Property and school sales taxes, abortion rights, and the judicial nominating commission were some of the topics discussed at this month’s Legislative Coffee with State Senator Jake Chapman and Representative Ray Sorensen.

The Republican legislators listened to constituents’ concerns at the event hosted by the Guthrie County Republicans in Guthrie Center Saturday. One of the attendees former state representative Dwight Dinkla gave his thoughts on the Republicans’ proposal to change how state supreme court justices are nominated, by giving house and senate leaders and the governor greater say in the membership makeup of the nominating commission. Dinkla said he didn’t disagree with proposing changes to the process, but he worries about legislative leaders’ commission picks being influenced by large campaign donors, “I just think the system, the bill that’s out there injects the partisan politics with money involved. It will assure that whoever’s in the governor’s seat will have until the next election, if the legislative leaders follow their political affiliation, it will always guarantee 75% on the judicial nominating commission.”

West Central Valley Superintendent Lance Ridgely and other attendees asked the legislators about proposed bills to eliminate school requirements to have a nurse and librarian. Chapman mentioned that the senate has now eliminated that section of the bill, which also deals with student health screenings and environmentally-friendly cleaning products. Sorensen regarded that this proposal could force introspection in school districts to let them decide whether they need those staff. Chapman and Sorensen also attended a Legislative Coffee Saturday in Greenfield.