Human Services Department: an "inhumane bureaucracy"?

In a Rochester forum about the government shutdown Wednesday, a Republican House member hit the state's human services department and Gov. Mark Dayton, afterwards, hit right back.

Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, said local groups are ready to change the system.

"They are coming up with... ways for us to reform the system so we remove the inhuman bureaucracy and replace it with local decisions of families so they can have more direction in their life, better quality of life and it saves money," said state Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa. "We can't continue to feed a government that is not being responsive to the people."

Dayton said Drazkowski missed the mark.

"There's just this kind of disdain for government of any kind," Dayton said in response.

The governor said the systems at the department were not of his or his DHS' commissioner's making.

"I just started. Commissioner [Lucinda] Jesson just started. Cal Ludeman, the secretary of the Senate, was commissioner of human services for the last number of years. Their Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty is responsible for that department or any other that I inherited....If we can get past this hurdle of the budget, I look forward to working with Republican legislators and DFL legislators to reform and improve the state agencies and the quality of human services."

"I do appreciate you coming to Rochester...but my question for you today is why aren't you up at the Capitol with the legislators working to solve the budget problem right now?" Rochester resident Kacey Byers, asked to applause.

The governor said he asked lawmakers to meet with him to negotiate and asked them to present a budget proposal but they have not. Republicans did ask to travel along with him yesterday to St. Cloud. He denied that request but suggested they meet at the Capitol that day.

"I'm available to meet anytime," Dayton said. "As soon as they are willing to negotiate, I am ready and willing to do so."

Dayton: "I can request them but it takes two sides to reach an agreement....The essence of a democracy is you compromise and you find middle ground. And I'm willing to do that."

He, too, won applause.