On this week's broadcast of Mountain Stage, we revisit an episode from 2019 featuring Gregory Alan Isakov, Elysian Fields, Mandolin Orange, The Brother Brothers and Hush Kids. Recorded in Morgantown, West Virginia at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center with host Larry Groce.
Nearly 40 people gathered at the Capitol Wednesday to protest Governor Tomblin’s veto of a bill to allow for herd-sharing in the state, allowing more West Virginians to consume raw milk.
Senate Bill 30 passed with overwhelming support by both the House and Senate, despite some health concerns attached to the bill.
Herd sharing is when the owner of a milk producing animal pays a farmer to board their cow or goat for them. The herd share owner can then obtain the raw milk from their animal, but does not purchase the product from the farmer.
The bill itself acknowledges the bacteria in raw milk can be dangerous for pregnant women, children and people with compromised immune systems, which Gov. Tomblin cited in his veto message.
“A product with these types of health risks should be subject to more supervision than merely requiring a person to release the seller from any liability for such risks,” Tomblin wrote.
Tomblin also said in that message the bill lacks any provisions for oversight or regulation of the handling or storage of the product.
Tinia Creamer led the charge behind getting the bill passed. She is a small dairy farmer from Wayne County who believes the bill is about ownership of the animals and not about the health risks, which she says are minimal.
“This was not about raw milk sales,” she said. “It allowed people to co-own livestock. It’s really not the government’s business to come in and say you need to answer to the public health department before you use milk from your animal.”
Creamer points to lobbying money from the National Milk Producers Federation as the reason why the governor vetoed the bill. The group released a statement in support of Governor Tomblin’s decision shortly after the veto was released.
West Virginia and Indiana are leading a lawsuit, along with 25 other states, against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop new rules on existing coal and new natural gas-fired power plants.
The League of Women Voters of West Virginia has released their 2024 Legislative Scorecard. It compiles the votes from all the members of the West Virginia House of Delegates and state Senators on 26 bills that became law during this past legislative session to give an idea where they stand on issues.
On this West Virginia Morning, we speak with Judy Ball, chair of the Legislative Action Workgroup for the League of Women Voters of West Virginia, to break down the state's 2024 Legislative Scorecard. Also, we hear an excerpt from our Us & Them episode, "Compassion Fatigue."
Gov. Jim Justice said he will make a decision early next week when he’ll call a special legislative session. In a Wednesday media briefing, he said he was hopeful the session would happen in May.