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Politics & Government

Local Lawmakers Discuss Hot Topics

On June 7, the Oakdale Business and Professional Association hosted four lawmakers to discuss hot topics at an annual breakfast.

The Vikings stadium bill, the gay marriage amendment, Wisconsin’s recall election and the voter ID amendment. These were just some of the topics addressed by four state lawmakers that attended Oakdale Business and Professional Association’s annual Eggs and Breakfast discussion on June 7.

Sen. Tedd Lillie, Sen. Chuck Wiger, Rep. Leon Lillie and Rep. Kathy Lohmer were part of a panel at the event held at Oak Marsh Golf Course.

In total, about 45 people attended the public breakfast, including Rep. Nora Slawik.

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“The goal of the discussion was to talk about important issues that had been legislated,” said Rick Timm, the chair of the association’s political engagement committee. “I think most people really enjoyed the event.”

Mark Cove, past president of the Oakdale Business and Professional Association and current board member, hosted the event.

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“We had a lot of stadium conversation because republicans did not support the bill and democrats did,” Cove said. “But, both republicans on our panel said they would have supported a stadium bill, just not the one that was presented.”

Cove joked that between Rep. Tedd Lillie and his brother, Rep. Leon Lillie, there was “a lot of friendly banter back and forth.”

Discussing Minnesota’s gay marriage constitutional amendment was a hot topic, and one that Cove wanted to be sure to present without bias. Cove asked the lawmakers about the amendment, and asked if they would be in support of the constitution if the amendment passed. “Sen. Wiger said, ‘if it passes, we have to abide by it,’” Cove recalled.

One topic that all lawmakers shared views on was Wisconsin’s recall election. “Both democrats and republicans said that it was a bad recall,” Cove said.

This was the first year that the association used a new format for the breakfast, selecting only elected officials. Next year, the breakfast panel will feature local officials, like city council and school board members, in order to focus the scope of the panel discussions.

“We would love to see more interest in the event,” Cove said. “When else do you get to meet your elected officials?”

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