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…]
Government
Correctional officers need raises, lawmakers told
By PHIL KABLER Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia needs to raise starting salaries for correctional officers in state prisons and regional jails by at least $6,000 in order to compete with pay rates in neighboring states and reduce dangerously high turnover rates, legislators were told Sunday. “We have[Read More…]
Interim meeting hints at coming tax reform debate
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…]
Voting yes on W.Va. Road Bond will bring immediate benefits
By W.Va. Delegate Eric Nelson, R-35th House Finance Committee Chairman When West Virginians turned control of the Legislature over to Republicans in 2014, they did so with a clear mandate: turn the state’s economy around and help create jobs. In the years since, we’ve reformed the state’s legal environment, begun stripping[Read More…]
Justice to discuss road bond in Elkins
Staff report The Inter-Mountain ELKINS, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice will be making a stop today in Elkins to discuss the upcoming “Roads to Prosperity” bond referendum that will be voted on during an Oct. 7 special election. Justice will be taking part in a town hall meeting at 2:30[Read More…]
Legislature to continue belt-tightening, legal reform
By RUSTY MARKS The State Journal CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Republican-controlled West Virginia Legislature will keep trying to rein in state spending and continue to work on legal reforms to make the state more attractive to business when lawmakers reconvene in January, members of the state Chamber of Commerce were[Read More…]
W.Va. Legislative Auditor releases September interim meeting schedule
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Legislative Auditor Aaron Allred has released the schedule for the Legislature’s September interim meetings: Use this link to see the schedule, which is also attached below: General Schedule link: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/committees/interims/intcomsched.cfm In PDF form: Interim Committee Schedule
Justice to receive compliance plan for federal education mandate
By RUSTY MARKS The State Journal CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice is expected to sign off on the state’s plan for compliance with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, which he will receive on Monday. Public comment on the compliance plan ended Aug. 30. Justice has until Sept. 18[Read More…]
Drennan appointed to fill District 4 Senate seat
The Herald-Dispatch CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice has appointed Mark A. Drennan to fill the Senate seat in District 4. The seat became vacant last month when former Sen. Mike Hall was named chief of staff for the Justice administration. Since 2011, Drennan has served as executive director of[Read More…]
West Virginia Senator Ryan Weld to be named Senate Majority Whip
By JOSELYN KING The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register WHEELING, W.Va. — West Virginia Sen. Ryan Weld will be the Senate’s next majority whip, giving the Northern Panhandle a second voice among the chamber’s top three leaders. Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, is expected to announce the appointment officially today. The[Read More…]
