By Mike Tony, Charleston Gazette-Mail
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Proposed changes to rules governing how the West Virginia House of Delegates does business would vest new powers in the House speaker, impose new restrictions on the public and media, and replace public hearings with what proponents say would be a better process to collect meaningful citizen input.
But the proposal introduced by House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, has sparked heavy criticism from advocates who fear it would reduce public feedback and legislative process transparency for a Republican-supermajority Legislature that has cut procedural corners in recent sessions.
“The proposed changes to the House of Delegates rules will create significant barriers to public participation in the legislative process, undermine transparency, and eliminate an important step in ensuring accountability to the people of West Virginia,” said Dani Parent, organizing director for the West Virginia Citizen Action Group, a progressive advocacy organization.