By ANDREA LANNOM The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Legislature approved measures in this year’s session ranging from expanding broadband services to the Second Chance for Employment Act. According to the West Virginia Legislature’s website, both chambers passed 262 bills — 132 House bills and 130 Senate bills. A majority[Read More…]
Month: April 2017
BUDGET BATTLE: Legislature completes budget just after midnight, but not what Justice envisioned
By JIM ROSS The State Journal CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Legislature bucked tradition and adopted a budget without the need for an extended special session, but one is likely to come anyway. Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, says a special session will be needed, possibly this week, to[Read More…]
No budget deal, but Justice hopeful as regular session ends
By PHIL KABLER Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Time ran out on the 2017 regular session without passage of a budget bill, but with a one-day extension Sunday for the Legislature to attempt to work out what Gov. Jim Justice indicated earlier Saturday night could be a blockbuster compromise. That[Read More…]
After passing budget bill, showdown looms in West Virginia Legislature
By JOSELYN KING The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register WHEELING, W.Va. — Early Sunday morning the West Virginia House of Delegates passed the state’s 2018 spending bill — setting the stage for a probable budgetary fight with Gov. Jim Justice and a special legislative session in the coming days. House[Read More…]
Legislature sends several big measures to Justice for action
By RUSTY MARKS The State Journal CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The 2017 regular session of the West Virginia Legislature may be remembered as the year the Mountain State approved medical marijuana. From an idea that had no chance of passage at the beginning of the 60-day legislative session, the medical use of marijuana[Read More…]
Budget deal clouds end of legislative session
BY LACIE PIERSON The Herald-Dispatch CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Legislature went out with more than just the bang of the gavel Saturday night. When lawmakers in the GOP-led Senate and House of Delegates passed a budget for fiscal year 2018 through House Bill 2018, at 11:44 p.m. Saturday and[Read More…]
Mid-Ohio Valley lawmakers talk West Virginia budget, say Justice veto is likely
By BRETT DUNLAP The Parkersburg News and Sentinel CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As the West Virginia Legislature worked to pass a budget bill early Sunday morning, local lawmakers have doubts the governor will end up signing that bill into law. The Senate passed a version of the $4.1 billion budget in[Read More…]
No action yet on budget bill
By ANDREA LANNOM The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice has yet to take action on the budget passed by the West Virginia Legislature Saturday night. Justice announced a possible budget deal with Senate leadership that would include an increase in the sales tax, commercial activities tax and a[Read More…]
Senate confirms all Justice appointees
By JAKE ZUCKERMAN Charleston Gazette-Mail After an evening of shakeups, the state Senate voted to confirm all of the governor’s 81 appointees, narrowly avoiding another extension of the legislative session. The governor, however, withdrew two names from the list of requests: Harold Hatfield Jr. and Barbara Whitecotton, both as members[Read More…]
Medical marijuana bill heads to Gov. Justice’s office
By DANYEL VANREENEN The Journal CHARLESTON, W. Va. — The majority in Charleston has continued to support the medical marijuana bill, but amendments have been adopted to prohibit the smoking of cannabis and put big pharma in charge of much of the processing and distribution, according to Delegate Jason Barrett,[Read More…]