Reporter Roundtable Looks at New Members, New Leadership and Possible Hot Button Issues for 2019

Two statehouse reporters join host Suzanne Higgins for a look back at the first three days of the 2019 West Virginia Legislative session. We also meet some of the legislature’s newest members, and we chat with Politifact about Gov. Jim Justice’s State of the State address.

For many of us, the first day on a job often comes with a range of emotions and expectations. But as reporter Randy Yohe found out, if you’re sent to the statehouse, representing thousands, responsibility weighs heavily. Yohe caught up with a diverse group of first-time lawmakers.     

Veteran statehouse reporters Phil Kabler of the Charleston Gazette-Mail and Brad McElhinny of WV MetroNews join Suzanne Higgins to talk about the latest from the Capitol.

Highlights from the Interview:

• New members in the state Legislature
• Leadership changes
• A look at Gov. Jim Justice’s 2019 State of the State
• “Jim’s Dream”
• Possible hot button issues for the 2019 session
• Gov. Justice’s re-election campaign announcement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yy289yhCxI&t=17s
We continue our journalist’s perspective with an interview with Politifact. Politifact is a non-profit, non-partisan news outlet that fact checks politicians. Editor Lou Jacabson had his staff look at Gov. Justice’s State of the State address and talked about it with West Virginia Public Broadcasting news director Jesse Wright. 

Next week, we’ll talk with Gov. Jim Justice, Senate President Mitch Carmichael, House Speaker Roger Hanshaw — and we’ll dive deeper into the budget.