Day 3: It's Friday - let's get outta here early
Good morning!
Today is Friday, January 12, 2024 — the third day of the West Virginia Legislature’s regular session, also known as “Fairness for All Day” at the Capitol. Supporters of the civil rights organization Fairness West Virginia will be on hand to lobby lawmakers on issues that concern the state’s LGBTQ community.
Lawmakers will be gathering today amid sunshine sparkling off the golden dome of the state Capitol. But clouds are expected to move in and winds are likely to pick up. There’s a good chance of a cold January rain for the evening ride home. Take the rain gear, is what I’m saying.
Three things … maybe more, depending on how you count them. I wasn’t a math major.
This morning’s meeting of the House Judiciary Committee is worth singling out not because of what’s on the agenda, but because there has been no official announcement about the panel’s leadership. Former chairman Moore Capito created a vacancy when he resigned his post ahead of the session to focus on his run for governor. Del. Tom Fast (R-Fayette) was Moore’s Vice Chair. He was seated in the Judiciary chairman’s desk on the House floor during Governor Justice’s State of the State address Wednesday and the legislature’s website now lists him as the chair. But again, no official announcement. However, Fast has filed to run for a non-partisan circuit judge seat in his home county this May. The House Judiciary Committee is meeting at 9:30 a.m in Room 410. You can find the agenda here.
West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin is scheduled to be in New Hampshire this morning, ahead of that state’s primary on Tuesday, January 23. He is to headline the “Politics and Eggs” breakfast, sponsored by the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College, stoking speculation about his plans after declining to seek re-election to his U.S. Senate seat. Expect Manchin to talk about bringing the political middle together to push back against extremism. He has long been talked about as a potential third-party presidential candidate.
It’s Friday so lawmakers will be seeking to wrap up their business and get out of town early for the weekend — some of them, anyway.
House Speaker Roger Hanshaw will open the House for business at the usual time, at 11 a.m.
The state Senate convenes two hours earlier than normal, at 9 a.m. The Senate has a slew of bills the chamber has fast-tracked to the passage stage, including SB154. The Senate passed this bill last year, but it didn’t get anywhere in the House. SB154 would stiffen penalties for drug crimes. Critics argue it would lead to more people incarcerated in West Virginia’s already stressed jail and prison system.
There are no Senate committee meetings on the schedule.
60 Days links:
Governor Justice is telling Senate Finance Chairman Eric Tarr (R-Putnam) to “grow up.” Justice spoke to Talkline host Hoppy Kerchevel of WVMetroNews Thursday morning after Sen. Tarr criticized his budget proposal as “a fallacy and a show for a Senate run.”
Governor Justice presented a “flat budget” to lawmakers Wednesday night. Henry Culvyhouse of Mountain State Spotlight explains what that means for state agencies.
Del. Kayla Young (D-Kanawha) got some good news on Thursday (post on X, the former Twitter). She’s been chosen to serve on the new House Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence. The AI panel will be chaired by Del. Jarred Cannon (R-Putnam).
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