When state lawmakers from Gainesville and Hall County get together December 15 for the local Eggs & Issues Breakfast at the Gainesville Civic Center, they will have no shortage of topics to discuss.
Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kit Dunlap said earlier in the week that the annual breakfast was very close to a sell-out, noting that people are always interested to know what the upcoming legislative session might hold.
"You know, we've probably been doing this 30 or 35 years in some way," Dunlap said. "[In the early years] it was small and we honored the elected officials and now it's grown into something that you have to cut off - we don't have a place big enough to get folks in."
Dunlap said at least 450 people will gather to hear from Lt. Governor Casey Cagle - a Hall County native - and other officials who represent Gainesville/Hall County on the state level.
State Senators Butch Miller and John Wilkinson will participate, as will State Representatives Lee Hawkins, Emory Dunahoo, Timothy Barr and Matt Dubnik, who is serving his first term in office.
Dunlap said she thinks national politics will certainly be a topic of discussion, given the recent election of Donald Trump as President. She said she also expects to hear some discussion on traditional topics.
"Always it's the budget - of course that's one of their main functions," Dunlap said. "Education is a big one, transportation was last year - there's still transportation issues on the table, health care."
Then, there are those topics that generate some emotional conversation - and Dunlap said she hopes there's time to hear about some of those, as well.
"Medical marijuana or cannabis oil...introduction of legislation to legalize horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, casino gambling, craft breweries may come up again, and then always the controversial religious freedom [bill]."
The event is limited to two hours, so lawmakers may not be able to discuss every topic, but Dunlap said those who attend will get a good idea of what the 2017 session holds.
To find out more about the Eggs & Issues Breakfast, go the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce website.
