Marion County Republicans hosted a crowd of over 60 people at a legislative forum Friday in Pella.

State Senator Ken Rozenboom and Representative Guy Vander Linden shared their thoughts on the Republican-led effort to defund Planned Parenthood, address the budget shortfall, and funding for public schools.

Two educators questioned efforts to allow the creation of education savings accounts, a proposal that could allow parents to direct state money to private school tuition, tutoring costs or home school curriculum. The teachers said it would hurt the public schools, and violate the separation of church and state. State Senator Ken Rozenboom says a potential bill would improve schools by making them more competitive, and the state wouldn’t be giving money to private schools–the taxpayer would.

Collective bargaining by public employees was also discussed, with one audience member suggesting it should be done away with. Rozenboom said complete elimination is not on the table, but instead, legislators will review the process this session as a potential means of saving state funds.