By Sam Parsons

The Mahaska Chamber held another Eggs and Issues forum on Saturday with the panel featuring 3 state lawmakers. State Representatives Helena Hayes and Barb Kniff-McCulla as well as State Senator Ken Rozenboom were in attendance to field questions from area citizens.

The first topic discussed was the governor’s recently-passed “School Choice” bill. When asked how much the new legislation would cost, and where the money would be coming from, Senator Ken Rozenboom said that the biggest issue people were having with the change was the change itself.

A resident also asked the panel about the house rules being changed for the bill to bypass the appropriations and ways and means committees. Representative Barb Kniff-McCulla said that this solution made things “better” and “easier.”

The panel also discussed hunting regulations and the Mahaska EMA lawsuits, and welfare reform.

The Mahaska Chamber’s next Eggs and Issues is scheduled for February 11 with an Arts and Culture Roundtable.