Day 51: 'Crossover Day' is in the rearview mirror but there are still plenty of bills to chew on
Also, the proposed ban on gender-affirming care is back on the docket
Good morning and welcome back to 60 Days.
Today is Thursday, March 2nd, 2023 — the 51st day of the West Virginia Legislature’s regular session.
Dave and I promised a 60 Days reader that we would acknowledge that today is “Arts Day” at the Legislature. And as I was casting about for something enthusiastic to say, I ran across the following written by Adam Booth, last year’s West Virginia Folk Artist of the Year, and Monica Wilson, the executive director of The River House, a nonprofit arts and music center in my favorite Hampshire County community of Capon Bridge. They make the case for the arts better than I could.
Artistic voices raise the creative economy in West Virginia | Opinion | register-herald.com
Speaking of The River House, the venue not only hosts musicians and boasts an art gallery, but it also serves COFFEE — the elixir that keeps this newsletter coming to your inbox.
Now that we’re over the “Crossover Day” hump, things are a bit clearer in terms of which bills are still in play. As we’ve pointed out: Senate bills that have passed the Senate, House bills that have passed the House, supplemental appropriations bills, salary bills and the budget are all fair game from here on out.
The Senate cleared 12 more bills yesterday — bringing its share of bills passed this session to 245.
The House sent 26 bills across the rotunda to the Senate yesterday and rejected one. So far this session, delegates have approved 251 measures.
With legislative action completed on 40 bills (and Gov. Jim Justice having already signed 29 of them), that leaves more than 400 proposals still in play for lawmakers to consider — and “Final Night” is just nine days away.
One of the major issues lawmakers are dealing with as the session barrels toward its grand finale is S.B. 268, the bill that addresses the financially troubled Public Employees Insurance Agency.
The PEIA bill is now in the hands of the House Finance Committee after the Senate advanced it over the weekend.
The bill would raise premiums for more than 200,000 state employees who get their health insurance through PEIA. And it makes other cost cutting moves designed to address a projected $376 million budget shortfall in 2027.
Senate leaders say it’s been ten years, so a premium increase is overdue. And they argue that pay raises for state employees and tax cuts should offset the increase in costs.
But teachers unions aren’t buying it.
American Federation of Teachers-WV President Fred Albert spoke with WVMetroNews on Wednesday. Although he was skeptical, he all but ruled out a teacher strike like the one five years ago in which PEIA was a major issue.
Here is today’s House committee schedule:
9 a.m. – the Committee on the Judiciary will meet in the committee meeting room, 410M
10:45 – the Committee on Rules will meet behind the Chamber
1 p.m. – the Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet in the Judiciary Committee meeting room, 410M
1 p.m. – the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet in the Education Committee meeting room, 432M
2 p.m. – the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism will meet in the Finance Committee meeting room, 460M
Following “Crossover Day” both the House and Senate are back to convening their floor sessions at 11 a.m. The House floor agenda is here, and you can find the Senate’s here.
Keep an eye on the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee today. It’s scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. and is due to take up H.B. 2007. That’s the House-passed bill that would deny minors gender-affirming care. It was the subject of an emotional public hearing just before the House voted to pass it last month.
9 a.m.: Government Organization (208W)
9 a.m.: Education (451M)
10:50 a.m.: Committee on Rules (219M)
1 p.m.: Energy, Industry and Mining (208W)
1 p.m.: Health and Human Resources (451M)
3 p.m.: Judiciary (208W)
3 p.m.: Finance (451M)
Today’s 60 Days aggregation ticker:
Justice signs statewide campus carry bill into law | wvgazettemail.com (paywall)
President Gee outlines next steps at WVU after campus carry bill signed into law | The Intelligencer
Senators unanimously pass bill opening the door to higher state pay in competitive regions | WVMetroNews
House Finance advances a $4.6 billion budget, take one with a few more to go | WVMetroNews
WV House approves bills funding first responders, setting age of consent for marriage | wvgazettemail.com
Finally, we’re pleased to announce that our buddy Brian and his fiancé Jillian won the competition to get married by horror movie hero Bruce Campbell. Ash from Evil Dead is going to do the honors on April 19th at Stage AE in Pittsburgh. Congrats, Brian and Jillian — what a rad thing to happen to you both.
We’ll see you back here tomorrow morning. But if you want to get in touch, you can simply reply to this email or hit the comment button.
Dave is on Twitter at @davemistich and Giles is @GilesSnyder.
Thanks for highlighting Arts Day!