In Final Meeting, House Finance Committee Approves Some Of Morrisey’s Fiscal Goals

Lawmakers have submitted their version of the state budget to Gov. Patrick Morrisey. But two of Morrisey’s fiscal priorities are still making their way through the legislature.

Wednesday the House Finance Committee advanced Senate Bill 570, which appropriates close to $200 million from the federal Rural Health Transformation fund to the state Department of Health.

Delegates asked Curtis Capehart, the governor’s director of policy, for a breakdown of how the money will be spent. He laid out seven flagship programs that will receive the bulk of the funding:

• $45.9 million for Connected Care grid
• $13.8 million for Rural Health Link
• $14.7 million for Mountain State Care Force
• $45.6 million for Smart Care Catalyst
• $13.9 million for the Health To Prosperity Pipeline
• $29 million for the Personal Health Accelerator
• $18.8 million for Health Tech Appalachia

Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, called the money historic.

“As we all know we’re the worst in the country when it comes to a lot of these metrics and data points,” he said. “I look forward to seeing some of these change through this funding, in future funding.”

Morrisey chided lawmakers Tuesday for delaying the money’s implementation. He had previously advocated for urgent passage of the Rural Health Fund appropriation – as well as a 10% income tax cut –  during a Feb. 24 press conference.

The committee also approved Senate Bill 392, but not before the bill’s 10% tax cut to personal income tax was reduced to 5%. The committee amendment also increases taxes on vape products. 

Several delegates commented that the governor had reduced revenue estimates to account for such a cut. 

Del. Marty Gearheart, R-Mercer, offered an amendment to the amendment to remove the vape tax increase from the bill. He said increasing a tax inside of a bill meant to cut another tax was “illogical.”

“We have been in the posture here of a budget that shows a 5% tax cut without any tax increases. We are considering today, a 5% tax cut,” Gearheart said. “The Senate has asked us also to increase taxes which were not part of the governor’s revenue estimate. He estimated the revenue at a 5% tax cut, not a increase in the vape tax. Again, I think it’s illogical.”