The Legislature Today: Economists Debate Prevailing Wage

Democratic Senators continued with attempts to slow or kill a bill that repeals the state’s prevailing wage, but the GOP majority maintains the bill will help West Virginia’s economy.

Sean O’Leary with the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy and John Deskins with the West Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research discuss the possible economic impacts of the bill that will be up for passage in the Senate Thursday.

Sen. Ryan Ferns and Del. Joe Ellington, chairs of the Health Committees, discuss the efforts lawmakers are undertaking to curb substance abuse in West Virginia, including a bill to drug test public assistance recipients.

In the House, the Labor and Industry Committee amends a governor’s bill that would fine natural gas well site and pipeline operators for not reporting accidents within a timely manner to the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.