Day 15: Got thoughts on the governor's proposed income tax cuts? You may be able to tell him directly
Good morning and welcome back to 60 Days.
Today is the 15th day of the West Virginia Legislature’s regular session.
That means, once state lawmakers wrap up for the day, we’ll be a quarter of the way through. Or, to return to my “60-day-session-as-a-marathon” metaphor, we’ll have run 6.55 miles together.
Admittedly, I had to use a calculator to do that math — and, well, I’m also not one for running (unless it’s scurrying around the bases while playing beer-league softball).
I’m more of a “have a cup of coffee in the morning and leisurely walk the dog for about a mile” kind of guy.
Starting today, Gov. Jim Justice is taking his income tax cut proposal on the road. He announced yesterday during an 11 a.m. briefing (just as the House and Senate gaveled in) that he’ll make three stops around the state this week.
Justice will be in Parkersburg today before visiting Beckley on Thursday and Wheeling on Friday.
The governor is hoping to rally the public behind his proposed 50% income tax cut that would be spread out over the course of three years. While the House of Delegates passed the measure last week, it’s met a significant roadblock in the Senate.
Justice is no stranger to taking his ideas — or opposition to others’ ideas — on the road. Ahead of the November election, he traveled around the state to fight against Amendment 2, the failed constitutional amendment championed by Senate Republicans.
Everyday West Virginians got to weigh in for themselves on Amendment 2 at the ballot box, but HB 2526 (the official bill number of his tax cut proposal) is for lawmakers to decide. The governor seems to be banking on swaying the public, who’ll then have to get in the ears of senators.
Looking ahead to today, the House and Senate will each gavel in this morning at 11 a.m.
And each chamber has quite a lot on their plates. So, we’re not going to give you a list of everything. You can find today’s Senate Calendar here and the House Special Calendar here.
But since you’re here, we’ll note the following in the Senate this morning:
SR 13 - Observing 90th Anniversary of Holodomor Ukrainian Genocide of 1932-1933 (It’s on unfinished business, but that just means they’ll likely put it up for adoption. And, if you’re looking to learn a bit about this history, I highly recommend the film “Mr. Jones.”)
SB 121 - Creating Student Journalist Press Freedom Protection Act (It’s on third reading and up for passage. As journalists ourselves, we’d be kinda silly not to mention this one.)
SB 208 - Relating to criminal justice training for all law-enforcement and correction officers regarding individuals with autism spectrum disorders
Com. Sub. for SB 254 - Changing annual mandatory state vehicle inspections to every two years (It’s only on first reading, but if you’ve ever driven a less-than-perfect car like I have, this one might be of interest.)
Here’s a look at committee meetings scheduled in the House:
9 a.m. – House Committee on Fire Departments and EMS, Room 460-M
9:15 a.m. – House Committee on Political Subdivisions, Room 410-M
10 a.m. – House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security, Room 215-E
1 p.m. – House Committee on Finance, Room 460-M
Budget hearings with Higher Education Policy Commission, the Community and Technical College system and Homeland Security
1 p.m. – House Committee on the Judiciary, Room 410-M
2 p.m. – House Committee on Education, Room 434-M
Of note on this agenda is: HB 2549, Permit teachers in K-12 schools be authorized to carry concealed firearms as a designated school protection officer.
3 p.m. – House Committee on Government Organization, Room 215-E
And here’s today’s Senate committee schedule:
9 a.m. — Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee, Room 208-W
Treasurer – Hope Scholarship, 112 CSR 18
1 p.m. — Senate Committee on School Choice, Room 208-W
Organizational Motions
SB 47: Creating Charter Schools Stimulus Fund
1 p.m. — Senate Committee on Economic Development, Room 451-M
SB 188: Creating Grid Stabilization and Security Act of 2023
2 p.m. — Senate Committee on Outdoor Recreation, Room 208-W
2 p.m — Senate Committee on Pensions, Room 451- M
SB 166: Relating to reemployment after retirement by public employees
Presentation: Blair Taylor, Executive Director, Municipal Pensions Oversight Board
The Senate passed SB 10 yesterday on a 29-4 vote, with Sen. Mike Maroney (R-Marshall) being the only Republican to join the minority Democrats in voting against the bill.
The “Campus Self-Defense Act” would allow those with a concealed carry permit to carry guns on university and college campuses — stripping boards that oversee those institutions from having the ability to make that decision for themselves.
Senate Judiciary Chair Charles Trump (R-Morgan) told the body that 11 other states currently permit guns on college campuses. He noted that SB 10 calls for those who carry firearms on campus to hold a valid concealed carry permit — and that open carry (sometimes referred to as “constitutional carry”) is not allowed under the bill.
However, Sen. Mike Caputo (D-Marion) called the effort a “bad idea,” although he acknowledged it would pass. He cited concerns from various campus organizations and faculty members who opposed the bill.
“It’s a bad idea to encourage folks to carry weapons on campus,” Caputo said. “I just don’t know why we would want to put our youth in a situation like that.”
SB 10 now heads to the House for consideration.
The House passed another closely watched bill — this one dealing with limiting a governor’s power during a state of emergency. Such a proposal has been considered since the 2021 regular session — nearly a year into the coronavirus pandemic.
SB 128 was one of the bills the Senate passed in its first day blitz when they suspended rules. It would require the Legislature to be called into session to extend any state of emergency beyond 60 days.
Members of the House adopted an amendment made by the House Judiciary Committee.
The bill ultimately passed on a 93-3 vote.
With the measure having been changed since passing the Senate, it now heads back across the rotunda for senators to accept or reject amendments adopted by the House.
Oh, and before I wrap up, I want to give a special shout-out to our buddy Brian Pickens for the graphic design work on 60 Days. Giles and I have talked about acknowledging Brian for a while now, but it always seems to slip through the cracks because we’re too concerned about getting our legislative coverage down pat.
Anyway, Brian runs a clothing and merchandise company called Made in WV, which highlights life in West Virginia and Appalachia. He’s done murals all over the state as well as some design work for local craft brewers, including Chestnut Brew Works in Morgantown, Abolitionist Ale Works in Charles Town and North End Tavern in Parkersburg.
Brian and I first met in real life at a West Virginia craft beer festival years ago, though we had been acquainted on the internet for some time before that. Since I moved to Morgantown, he’s become like a brother to me (people have even confused us with one another). And, as happenstance would have it, Brian and Giles were both featured on an episode of FestivALL’s Three Things.
So it was a real no-brainer for us to commission Brian to help put a visual touch on 60 Days.
We’ve been kicking around a few more ideas, so you may see something else of Brian’s related to this newsletter on social media soon.
That does it for me today. We’ll see you back here tomorrow.
If you want to get in touch, you can email us at 60daysgilesdave@gmail.com.
I’m on Twitter at @davemistich and Giles is @GilesSnyder.