From The Journal of Martinsburg: West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee is right about the danger of across-the-board spending cuts in state government — to a point. Republican legislators have vowed to balance the state budget through limits on spending. Gee and many others in higher education worry that[Read More…]
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Natural gas pipeline project moving forward in Eastern Panhandle
By Danyel VanReenen The Journal of Martinsburg MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Natural gas companies with an interest in constructing a pipeline through the Eastern Panhandle are making the necessary applications to advance the project. Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC, applied for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the Eastern Panhandle[Read More…]
School testing amendment divides senators
By David Beard The Dominion Post CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Senators divided sharply on March 23 over an amendment to a bill to abandon Common Core-related school testing. The testing bill is SB 18. As amended, it requires an 11th-grade college admission assessment that complies with Every Student Succeeds Act requirements[Read More…]
Editorial: Time to derail tax ‘reform’ bill
From The Dominion Post of Morgantown: It’s time to throw the switch on Senate Bill 335 and divert it onto a sidetrack. An independent analysis of the enormous tax changes in this bill is critical. The state deputy revenue secretary’s fiscal note on this bill already came back with flashing[Read More…]
House of Delegates guts Gov. Justice tax bill
By Rusty Marks The State Journal CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The House of Delegates Finance Committee has gutted a tax revenue bill that was the basis of Gov. Jim Justice’s budget plan. As originally requested by the governor, House Bill 2816 would have raised the state sales tax to 6.5 percent,[Read More…]
Editorial: W.Va. budget crisis — Cooler heads need to prevail
From the Bluefield Daily Telegraph: Yes, West Virginia is once again facing a serious budget crisis with a shortfall estimated around $500 million. Yes, lawmakers need to pass a budget — preferably sooner than later. And yes, Gov. Jim Justice is correct in urging prompt action on the issue. However, there is no need[Read More…]
U.S. Census Bureau statistics show: Population decline persists in coal counties
By CHARLIE BOOTHE Bluefield Daily Telegraph BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — Officials have consistently said economic development is the key to stopping the population decline in the region, which the latest statistics show is continuing. All area counties, except Giles County in Virginia, are continuing to experience population losses. The U.S.[Read More…]
Editorial: Changes to state storage tank law yield good results
From The Herald-Dispatch of Huntington: Compromise has become a rarer commodity in legislative bodies these days. However, members of West Virginia’s House of Delegates last week did manage to find some common ground before passing a bill related to how many chemical storage tanks have to comply with tougher laws[Read More…]
Senate panel restores grocery sales tax to legislation
By Lacie PiersonThe Huntington Herald-DispatchCHARLESTON, W.VA. – The West Virginia Senate Select Committee on Tax Reform approved a new, slightly slimmer tax reform bill Friday afternoon. On Friday, committee members approved Senate Bill 409, which increases the state’s sales tax and eliminates some exemptions to it. The measure also restores[Read More…]
WV House passes broadband access bill
By Eric Eyre The Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Over objections from West Virginia’s largest internet providers, the House of Delegates overwhelmingly passed a comprehensive broadband bill Friday that aims to improve internet service and expand availability. House members voted 97-2 to send the legislation (HB3093) to the state Senate. “This[Read More…]
