Good morning and welcome back to 60 Days, your daily guide to the West Virginia Legislature’s regular session.
Many thanks to 60 Days reader Betty Rivard for responding to my call for snow photos and sending in this one of the weather complicating MLK Day events at the Capitol yesterday.
Makes me shiver just looking at it.
Today is Tuesday, January 16th, 2024.
Lawmakers will be gathering at the state Capitol as Charleston remains under a winter storm warning this morning. Dress accordingly.
If you happen to run across representatives of the Boys and Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle staffing a table in the Lower Rotunda today, stop by and tell them I said hello. Full disclosure — my wife works there. She’s not at the Capitol today but some of her colleagues are. They’re good people.
Programming note: Dave ought to be in the air today, flying back home from ice bound Iowa where he helped NPR cover last night’s caucuses. It’s a good bet he’s looking forward to as much coffee as he can lay his hands on.
With Dave taking a travel day, you remain stuck with me.
Complaints?
I’ll make sure Dave sees them when he gets back. As you know, I only handle the compliments.
Today’s Agenda:
The Senate Education Committee is meeting at 10am this morning and will take up a couple of controversial bills that didn’t make it through the legislative process last year.
SB280 would allow teachers in public schools to teach intelligent design, the controversial theory “of how the universe and/or humanity came to exist.” There’s no mention of God in the bill, but the theory is rooted in religion. The bill is again being sponsored by Senate Education Chair Amy Grady (R-Mason).
Senator Mike Azinger (R-Wood) is renewing his push for public schools to display the U.S. motto “In God We Trust.” Azinger’s bill — SB152 — was introduced last week.
Other scheduled Senate committee meetings today include:
10am: Government Organization in Room 208W. (Agenda)
1pm: Health and Human Resources in Room 451M. (Agenda)
3pm Judiciary in Room 208W. (Agenda)
3pm Finance in Room 451M. (Agenda)
The Senate’s floor session begins at 11am and it seems likely to be brief. There isn’t much on the calendar beyond a couple of resolutions and a bill on third reading that has to do with the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The House’s floor session seems likely to be brief as well today for the same reason. The pickings are slim this early in the session.
Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay) will bring the House to order at 11am after the Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee meets at 9:15am in the East Wing meeting room, 215E. (Agenda)
Other scheduled committee meetings include:
Technology and Infrastructure at 1 p.m. in the Education Committee meeting room, 434M
Energy and Manufacturing at 1 p.m. in the Finance Committee meeting room, 450M; the Agenda is HERE.
Education Committee at 2 p.m. in the Committee meeting room, 434M
Health and Human Resources at 3 p.m. in the East Wing Committee Room, 215E; the Agenda is HERE
Economic Development and Tourism Committee at 3 p.m. in the Judiciary Committee meeting room, 400M
60 Days links: Reading that’s good for you and good for journalism in West Virginia. Your clicks help support the reporters who work at the state Capitol day in, day out.
EMS workers received a warm welcome by members of the House of the Delegates on Monday’s EMS Day, but Henry Culvyhouse of Mountain State Spotlight reports that’s not necessarily why they turned out at the Capitol.
Steven Allen Adams is the state government reporter for Ogden Newspapers. His latest ‘Reporter’s Notebook’ column takes a look at Governor Justice’s State of the State address and how his strained relationship with Senate Finance Committee Chair Eric Tarr (R-Putnam) could affect his agenda.
Wheeling City Council is scheduled to meet today amid the threat of a lawsuit over the city’s new ban on camping on public property. The ACLU of West Virginia gave city leaders an ultimatum on Friday — giving council until today to pause the ban or face legal action. Reporter Eric Ayres wrote about the controversy for the Wheeling Intelligencer. It’s worth noting that a similar bill is expected to be introduced in the state Senate today.
Resources:
Safe travels to all!