Senate Energy Chair Seeks Recusal On Bill, But Is Directed To Vote

In a meeting Monday in the Energy, Industry and Mining Committee, Sen. Chris Rose, a Monongalia County Republican, asked to recuse himself from Senate Bill 505.

“I am asking for Senate Rule 43 to be excluded from the vote here today and the discussion,” he said, citing his job with Mon Power.

The bill would change how power plants operate in the state, and Mon Power opposes it. The company said it encouraged Rose to keep his legislative role separate from his job.

Sen. Ben Queen, a Harrison County Republican, delivered the order.

“It is the ruling of the chair that the senator from the second be directed to vote,” Queen said.

Mon Power operates two coal-burning power plants in the state and has said it plans to replace them with natural gas in the coming years.

Sen. Brian Helton, a Fayette County Republican, threw his support behind Rose voting on the bill.

“I think you should vote on it, because I think it’s an important piece of legislation that affects the industry, and I think you’re the in large part of the reason this bill is being run through this committee,” Helton said.

The committee approved the bill again and sent it to the full chamber. 

A Mon Power spokesman referred to an earlier statement in which he said the company advised Rose to recuse himself on matters and legislation affecting the company.