to see some bonding requests for wastewater treatment plants in Medford, Owatonna, Morristown and Wanamingo funded with the 2.6-billion-dollar bonding bill.

He said the State Academies got some dollars for renovations and asset preservation.

Jasinski is also curious to see how the $150,000 study of methods to hopefully clear the water on French Lake in Faribault goes.

You can listen to the program at your leisure below.  Remember all AM Minnesota programs are tuned into podcasts for you to listen on your time if you can't tune in between 9:30 and 10:00 a.m. Monday through Friday on KDHL, 920 AM, 97.9 FM and on the universe wide KDHL app.