CHARLESTON, W.Va. — “A watershed moment” for West Virginia is how Senate President Bill Cole (R-Mercer, 06) described Thursday’s passage of the prevailing wage repeal in the state Senate and the right to work bill in the House of Delegates.
“It was an incredibly important time for West Virginia. I think, if we’re ever going to move forward, if we’re going to quit talking about creating an environment that’s conducive to job creators, to job growth, it’s time we do some differently,” Cole said.
After nearly five hours of debate, the House approved the right to work bill, the West Virginia Workplace Freedom Act, with a 54-46 vote.
The Senate agreed to the House changes in the bill on Friday morning and sent the bill on to Governor Earl Ray Tomblin.
In general, it says employees cannot be forced to join a labor organization, pay dues or fees to labor unions or make payments to charities in lieu of dues or fees for labor unions as conditions of employment.
Earlier Thursday in the Senate, the approval vote for the repeal of the prevailing wage, what’s paid for large, state-funded construction projects, was 18-16.
“Couple that with the legal reforms last year and the regulatory reforms that we’re going to continue to work on this year, we will put West Virginians back to work,” pledged Cole, a Republican gubernatorial candidate.
House Minority Leader Tim Miley (D-Harrison, 48) disagreed.
“(Senate President) Bill Cole and company will go around the state, patting themselves on the back that they’ve accomplished something major and we’re not going to get businesses to come here unless (A) we have something here they need to come and get — coal, oil and gas, timber — or (B) we have a well-trained, educated, drug-free workforce,” Miley said.
Party lines defined Thursday’s votes.
Not one Democrat in the House voted for the right to work bill and there were no Democratic votes in the 18-16 approval for the repeal of the prevailing wage in the Senate.
Every Republican in the Senate supported the repeal, while all Republicans in the House — except 10 — voted in favor of right to work.
Cole said all lawmakers will be held accountable for those votes and others come election time.
“Doing the right things is what should get you elected or re-elected, not running away from the tough decisions and certainly not because there’s an election year or I’m running for governor. I’m proud of what we did,” he said.
Tomblin was pledging to veto the right to work bill. He’s also expected to veto the repeal of the prevailing wage, the wage paid for large, state-funded construction project.
A simple majority in both the Senate and House will be enough to override those vetoes.
Both Miley and Cole talked about the Thursday votes on Friday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
“I don’t want to sit here and act like I’m spiking the ball. I just think it was important, I think it is crucial, if we’re ever, ever, ever going to open West Virginia — truly open this state up to business and growth opportunities,” Cole said.
The 2016 Regular Legislative Session continues through Saturday, March 12.