By PHIL KABLER Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Despite a surfeit of testimony indicating that a cut in the severance tax on steam coal will not have significant impact in making West Virginia coal price competitive with other states or with natural gas, the Senate Finance Committee advanced legislation to[Read More…]
Government
WV Legislature doing little to help residents affected by natural gas drilling
Editor’s Note This article was produced in partnership with the ProPublica Local Reporting Network. By KATE MISHKIN Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Delegate Terri Sypolt says she understands how natural gas drilling has changed the look and feel of communities in the state, bringing an influx of noisy truck[Read More…]
West Virginia Senate Finance Committee tackles two bills
By STEVEN ALLEN ADAMS The Parkersburg News and Sentinel CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two bills that would put a financial hole in the tax revenue starting next fiscal year were taken up by the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday afternoon. House Bill 2673 would exempt low-producing oil and natural gas wells from[Read More…]
Gov. Justice calls for special session for education, budget
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gov. Jim Justice issued the following statement Wednesday: “With three days left in the legislative session, we still have not achieved what I promised the people of West Virginia – a 5 percent pay raise for all teachers, school service personnel, state troopers, and all state employees.[Read More…]
Sens. Weld, Clements join Democrats to defeat Campus Carry Bill in West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee
By JOSELYN KING The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register WHEELING, W.Va. — Legislation to allow people with concealed weapons permits to carry guns on West Virginia college campuses has been defeated. Sens. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, and Charles Clements, R-Wetzel, voted with Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday night to keep[Read More…]
As West Virginia budget bill advances, Senate warned about overspending
By PHIL KABLER Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After several lean years, an uptick in state revenue collections has many legislators eager to tap into state budget surplus dollars, over warnings from Senate Finance Chairman Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, to avoid reverting to the bad old pork-barrel days of the state[Read More…]
Around the Rotunda: Legislative, committee schedule for Wednesday, March 6
Watch WV Legislature Live each day at http://www.legis.state.wv.us/live.cfm Wednesday, March 6, 2019 57th Day of the Legislative Session Rotunda and social activities: Fair Shake Network Ice Cream Social, Upper House Rotunda; WV Music Education Day, Upper Senate Rotunda (1 Table). SENATE: Senate to convene at 11 a.m. On The Agenda RESOLUTIONS SR 69: Congratulating[Read More…]
WV Senate panel advances bill to expand medication-assisted drug treatment
By TAYLOR STUCK The Herald-Dispatch CHARLESTON, W.Va.. — The Senate Health and Human Resources Committee on Tuesday passed a bill aimed at expanding medication-assisted treatment in rural areas. House Bill 3132 exempts those providing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to no more than 30 patients from the registration requirement. Doctors will still[Read More…]
WV House set to pass free community college bill, after rejecting expansion
By RYAN QUINN Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia House of Delegates Tuesday amended the Senate’s free community college tuition bill to also pay for associate’s degrees that some public, primarily four-year colleges offer. But the House rejected proposed amendments that would’ve expanded tuition aid beyond that, including[Read More…]
West Virginia Senate passes medical cannabis banking fix
By STEVEN ALLEN ADAMS The Parkersburg News and Sentinel CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The bill fixing the banking issue for medical marijuana could be on the governor’s desk this week. The West Virginia Senate Tuesday passed House Bill 2538, providing banking services to medical cannabis, in a 29-4 vote with no[Read More…]
