ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) – There’s general approval from Republicans on Governor Tim Walz’s plan to get advice from an outside expert whether the troubled state Human Services Department should be split into separate agencies.

But G-O-P Senator Carla Nelson from Rochester warned this week such a move could be more costly — and citizens might end up having to talk with *two* state agencies instead of just one:

“It could lead to less transparency, less accountability, well that’s not my fault over here, that’s this department over there, that type of issue,” said Nelson.

Senate Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (guh-ZEL-cuh) says, “Just like we did with MNLARS, if the Governor is willing to work with us, we’ll bring our ideas and solutions to the table.”