House Democrats Say Republicans Overlooked Laundry List Of Key Issues This Session

Just days remain in this year’s legislative session, but Democratic members of the West Virginia House of Delegates say the wider legislature has insufficiently addressed key issues affecting residents across the state.

House Democrats expressed disappointment over the Republican supermajority’s approach to things like child care, workforce development and benefits for state employees during a press conference at the West Virginia State Capitol Wednesday afternoon.

House Minority Leader Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, called these “kitchen-table issues” that had been at the top of his party’s agenda throughout the session.

“Unfortunately, we have seen this session again — I stand here on Day 57 — is a waste of time,” he said.

Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, pointed to Senate Bill 474 as an example of a misplaced priority from lawmakers on the right. The bill would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs across state government.

Hamilton described the bill as “divisive and discriminatory.” She noted that some of its provisions allow for identity-specific initiatives on the basis of sex, but prohibit them on the basis of race and ethnicity.

Hamilton introduced an amendment to make provisions in the bill more uniform among these identity categories. It was approved by the House Education Committee but later walked back by the House Judiciary Committee, where she does not serve as a member.

“This is not a problem in West Virginia,” Hamilton said. “It does nothing to improve West Virginia. It only divides us.”

Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, said Republicans in the state legislature have focused on “campaign-mode,” “rhetoric-type” bills like these instead of things that would boost benefits for state employees or recruit more workers into the state’s overburdened foster care and correctional systems.

“This legislature and this governor [have] made the problem worse by failing to address the Public Employee Insurance Agency, failing to address that their health care keeps going up without giving adequate pay raises,” he said. “They need to be less concerned about ending DEI and more concerned about fixing PEIA.”

Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, argued Republican lawmakers have introduced “harmful” bills this session. He specifically pointed to Senate Bill 592, which would loosen inspection requirements for oil, gas and coal tanks near water supplies.

The inspections were mandated by the state legislature after a devastating chemical leak into the Elk River from an above-ground storage tank contaminated drinking water for residents of nine counties in 2014.

House Democrats also criticized last-minute efforts to expand vaccine exemptions for West Virginia students after similar pushes failed earlier in the session; plus a bill that would authorize data centers to create their own microgrid energy supplies without paying energy rates or procuring local approval.

After the event, Cole Snyder, communications director for the House’s Republican caucus, pushed back against some of the concerns raised by members of the chamber’s Democratic caucus in an email to members of the media.

“House Democrats claim that the legislature is getting nothing done, but this is simply a lie,” Snyder wrote. “Quality bills are moving through the House of Delegates, oftentimes with their support.”

Snyder cited House Bill 2014 — the microgrid bill — plus House Bill 2389 and Senate Bill 458 as examples of Republican-led efforts to foster job growth in the state. The latter two bills would facilitate licensure processes in the state for dieticians and other professionals.

House Republicans have also spearheaded efforts to reform foster care, child welfare and student discipline, Snyder said.

“They simply choose to forget those bills when it comes time to play politics,” he added.

March 12 is the final day of this year’s legislative session, and bills have a March 10 deadline to be taken up for first reading on the floor of either legislative chamber. By then, House Democrats expressed doubt that the state legislature would address their overarching concerns.

“Session is almost over,” said House Minority Whip Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio. “That’s some good news for West Virginians.”