Tag: West Virginia Legislature

W.Va. Lawmakers Approve Budget Using $23M in Rainy Day Funds

West Virginia lawmakers have cleared a budget that relies on almost $23 million in reserves. The Republican-led Legislature voted Wednesday on the…

West Virginia lawmakers have cleared a budget that relies on almost $23 million in reserves.

  The Republican-led Legislature voted Wednesday on the House-Senate budget agreement. Some votes crossed party lines.

The plan wouldn’t depend on major tax or fee increases, like the cigarette tax hike that fizzled during the 60-day legislative session.

In a difficult budget year, there aren’t major pay increases, either. A small pocket of nationally certified teachers in low performing schools would get $2,000 raises.

Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s budget calls for $15.5 million from reserves. Republican Sen. Mike Hall says Tomblin’s budget depends on millions more from two bills that didn’t pass.

Tomblin can veto or reduce individual budget items.

 

Comment Periods Open for Air Pollution Permits and Pipeline Survey

On West Virginia Morning, while lawmakers are working on the state’s spending plan, some Putnam County school children are getting a lesson in how to create and stick to a budget.  And two stories about how citizens can offer comments on air quality permits for natural gas drilling and a possible natural gas pipeline through the Jefferson National Forest.  These stories coming up on West Virginia Morning from West Virginia Public Broadcasting – telling West Virginia’s story.

Lawmakers Begin Work on 2016 Budget

A conference committee of seven members of the House of Delegates and seven members of the Senate began work Monday on finding compromise in their budget bills. Each chamber approved their own version of the Fiscal Year 2016 budget last week. 

Senate Finance Chair Mike Hall said each chamber is walking into the negotiations with some priorities.

 In the Senate, members chose to approve a bill that contains a $6 million increase in funds for the West Virginia State Police and their forensics lab. 

Because of staffing shortages, Hall said the lab has a backlog of thousands of cases which in the end increases costs for counties. 

“The problem there is that if somebody is stuck at a regional jail waiting for their trial and their trial is delayed and delayed and delayed, the speculation is the counties are paying on the low end $13 million, on the high end $25, $30, $40 million of regional jail costs that if these things were done quickly would save a lot of money,” Hall said Monday.

“So, this $6 million is not just being thrown to the wind. There is a significant return on investment for the counties.”

The House is also looking to get a “return on investment” for their dollars, choosing to prioritize Community and Technical College funding in their budget.

Gov. Tomblin’s proposed budget included a 1.$ percent across the board cut for Higher Education. The House chose to restore the cut funds to all but one CTC in the state.

“We have a lot of need in our Community and Technical Colleges right now, especially with the growth in certain areas like the oil and gas in the north as well as in the Eastern Panhandle with needs in increased enrollment,” Nelson said.

“So, we just felt that we were putting money back to where it was going to have the biggest return going forward.”

Because of other differences in budget lines, the chambers differ, in the end, in the amount of one-time dollars pulled from the state’s Rainy Day Fund.

Delegates have passed a bill taking about $21 million from the Rainy Day Fund while Senators needed around $27 million to balance their proposed budget.

Governor Tomblin used $15 million from the one-time reserve for 2016, but said he will be working with lawmakers during budget week to keep the number below $30 million.

Five Bills to Watch on the Final Day of the W.Va. Legislature

This 82nd Legislature passed a slew of bills, but on the last day of the Legislative session, several big bills were still in limbo. Here’s what happened to five of them:

BONUS: Forced pooling (HB 2688).

This bill would have required certain mineral rights owners to sell to oil and gas drillers if 80 percent of surrounding owners sold. After passionate debate over property rights, the bill failed on a bi-partisan vote, 49-49, in the shocker of the last day of the session.

1. The “Fireworks” bill (HB 2646).

This bill started as a way to allow the sale of certain types of fireworks in West Virginia, but quickly grew into this year’s “Christmas tree” bill – with lots of goodies hung on it for all.

The Senate added a $1 tax on cigarettes. There’s also a provision that could allow smoking to continue at the state’s casinos and veteran’s organizations. The Senate and House have to work out several differences and figure out how to spend the new revenues, if it passes. UPDATE 11:45 p.m. Saturday: This is dead.

2. Common Core standards (HB 2943)

The House wants a repeal of Common Core standards, while the Senate is willing to give the state Department of Education more time to study possible changes. The Common Core bill is in the Senate. UPDATE 11:45 p.m. Saturday: This is dead. Expect it to be debated and studied this year.

3. Charter school legalization (SB 14)

The Legislature is considering a bill to allow charter schools in West Virginia. The Senate has passed the bill, and it is now in the House. Some House members object to a provision designed to prevent discrimination against LGBT children. UPDATE 11:45 p.m. Saturday: This is dead. We heard at one point this could become a study resolution.

4. Alternative certification for teachers (HB 2005).

This would allow Teach for America and other similar programs to operate in the state. Teacher’s unions oppose the bill, saying it would allow unqualified people to become teachers. The Senate added a provision that the new teachers could only serve in “areas of critical need,” such as special education, certain science and math classes, etc. UPDATE 10:45 p.m. Saturday: The House passed the bill 63-37. The bill now goes to the Governor.

5. Campaign Finance changes (SB 541).

This bill would increase the donation level to federal levels, from $1,000 to $2,700. The Senate added a requirement for more disclosure of so-called “dark money” from third-party groups which some House members object to on free speech grounds. House Speaker Tim Armstead says the bill is dead, so it probably is. But you never know. UPDATE 11:45 p.m. Saturday: It died.

Governor Questions Concealed Carry Bill

  At the Legislature today, Senators begin to focus in on the state’s four billion dollar budget as they wait for Delegates to approve some major pieces of legislation, like charter schools and campaign finance reform. The West Virginia schools for the deaf and blind will be eligible for funding from the School Building Authority for badly needed improvements under a bill passed by the senate finance committee today.

And, on our last episode of the season, Governor Earl Ray Tomblin joins us to look back on this session on The Legislature Today. He raises questions about the need for a bill to eliminate permits on concealed weapons.

W.Va. Lawmakers Clear Bill to Help Craft Beer Industry

West Virginia lawmakers have cleared a bill to help the state’s craft beer industry.

On Friday, the House of Delegates voted 86-11 to approve a bill letting brewers give out samples at their breweries. Many more businesses could sell up to four growlers of beer a day, including brewers, brewpubs, retailers and bars.

The bill also lowers licensing fees for brewpubs, and sets up a tiered fee system for brewers, instead of the current $1,500 flat fee.

The Senate has already approved a similar measure. The bill now heads back to the upper chamber to concur or reject to House’s amendments. 

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin called for changes to help craft brewers in his State of the State address in January.

There are currently 11 brewpubs and breweries in West Virginia.

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