Day 35: DHHR three-way split gets a vote in the House, Justice gathers key players for tax reform talk
Day 35: DHHR three-way split gets a vote in the House, Justice gathers key players for tax reform talk
And as former WVPB'ers, we again have to point to the elephant in the room.
Good morning and welcome back to 60 Days.
It’s Tuesday, February 14th — the 35th day of the West Virginia Legislature’s regular session.
It’s also Valentine’s Day and, likely not-so-coincidentally, the Legislative Activity Calendar tells me the Heart Association will check your blood pressure if you’re milling about the Upper Rotunda this morning.
I’m not sure if that’s some sort of hint that romantic love can have implications on one’s blood pressure, but that’s how I’m interpreting it.
Speaking of health, I can never be sure if coffee is good for me. It seems like there’s a never-ending back and forth on that based on the findings of “the latest medical research.”
That said, this newsletter wouldn't keep coming to your inboxes without coffee donations and — in the interest of staying awake and functional — I’m willing to take my chances.
So smash that button below to show your love for 60 Days and of coffee, of course.
Before we get into the immediate statehouse stuff, I guess I should uncomfortably return to the topic of West Virginia Public Broadcasting. As we’ve mentioned before, Giles and I both used to work there — though, it was much more recently for me. (That’s code for: “Giles is old.”)
Anyway, in a piece that was published and aired yesterday, NPR media reporter David Folkenflik picked up where Ogden Newspapers reporter Steven Allen Adams left off a few weeks ago — reporting on the dismissal of part-time WVPB reporter Amelia Knisely in late December. Folkenflik goes deep into how current leadership — with ties to Gov. Jim Justice — arrived at the partially state-funded public broadcaster.
While I witnessed and experienced some of what’s included in Folkenflik’s reporting, I don’t want to get too far into it. For one, 60 Days is about what’s happening at the state capitol today. Maybe if we bump into one another over a coffee or a beer I’ll chat about it with you.
For now, Folkenflik’s reporting should stand on its own— and we’ll cover reaction from lawmakers or any fallout that becomes warranted.
Dovetailing out of Folkenflik’s story on WVPB — which was hooked around Knisely allegedly being dismissed over her reporting on problems at the Department of Health and Human Resources — the committee substitute for HB 2006 will go up for a vote when the House of Delegates gavels in at 11 a.m.
That measure, amended ever-so-slightly on the floor yesterday, would reorganize DHHR into three separate agencies.
The House also has a slew of other bills on the floor, which you can take a peek at on the Special Calendar.
Here’s a look at committee schedules in the House today. You can click on the name of each committee for a full agenda, but I’m highlighting a few bills that caught my eye:
9:15 a.m. – the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources will meet in the East Wing Committee Room, 215E
10 a.m. – the Pensions and Retirement Committee will meet in the Finance Committee room, 460M
10:45 a.m. – the Committee on Rules will meet behind the Chamber
1 p.m. – the Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet in the Judiciary Committee room, 410M
HB 3304, Providing an exemption from the severance tax for coal sold to coal-fired power plants located within the State of West Virginia.
1 p.m. – the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet in the Education Committee room, 432M
HB 2337, Prohibiting the placement of the name or likeness of public officials on state road signs (Given the language of the bill, it seems to indicate the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd wouldn’t get his name on any more highway signs. Nor would other current or former public officials.)
3 p.m. – the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism will meet in the Finance Committee room, 460M
3 p.m. – the Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet in the East Wing Committee Room, 215E
4 p.m. – the Committee on Education will meet in the committee room, 432M
The Senate also gavels in this morning at 11 a.m and the morning floor session is stacked. You can check that out on the Senate Calendar, but the Marshall Day as a state holiday bill is on the floor amendment stage today.
Here’s a look at committee schedules, with agenda items included.
9 a.m. — Government Organization (208W)
Com. Sub. for SB 293: Increasing fees charged by sheriff
Com. Sub. for SB 571: Regulating fantasy gaming competitions and sports wagering through independent evaluations
SB 580: Authorizing election for special levy renewal
Com. Sub. for SB 181: Creating Closed Captioning Act
SB 593: Mandating cost of living salary adjustment policy for state employees
Com. Sub. for SB 303: Relating to Violent Crime Prevention Act
9 a.m. — Education (451M)
SB 61: Providing personal property tax credit to graduates of certain higher education institutions or trade schools
SB 578: Hunger-Free Campus Act
HB 2596: To modify when a nonresident student’s transfer may be denied
1 p.m. — Energy, Industry and Mining (208W)
SB 609: Obtaining approval for decommissioning or deconstructing of existing power plant.
Originating Senate Resolution 1: Urging Senator Manchin to promote new construction of coal-fired electric generation facilities and development of efficient clean coal technology and carbon sequestration projects in West Virginia
1 p.m. — Health and Human Resources (451M)
SB 526: Including early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's and other dementias in public health programs and services
SB 605: Requiring state medical examiner to enter into contracts with procurement organization
HB 3164: To extend the termination date of the West Virginia Advisory Council on Rare Diseases due to a delay in beginning its duties
HB 2845: Relating to removing expired provisions from the code
SB 598: Increasing availability of prescription nonopioid medications
SB 521: Improving patient safety in medical cannabis program
SB 476: Increasing number of managed care organizations in Mountain Health Trust
2 p.m. — Judiciary Subcommittee C – Civil Justice and Courts (215M, Senate Clerk’s Conference Room)
SB 560: Limiting recovery on claims for abuse to secure financial solvency of public and private school system
2 p.m. — Finance Subcommittee A – DHHR (208W)
Presentation: Recommendation for Department of Health Facilities Budget Structure
2 p.m. — Finance Subcommittee B – PEIA (451M)
Com. Sub. for SB 268: Relating to PEIA
2 p.m. — Finance Subcommittee C – Higher Education/Economic Development (219M)
SB 523: Clarifying purpose and use of Economic Development Project Fund
3 p.m. — Judiciary (208W)
Com. Sub. for SB 568: Relating to Dangerousness Assessment Advisory Board
Com. Sub. for SB 191: Relating to liability for payment of court costs as condition of pretrial diversion agreement
SB 559: Relating to spousal privilege
In yet another effort to gain support for tax reform efforts, Gov. Justice hosted a roundtable — but more like a half-oval table — discussion on the topic Monday.
Justice brought in political activist and tax reduction advocate Grover Norquist and Stephen Moore of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Sen. President Craig Blair (R-Berkeley), House Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay), sat alongside locals in business and others representing anti-tax groups, including Jason Huffman of Americans for Prosperity-West Virginia and Garrett Ballengee of the Cardinal Institute.
In the hour-long discussion, Justice and other speakers touched on two separate — and, arguably conflicting — tax cut proposals. One being Justice’s 50% income tax cut over three years. That measure, HB 2526, was passed by the House weeks ago but has remained stalled on the other side of the rotunda. The other is SB 424, a wide-range of personal and business tax cuts passed by the Senate late last week.
“We’ve got to all continue to work together,” Justice said at the close of the discussion. “Because whether it be the House or it be the Senate or it be the governor at the end of the day, if we’ll stay on a pathway — and we’ll check our feelings or our emotions at the door and we’ll get to work on what’s good for you and for all this state — at the end of the day that’s what needs to be done.”
The Charleston Gazette-Mail (paywall) and WVMetroNews have recaps of the half-oval table discussion.
You can also watch it in full here:
I realize this isn’t until Wednesday, but a bill that that would allow guns on college and university campuses for those who have concealed carry permits will get a public hearing in the House of Delegates.
SB 10 passed the Senate a couple weeks ago on a 29-4 vote, with Sen. Mike Maroney (R-Marshall) joining minority Democrats in opposition to the bill. The proposal, known as the “Campus Self-Defense Act,” has gotten pushback from university leaders and student organizations alike.
WVMetroNews reported West Virginia University students protested the bill on campus yesterday.
The public hearing is set for Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the House chamber.
That does it for me this morning. Don’t forget to donate a coffee or five to us while you’re finishing up your own cup this morning. We’d sure appreciate it as we head downhill for the remainder of the session.
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.