Local lawmakers from District one, three and 23 were in Aberdeen Saturday to take part in the first of a scheduled three Legislative Coffees put on by the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce.
At the event, local lawmakers talk about work being done in Pierre and take questions from the audience.
One bill that has received a lot of attention is HB1020 which would take $4 million from the education budget and be given out to families who choose to educate their kids either via home schooling, private school or some other sort of alternative form of education.
Each lawmaker gave their initial thoughts on the bill.
District three representative Republican Brandei Schaefabuer says the way she reads the state constitution its the legislatures duty to provide the best education possible for all students…
District three representative Republican Al Novstrop says he supports all forms of education and thinks this bill is getting too much attention…
District one representative Republican Logan Manhart says he supports all forms of education and is glad this conversation is happening…
District three senator Republican Carl Perry says he’d be happy to see even more money be placed into the state education budget…
District 23 representative Republican Scott Moore says he will listen to the testimony, but is skeptical about funding programs like this…
District 23 state senator Republican Mark Lapka says government subsidies only takes away local control…
District 23 representative Republican Spencer Gosch shifted focus to how we fund schools rather than moving money into private or home schooling…