By Jake Zuckerman, Charleston Gazette-Mail
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Democrats in the House of Delegates gummed up Gov. Jim Justice’s efforts to rush through a renewal of a tax credit program that The Greenbrier resort — which Justice’s family owns — could use to save millions of dollars.
More than any issues with the Tourism Development Tax Credit program itself, House Democrats focused on the whiplash of Justice calling for a special session and requesting the legislation on Thursday.
To pass the tax credit renewal in one day, delegates would have needed a four-fifths supermajority vote to suspend the House’s usual rules. As voting fell mostly along party lines on the House floor, they didn’t get close to that.
Earlier this year, lawmakers passed a bill requiring the state to disclose which businesses claim the tourism tax credits and how much they are claiming. That disclosure is due Dec. 1.
So what’s the rush, Delegate Isaac Sponaugle, D-Pendleton, asked in committee. He noted the looming disclosure report, and the fact the tax credit program doesn’t expire until the end of the year. …
