(ST. PAUL, MN) – Statement from Senator Paul Utke (R- Park Rapids) on Wednesday’s confirmation vote on Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) Commissioner Nancy Leppink:

“Removing Commissioner Leppink from her position was not a sudden decision, or lightly made. Since the Governor appointed her, businesses and the legislature have had extreme difficulty working with her.

“Over the years, she has failed to make unbiased and informed decisions about youth employment and even tried to stop sixteen and seventeen-year-olds from mowing lawns for money. She was unable to give businesses she shuttered an alternative to operation. At one point, Commissioner Leppink re-interpreted wage-theft legislation passed in 2019 and distributed misleading information to businesses across the state. When she was notified of these issues in October of 2019, she didn’t update the information for another eight months, leaving businesses confused about how to comply.

“The Governor should not be surprised by our actions. The legislature informed him of the issues many times, with no changes resulting. When someone does not do their job well, they should be removed, regardless of qualifications.”

Commissioner Leppink was vetted during a Senate Jobs Committee on May 6th and moved to the floor without a recommendation for confirmation by the committee.