WINONA, Minn. – Too many Minnesota legislators are clogging up the law-making process with proposals that have no chance of becoming law, says Gene Pelowski, D-Winona, a senior House member. In a KWNO interview, Pelowski noted that 10,00 hills had been introduced by the March 22 deadline – and most have died because committees couldn’t find time to hold hearings or just weren’t interested. Pelowski said an addiction has set in to glean publicity by calling news conferences to proclaim sponsorship of bills that in reality have no chance of going anywhere. “Lawmakers think if you introduce a bill and have a press conference, you’ve accomplished something — and you haven’t,” he said. Pelowski has been around the block. This is his 19th and final term in the House, and he has reputation as a serious legislator. With 10,000 bills in the current pipeline, that’s an average of 50 per member – way more than conceivably could be accommodated in the legislative process. Pelowski didn’t name names.
Pelowski. Retiring from House after 38 years. Former high school civics teacher and political scientist.
Prolifigate Drazkowski
Senator Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, has been among profligate sponsors of bills, 47 total. All took the energy of legislative-support office to cast in legal terms, some not even within state jurisdiction: These included:
> Five bills to squash updates to the state flag and seal.
> A bill denouncing “the horrors of socialism.”
> A bill to limit the “power and jurisdiction” and spending of the federal government, and to limit the terms of elected and appointed federal officials.
> A bill to send Minnesota National Guard troops to Texas to intercept immigrants from Mexico.
Drazkowski. In Senate since 2022. Earlier seven terms in House. From Mazeppa, Also a Winona shoe-shop owner.