President/CEO of The Chamber in Hays Sarah Wasinger introduces the legislators at Saturday’s Legislative Coffee event. Left to right: Rep. Barbara Wasinger, Rep. Ken Rahjes, Sen. Rick Billinger and Rebecca Swender, District Director for Sen. Roger Marshall.
BY RAEGAN NEUFELD
The Chamber in Hays’ Legislative Coffee events allows community members and legislators the opportunity to meet in an accessible and more relaxed setting.
The first Legislative Coffee event of 2023 was held on Saturday at the Hays Public Library, while Breathe Coffee House provided coffee and other refreshments. State representatives Barbara Wasinger (111th District) and Ken Rahjes (110th District) and state senator Rick Billinger (40th District) were present, as well as Rebecca Swender, a District Director for U.S. senator Roger Marshall’s Garden City office.
“I think it benefits the community because they can come and see us, see us personally,” Rep. Wasinger said. “People recognize me from my campaign signs, but here they can not only ask questions, but I can talk to them before the event and after the event.”
Attendees had about 30 minutes on Saturday prior to the event’s start to chat with Wasinger and the other legislators. Acting as a panel, the legislators then answered questions submitted by the community members, with covered topics such as housing, healthcare and education. Some questions addressed certain bills, like one that would create a back-to-school sales tax holiday.
“Our elected officials are voted in to best represent our interests here in western Kansas, so I think it’s very important for our community to be present at these,” Chamber president and CEO Sarah Wasinger said. “To be engaged and make sure if they have opinions on different issues, or if they feel there is a need for change, this is an appropriate space to share that feedback.”
The next Legislative Coffee events are scheduled for March 4 and April 1, again at the Hays Public Library. Coffee and refreshments will start at 8:00 a.m. and the panel will start at 8:30 a.m. on both dates.
“Each time we always invite our local and federal legislators, so it just really depends on their flexibility of schedules if they are able to attend or not,” Wasinger said. “I do believe, as of right now, that Sen. Billinger and Reps. Rahjes and Wasinger will be able to attend.”
For Wasinger, an event like Legislative Coffee gives her the opportunity to do what she considers her most important job – taking care of her constituents.
“It gives me great joy to make an impact for everybody in this room and everyone that I talk to,” she said. “That’s why I’m [in office]. I’m there to help my district and stand for my district.”