CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The House of Delegates gave overwhelming approval Tuesday to a bill that will keep the state on track in paying its bills.
The supplemental budget bill (SB 364) was approved on a 96-2 vote. The bill proposed by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin will take more than $50 million from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to pay pending bills in Medicaid, Social Services, TANF and the IDD Waiver program.
Tomblin administration Communications Director Chris Stadelman said the bill had to receive final approval Tuesday to keep the state current with its financial obligations.
“There’s about $33 million in bills (due this week) largely Department of Health and Human Resources payments, providers and individuals,” Stadelman said.
The state is struggling this budget year with revenue shortfalls projected to top $350 million.
Del. Marty Gearheart (R-Mercer) voted for the bill but criticized the governor’s option to take the money from the Rainy Day Fund.
“What the governor has committed to us with this bill is backwards and has gone for what’s easy—-the dollars that aren’t committed, that have no one to really gripe about other than the fact that it is our savings account,” Gearheart said.
Democrats in the House voted for the bill Tuesday after failing in their attempt Monday to taken money from the Rainy Day Fund to help fill the $120 million hole in the Public Employees Insurance Agency.
There will be more supplemental bills this session for lawmakers to consider, Gearheart said.
“I don’t believe in this instance that the governor is leading. He’s simply taking the easy way out and I think all of us were elected to lead,” he said.
The bill went to the governor’s desk Tuesday.