The Legislature Today: Budget Deficits Not a New Problem

Ted Boettner with the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy discusses the group’s latest report detailing Governor Tomblin’s 2017 budget proposal. 

Boettner explains previous tax cuts alongside the declining severance tax collections have hurt the state budget for years in a row. He also focuses in on the importance of funding higher education.

Senate committees take on two major bills Tuesday- one to increase the state’s tobacco tax, the other to remove the requirement to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon. 

Both committees began discussing amendments to the bills, but will continue considering them Wednesday in meetings. 

A special report from the state’s prison system shows how a program to train service dogs for veterans or children with disabilities is also helping the inmates working with the dogs.