Local lawmakers predict more debate on education reform and education funding. They discussed that issue and more during Eggs and Issues Saturday at Smokey Row in Oskaloosa. The Iowa House of Representatives passed an education reform bill this past week.

It includes 2% for allowable growth.That's the name for the funding mechanism for Iowa schools. Earlier in this year's legislative session, the Iowa Senate passed 4% allowable growth. Lawmakers says the House and the Senate will now have to hash out differences. Oskaloosa Schools Superintendent Russ Reiter told lawmakers Saturday morning he would prefer 4% for allowable growth. He says school budgets have taken funding hits in recent years. Representative Guy Vander Linden, Representative Larry Sheets, and Senator Ken Rozenboom attended the legislative forum known as Eggs and Issues. They were asked about Medicaid expansion and whether the state will approve that under the federal government's Affordable Care Act. All three lawmakers say they have concerns about expanding Medicaid services in Iowa because they don't believe the federal government will be able to fund the expansion. They say they're concerned the bill will fall to the state eventually - thus to the taxpayers. Governor Terry Branstad has said he's against expanding Medicaid in Iowa. The issue has yet to be resolved. Two Eggs and Issues sessions remain before the end of the legislative session. The next is scheduled for March 9th. You can watch the entire Eggs and Issues discussion for February 23rd here at CRITV.org.