By RUSTY MARKS The State Journal CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia lawmakers are gearing up for another try at passing tax reform in the state. How sweeping those reforms may be appears to be something that will be open for a great deal of debate. Several tax reform ideas were[Read More…]
Government
Preston Delegate Tony Lewis dead at 59
Staff reports The Preston County News & Journal KINGWOOD, W.Va. — Delegate Tony Lewis, R-Preston, has died at the age of 59 following a battle with lymphoma. House Speaker Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha, said Lewis died at around 4 p.m. Sunday. “I am so very sad to learn of Tony’s passing,” Speaker Armstead said.[Read More…]
State-run farms lose almost $3 million
By RUSTY MARKS The State Journal CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia lawmakers should consider whether the state should continue to operate state-owned farms after the institutions lost about $2.6 million over the past three years, lawmakers were told during a legislative interim meeting on Sept. 17. Justin Robinson, a legislative[Read More…]
Legislators hear details of challenges, ongoing recoveries from June flood
By ANDREA LANNOM The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Officials from towns in Kanawha and Greenbrier counties Tuesday detailed challenges and ongoing recovery efforts after last June’s devastating floods. County and city officials told members of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Flooding about challenges they faced after the flood, including what[Read More…]
WV Gov. Justice appoints Foster’s replacement to House
By JAKE ZUCKERMAN Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia governor appointed an auditor from Cross Lanes to fill a vacant seat in the House of Delegates on Tuesday. Dianna Graves will take over the Putnam County seat vacated by Nancy Foster, who resigned Sept. 1. Graves currently works as[Read More…]
Issues raised about costs of moving state agencies to WV Capitol grounds
By PHIL KABLER Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Commerce Secretary Woody Thrasher told legislators Tuesday that, if he had a choice, he would not have moved department agencies into Capitol complex Building 3, which reopened this summer after undergoing a $34 million renovation. “It’s a judgment call whether we should[Read More…]
WV officials unsure PEIA would benefit from privatization
By PHIL KABLER Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Privatization of West Virginia’s Workers’ Compensation insurance was successful, particularly in lowering employer premiums and increasing competition, Brickstreet Insurance CEO Greg Burton told legislators Tuesday. Whether those successes would apply to privatization of the state Public Employees Insurance Agency health insurance remains to[Read More…]
Wood County official meets with lawmakers on jail bill
By BRETT DUNLAP The Parkersuburg News and Sentinel PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — Wood County officials feel they have discovered major problems with how regional jail bills are figured and are presenting them to state officials. Commission President Blair Couch said he recently attended a meeting of the Post Audit Subcommittee that[Read More…]
Media Advisory: Meeting on Route 35 Buffalo/Toyota Interchange, WV Road Bond Amendment set for 6 p.m. in Winfield
State Sen. Glenn Jeffries to host public meeting WINFIELD, W.Va. — West Virginia State Sen, Glenn Jeffries, (D-Putnam), will host a public meeting to discuss the Route 35 Buffalo/Toyota interchange and the road bond amendment election today, Sept. 19, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Senator Jeffries will be joined by[Read More…]
WV lawmakers hear about policies on teacher seniority, school vouchers
By RYAN QUINN Charleston Gazette-Mail Reducing the role of seniority in teacher layoff decisions, and allowing families to put public school funding toward private schooling and home schooling, were both concepts that school employee unions opposed and that saw supportive bills fail during this year’s legislative session. This week, the[Read More…]