Chamber Blog

There was spirited but good natured bantering at Eggs and Issues on January 8th between Representatives Ward and Howes, and Senator Koering. Their comments ranged from the proposed bonding bill to voting records and positions on business issues. Two of the audience questions focused on K-12 – with attendees concerned about school funding disparities in our region vs. the Twin Cities and the unfairness of a law that will fine ISD 181 $200,000 fine if the teacher’s union contract isn’t resolved by January 15 without any penalty to the union. Others shared the difficult decisions they’ve made to reduce staff, wages, and benefits in order to stay in business, concerns about competitive bidding, new taxes on services, a unicameral legislature, and job creation.

Lakeland Public Television, Echo Publishing, and the Brainerd Dispatch covered the event. The Chamber also recorded it for rebroadcast on public access channels 8 and 15.