Tag: Gov. Earl Ray Tombin

Former State Senator Billy Wayne Bailey Jr. Has Died

Billy Wayne Bailey Jr., was appointed to the West Virginia Senate in 1991 as a Democrat and was elected to that seat in 1992 and again in 1996, 2000, 2004. He served as the Senate Majority Whip and served on numerous committees.

Billy Wayne Bailey Jr., was born June 7, 1957, in Bluefield, in Mercer County. 

He was appointed to the West Virginia Senate in 1991 as a Democrat and was elected to that seat in 1992 and again in 1996, 2000 and 2004. He served as the Senate Majority Whip and served on numerous committees. 

Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, remembered his former colleague fondly. 

“I’m saddened by the news of the passing of Senator Bailey, who welcomed me to the West Virginia Legislature when I became a Delegate in 2003,” Blair said. “We shared many conversations, challenges and most of all, our laughter. I will personally miss my friend Billy Wayne and my prayers are with his family during this time of great sorrow.”

In 2008, he chose not to run for re-election. He ran unsuccessfully for Secretary of State instead. 

During the Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin administration, in 2011, Bailey joined the West Virginia Department of Veterans Affairs as deputy secretary under former Secretary Keith Gwinn. He served in that role until 2019. 

From 1978 to 1984, he served in the 1092nd Combat Engineers Battalion of the National Guard, then spent 15 years with the Air National Guard’s 130th Airlift Wing.

He was a graduate of Herndon High School, attended Morris Harvey College, now the University of Charleston, and Marshall University.

Special Session will Focus on Flood Funding

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin will call lawmakers into a special session Sunday evening to consider legislation that will help the state continue to cleanup and recover from June’s historic flooding. 

Gov. Tomblin issued the proclamation Friday convening a special session beginning Sunday evening at 6pm. Lawmakers will only be able to consider two pieces of legislation, according to the session call.

The first bill expires $21 million of surplus funds from the 2016 fiscal year and takes and an additional $55 million from the state’s Rainy Day Fund, placing them in the general revenue account. The bill then appropriates $85 million from general revenue into the governor’s Civil Contingency Fund to pay debts and on-going expenses related to flood damage.

The second bill on the call allows lawmakers to pay both their own and employee salaries and expenses for the length of the special session.

Tomblin said flooding in south-central West Virginia on June 23 resulted in more than $300 million worth of damage to homes, businesses, and public buildings and infrastructure.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will pay 75 percent of those costs, although Tomblin has asked the federal government to increase the match to 90 percent. 

State Begins Allowing Concealed Guns Without Permits

West Virginia now lets people 21 years old and up carry hidden guns without permits or training.

The law passed by the Republican-led Legislature took effect Tuesday.

In March, lawmakers needed only a simple majority to override Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s veto of the bill.

Tomblin vetoed it over safety concerns from law enforcement officials. He vetoed similar legislation last year.

It was already legal in West Virginia to carry guns openly — in a holster, for instance — without permits.

The law lets people carry concealed guns in public without permits, by wearing a coat for example. People ages 18 through 20 still will need a permit and training with live firing.

West Virginia is one of 10 states that don’t require concealed carry permits.

Tomblin Signs Voter ID, Automatic Voter Registration Bill

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has signed a bill that requires voters to show some form of identification before casting a ballot at his or her polling place as well as creates an an automatic voter registration process system. 

The bill was the result of a conference committee on the final night of the session that negotiated an expanded list of the forms of identification. They include:

  • Any government issued ID or permit, with or without a photo, including a voter registration card
  • Any college or high school issued ID
  • A health insurance card
  • A utility bill
  • A bank card or bank statement
  • Verification of identification by another adult who has known the voter for at least 6 months, including a poll worker

The bill also requires the Secretary of State’s Office to work with the Division of Motor Vehicles to create an automatic voter registration system.
Currently, the DMV has an opt in voter registration policy that allows West Virginian to register to vote while applying for or renewing a license. The change would require West Virginians to opt out of the registration process.

On the final night of the session, Tomblin said he did not believe the requirement to provide some type of identification would place any additional burden on West Virginia voters.

The bill takes effect January 1, 2018.

W.Va. Governor Signs Raw Milk Bill

After vetoing a similar bill last year, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has signed a proposal letting West Virginians drink raw milk through animal-sharing agreements.

Tomblin signed the bill Thursday after lawmakers passed it.

The bill would let people strike agreements to share milk-producing animals and drink raw milk. It would maintain a ban on selling or distributing raw milk.

People would have to sign a document acknowledging the health risks. Animals would need to have passed health tests within the last year.

In his veto message last year, Tomblin wrote that the bill would pose a serious risk to public health, since raw milk can contain particularly dangerous bacteria for children, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.

It becomes effective in late May.

Delegate Bob Ashley Picked to Fill Vacant Senate Seat

Delegate Bob Ashley has been appointed to fill the 3rd District state Senate seat vacated by David Nohe.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced Ashley’s appointment Tuesday.

Ashley, a Republican, has served nearly three decades in the House of Delegates. He operates an insurance agency in Spencer.

Nohe resigned last month to fill a vacancy on the West Virginia Parole Board.

Del. Bob Ashely being sworn in to the @wvsenate this afternoon just minutes after his appointment by @govtomblin. Ashley takes former Sen. David Nohe's seat who resigned for a position on the state Parole Board. A video posted by West Virginia Public News (@wvpublicnews) on Sep 15, 2015 at 11:54am PDT

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