By PHIL KABLER Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — With five days left in the West Virginia Legislature’s 2017 session, the moves are accelerating in the chess match that is the state budget process, with all indications at the moment that the game will end in a stalemate. The Senate, in[Read More…]
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Medical marijuana legislation amended in WV Senate
By JOSELYN KING The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register WHEELING, W.Va. — The use of medical marijuana in leaf form would be prohibited under an amendment to a legislation narrowly approved by the West Virginia House of Delegates. Senate Bill 386, a bill to legalize medical marijuana in the state, had[Read More…]
Environmental groups urge changes to coal bill
By KEN WARD JR. Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Environmental organizations and citizen groups turned out Monday to urge lawmakers to strip from a coal industry bill language that would force state regulators to remove consideration of the diversity of aquatic communities when they assess the health of West Virginia’s[Read More…]
Justice vows to veto current GOP budget plan
By JIM ROSS The State Journal CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice gathered about two dozen senior officials from business, labor, education and nonprofits Monday to show the support he has for this budget plan. Some of the governor’s remarks were a repeat of speeches he has recently given while[Read More…]
House committee advances sales tax changes
By ASHTON MARRA West Virginia Public Broadcasting CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of the House Finance Committee have advanced their bill to “broaden the base and lower the rate” of the state’s sales tax, a bill that the chamber is relying on to balance its 2018 budget. Members were initially presented[Read More…]
Legislators look to hash out budget before session closes
By CHARLIE BOOTHE Bluefield Daily Telegraph CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A local legislator said a budget will be hashed out this week in Charleston before this legislative session closes April 8, but the details remain “in flux.” Del. Marty Gearheart, R-Mercer County, has been spending long hours in the finance committee[Read More…]
SNAP asset test bill takes flak at hearing
By JAKE ZUCKERMAN Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A bill designed to impose an asset test on applicants for government assistance programs received a near-unanimous shellacking during a public hearing Monday. Senate Bill 60, which the Senate passed last week, yielded comments from 19 audience members in the chambers of[Read More…]
State Republican Party comes out against medical marijuana bill
By ERIN BECK Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Republican Party asked its members in the House of Delegates to vote no on a bill, up for second reading Monday, that would permit the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes in the state. The letter, which is from the[Read More…]
Senate Finance Committee presented with leadership budget
By ASHTON MARRA West Virginia Public Broadcasting CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Senators on the chamber’s Finance Committee were given their first look at the body’s proposed budget bill Monday, April 3, which the chamber’s finance chairman says relies almost solely on cuts to find a balance. This Senate budget largely relies[Read More…]
House advances changed tax reform bill
By ANDREA LANNOM The Register-Herald CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A House committee advanced to the floor Monday a bill dealing with broadening and lowering the sales tax rate. Questions surfaced in an afternoon floor session about whether a bill was passed to the full House dealing with broadening and lowering the[Read More…]
