CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Even though Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin restored more than $200,000 to the new state budget Wednesday —funds he originally trimmed through a line-item veto—lawmakers still claim some spending cuts run too deep.
In a letter to legislative leaders, the governor said he had received numerous calls about certain cuts and asked his cabinet secretaries to re-examine programs within the Department of Health and Human Resources. Tomblin opted to restore $150,000 to the In-Home Family Education Fund, $80,000 to the Children’s Trust Fund and $30,000 to the Domestic Violence Legal Services Fund.
Despite Tomblin’s move, a group of lawmakers maintained plans to hold a news conference Thursday and ask Tomblin to restore funding in additional areas. Del. Linda Phillips (D-Wyoming) told MetroNews areas like the Family Resource Networks, Starting Points Family Resource Centers, Child Advocacy Centers and child abuse prevention should be restored.
The news conference was scheduled for noon Thursday at the state capitol.
Tomblin said the $260,000 he restored Wednesday will come from re-appropriated funds, returning the programs to their current funding levels.