By GREG JORDAN Bluefield Daily Telegraph BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — Most area residents both supportive and cautious Wednesday about legislation which would allow physicians to prescribe medicinal marijuana products in West Virginia. During Tuesday’s legislative session, the West Virginia House of Delegates passed Senate Bill 386, the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act,[Read More…]
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Budget theatrics rise as WV legislative session nears end
By PHIL KABLER Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — On a day when the West Virginia House and Senate each advanced versions of the 2017-18 budget bill that would cut spending on state programs and services, following heated partisan floor debate, Gov. Jim Justice declared Wednesday that the session has “spiraled[Read More…]
Justice extends WV legislative session for budget work
By RUSTY MARKS The State Journal CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Comparing House of Delegates and Senate budget plans to a “nothing burger” and a “mayonnaise sandwich,” West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice on Wednesday, April 5 announced he would extend the 60-day legislative session by one day. “We have spiraled into crazy[Read More…]
Justice announces session will be extended one day for budget resolution
By WENDY HOLDREN The Register-Herald Gov. Jim Justice, seated at a desk with two empty plates — a “nothing burger” and a “mayonnaise sandwich” — representing the budget plans proposed by the West Virginia House and Senate, announced a one-day extension of the session. “Neither do anything for you,” Justice[Read More…]
Senate passes budget bill
By ANDREA LANNOM The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After a little more than an hour of debate with opponents expressing concerns over “draconian cuts” and proponents saying the state needs to live within its means, the West Virginia Senate passed a $4.1 billion budget in a 20-14 vote. The vote[Read More…]
WV House of Delegates approves budget, revenue bills
By RUSTY MARKS The State Journal CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of the West Virginia House of Delegates passed a budget bill Wednesday, April 5 following more than three hours of sometimes heated debate. Delegate Eric Nelson, R-Kanawha, chairman of the House Finance Committee, said the original general revenue budget proposed by[Read More…]
House budget bill passes, 58-42
By DAVID BEARD The Dominion Post CHARLESTON, W.Va. — No matter which party is in charge, budget bills pass along party lines. So it was no surprise that the House budget bill, HB 2018, passed 58-42, with just a few Republicans crossing over. What was unusual was that almost all[Read More…]
Senators debut version of state budget
By DAVID BEARD The Dominion Post CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As senators debated their version of the state budget April 5, Sen. Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, made an observation about the nature of the debate. “This is political theater dealing with the budget.” The Senate budget bill, SB 199, passed, 20-14. As[Read More…]
Protect West Virginia members oppose House, Senate budget cuts
By ANDREA LANNOM The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Standing in front of the West Virginia Capitol, a grassroots advocacy group criticized budget proposals put forth by the House and Senate, saying cuts to programs could be devastating to the state’s future. Members of Protect West Virginia Wednesday discussed proposed cuts[Read More…]
W.Va. nonprofit group talks about state budget crisis
By WENDY HOLDREN The Register-Herald The Mountain State didn’t wind up with its $500 million budget deficit overnight. Ted Boettner, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, said the state’s budget crisis arose from two central reasons: tax cuts and a severe decline in the coal industry. “We’re facing[Read More…]