Kansas University Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little gave support for the Kan-Grow Engineering Initiative Saturday at the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce-organized Eggs & Issues event.

Gray-Little spoke with state legislators about the initiative, which proposes using lottery funds to help bolster engineering programs in state universities.

“I strongly believe this is the way of investing in a proposal that’s good for the state,” she said. “Everyone benefits from it.”

The initiative — H.B. 2149 — seeks $1 million in 2012, $4 million in 2013 and $7 million in 2014 for the programs designed to increase the number of students graduating with engineering degrees in the state. The bill passed the Senate in March and is awaiting House approval.

The Democrats on the panel Saturday — House Minority Leader Paul Davis, Lawrence; State Sens. Tom Holland, Baldwin City, and Marci Francisco, Lawrence; and State Rep. Barbara Ballard, Lawrence — expressed support for the initiative, while the two Republicans — State Reps. TerriLois Gregory, Baldwin City, and Anthony Brown, Eudora — talked about concerns with how the initiative would be funded.

The six legislators fielded questions from the audience about a variety of topics, including political donations by labor unions, Kansas Public Employees Retirement System and the recent resignation of Kansas Bioscience Authority CEO Tom Thornton.

Saturday’s event was the last of three Eggs & Issues events this year, which have all been held at the Alton Ballroom at Pachamama’s, 800 N.H.

Hank Booth, the Chamber’s government and community affairs director, said he was pleased with the program this year. About 50 people attended Saturday, and Booth said attendance at all three events was higher this year than in previous years.