CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Senate voted Thursday to override Gov. Jim Justice’s veto of the bill aimed at cleaning up the 2016 bill that legalized right to work in West Virginia.
The veto of the bill (SB 330) came Wednesday from the governor. In his veto message, Justice said the legality of right to work is still being played out in the courts and the legislature shouldn’t pass a bill until that is resolved.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charlie Trump (R-Morgan) told senators Thursday this year’s bill is very limited and should have no impact on the pending court decisions.
“Our action in the bill that we passed was just to take out the part of the statute which the court (in previous rulings) found vague or ambiguous,” Trump said.
Senate Minority Leader Senator Roman Prezioso (D-Marion) unsuccessfully argued the veto should stand.
“The Attorney General has requested a final decision (on the pending challenge) by May 1 and we’re going to be out of here before then and the Supreme Court is supposed to have a decision by April 21 of this year—I concur with the governor,” Prezioso said.
The Senate overrode the veto on a 21-12 vote. The House of Delegates could take up the veto during any of its floor sessions between now and the end of the regular legislative session.