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State Senators Talk Latest In 2024 Session And Nellie McKay Has Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, our state Senate reporter Briana Heaney sat down with Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, and Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia, on The Legislature Today to discuss where things stand in the legislative process and how that compares to what they planned to do at the beginning of the session.

On this West Virginia Morning, our state Senate reporter Briana Heaney sat down with Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, and Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia, on The Legislature Today to discuss where things stand in the legislative process and how that compares to what they planned to do at the beginning of the session.

Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from singer/songwriter Nellie McKay, whose music incorporates many different styles infused with her zany and profound interpretations of life. We listen to her performance of “Drinking Song.”

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.

Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

State Senators Weigh In On The Bills That Passed, Failed This Session

On this episode of The Legislature Today, our Senate reporter Briana Heaney talks with Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, and Sen. Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia, to discuss where things stand and how that compares to what they planned to do at the beginning of the session.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, our Senate reporter Briana Heaney talks with Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, and Sen. Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia, to discuss where things stand and how that compares to what they planned to do at the beginning of the session.

Also, earlier in the day Thursday, Gov. Jim Justice issued a proclamation to extend the legislative session by one day to allow the legislature to finalize the state budget bill. There has been discussion about a special session in May to finalize questions regarding a potential federal claw back of COVID-19 relief funds.

In the House, there was a long debate over minorities purchasing car dealerships and another contested debate over control of the Legislative Auditor’s office. Other proposals included smoking in the car with a child and taking action over a massive federal deficit.

In the Senate, the chamber passed several House bills, some of which head to the governor and others back to the House to concur on changes. Some notable bills in the Senate Thursday were on topics such as renewable energy, pornography and cyber security. Briana Heaney has more.

Finally, a state Senate committee heard new details Wednesday about how the Pleasants Power Station will be converted from coal to hydrogen. Curtis Tate has the story.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Constitutional Protection From Euthanasia Could Appear On Ballots This Fall

Republicans in the West Virginia House of Delegates have backed a resolution allowing residents to vote to add protection from euthanasia to the state constitution during this fall’s general election.

Republicans in the West Virginia House of Delegates are calling on their colleagues in the West Virginia Senate to place constitutional protections from euthanasia on voters’ ballots this fall.

Euthanasia, or medically assisted suicide, is already illegal in the state.

With both chambers’ support, House Joint Resolution 28 would allow residents to vote on adding protections against euthanasia to the state constitution during this fall’s general election.

But lawmakers held conflicting views on the measure at a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting Monday.

Resolution sponsor Del. Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, was invited to speak to senators in committee, stating that the state’s stance against euthanasia is important.

“There’s this phenomenon of nihilism that’s sort of spreading across the country, and I think it’s an important issue we need to address,” McGeehan said. “To the best of my knowledge, we’ll be the first to place this and take a stand in the state constitution.”

While euthanasia prevention received some bipartisan support, pushback on aspects of the bill fell along party lines.

Republican lawmakers wanted to add language to the amendment so it could not affect capital punishment policies.

But Democratic lawmakers like Sen. Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, said that contradicts the purported pro-life nature of the resolution.

Woelfel said he supported the resolution generally, but that protecting capital punishment gave him pause. Other lawmakers expressed concern over outright condemning euthanasia.

Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, said he became more sympathetic to legalizing euthanasia after watching his father-in-law suffer through hospice care at the end of his life.

“We was praying for him to die, that’s how much he was suffering. We was literally praying for him to die,” Caputo said. “I know that, if he could have made this decision to end it earlier, he would have done that.”

Caputo also expressed concern that the resolution would hold legal implications for medical professionals, but McGeehan said the measure would not hold legal weight beyond what is already in place in state law.

Ultimately, members of the committee voted in favor of the resolution, sending it to the Senate floor with the recommendation that it pass.

If members of the Senate approve the resolution, West Virginia voters will be able to vote on constitutional protections from euthanasia in the state general election this November.

Understanding The Scope Of W.Va. Food Insecurity, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, Briana Heaney spoke with Cindi Kirkhart, the chief executive officer of the Facing Hunger Foodbank, and Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, to help us better understand food insecurity issues in the state.

On this West Virginia Morning, Tuesday was Facing Hunger Day at the Capitol. Both major food banks in the state were joined by local food pantries to promote legislative priorities. According to the USDA, more than 1 in 4 children are food insecure in the United States. In West Virginia and Kentucky, at least 78,800 seniors are living in poverty.

To continue this discussion, Briana Heaney invited Cindi Kirkhart, the chief executive officer of the Facing Hunger Foodbank, and Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, to help us better understand the scope of the problem.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.

Eric Douglas produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Skaff Steps Down As House Minority Leader, Hornbuckle To Take On Role

Democrat Doug Skaff of Kanawha County is stepping down as Minority Leader in the West Virginia House of Delegates. Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, the current Minority Leader Pro Temp, will become the new Minority Leader.

Democrat Doug Skaff of Kanawha County is stepping down as Minority Leader in the West Virginia House of Delegates.

Skaff will leave his post following the conclusion of next week’s legislative interim meetings, according to a news release from House Democrats.

Skaff was first named Minority Leader in December 2020, after former-Minority Leader Tim Miley did not seek reelection.

Skaff said he plans on using the extra time to focus more energy on his businesses and coaching his three sons at soccer.

“I have enjoyed working with Republican Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw to deliver common sense solutions for the people of West Virginia,” Skaff said in a statement. “In my role as Minority Leader, I worked with Speaker Hanshaw to focus on attracting businesses to our state and creating jobs here as we traveled the country to encourage companies and major corporations to Choose WV.”

Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, the current Minority Leader Pro Temp, will become the new Minority Leader. Skaff said Hornbuckle is a “strong leader, delegate and friend — I know that he will lead the caucus well.”

House Minority Leader Pro Temp Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell.

*Credit: Perry Bennett/WV Legislative Photography*

Hornbuckle will be the first Black floor leader in modern record keeping for the state House of Delegates, according to Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director of the House Ann Ali.

West Virginia Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, issued a statement following the announcement. Woelfel wished Skaff well and spoke highly of Hornbuckle’s appointment.

“I can think of no better incoming Leader than Delegate Sean Hornbuckle. I have known Delegate Hornbuckle for many years,” Woelfel said. “He is a pillar in our community and a man of integrity. Sean’s acumen, character, and work ethic are superb. He is bold in action but also pragmatic. His service on behalf of the citizens of Cabell County absolutely merits his elevation to this leadership position.”

Bill Requires Rape Kit Access Within 24 Hours

A bill passed in the Senate Monday morning, requiring all West Virginia hospitals with emergency departments have a trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) available to treat victims 24 hours a day.

Senate Bill 89 passed on third reading. It now goes to the House of Delegates for consideration. Issues around proper care for victims of sexual assault or abuse were also a topic of conversation during interim committee sessions where lawmakers heard from advocates, including two representatives of the Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Commission (SAFE).

On Jan. 10, two advocates for the bill, Nancy Hoffman, director of the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services (WVFRIS) and David Miller, Forensic Central Evidence Processing Supervisor with the West Virginia State Police, told lawmakers that remaining roadblocks in proper care and criminal proceedings stem from a shortage of SANE-trained nurses in combination with travel time and costs, causing long delays for the victims.

Senate Bill 89 addresses those issues by calling on the state’s hospitals to implement training as soon as possible, to meet their 18-month deadline.

Sen. Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, mentioned the legislature has been working to pass a version of this bill for three years. He asked if West Virginia’s hospitals would have a hard time complying.

In response, Health and Human Resources Committee Chair Sen. Mike Maroney, R-Marshall, mentioned interim committee discussions and said the hospitals understood how important this training will be for their patients.

“We’ve had some pretty intense discussions during interims concerning this,” Maroney said. “The hospitals had a presence there like they usually do everywhere, paying attention. It’s a mandate of nurse training during probably the worst nursing shortage in our state’s history, the timing is not ideal but we have waited two years and they’ve known it’s coming and they are going to ramp up a little bit if you take the effective date, you have another 18 months, which gives you three cycles of training to get through. They know it is the right thing to do and they are okay.”

Furthermore, lawmakers discussed how impactful accessibility of SANE-trained nurses will be to the victims, but also the investigations.

“It would be possible right now to be a rape victim and have to travel, dirty, for three hours, that is adding significantly more trauma in my opinion to the victim that has already been traumatized,” Maroney said. “Every mile you drive, you increase the risk of contamination so therefore you risk non-conviction.”

Senate Bill 89 passed unanimously.