Minnehaha GOP to host its own legislative forums

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SIOUX FALLS (AP) — The Minnehaha County Republican Party is setting up its own legislative forums to compete with ones hosted by the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.

Rep. Manny Steele tells the media that the county GOP made the move after the chamber and the League of Women Voters were unresponsive to concerns that audiences are too liberal and conservatives can't ask their questions.

Chamber communications director Bob O'Connell says questions aren't biased against Republicans. He says they're asked and legislators can choose to answer or not answer.

O'Connell says the chamber agreed this year to give lawmakers 90 seconds each to talk about whatever they wanted.

The county GOP will hold four question-and-answer sessions with legislators in January and February at the same time as the chamber's longstanding forums.

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