The special session of the Legislature to work on a new state budget had a shaky beginning. Had it been a track meet, the starter would have fired the gun a second time and the runners would have jogged to a stop.
The Senate and the House of Delegates went into session at 11 a.m. as planned, but there was an important piece missing. The revenue bill that’s critical to the budget framework agreed to by the Governor and Senate Republicans was not ready. The administration, legislative leaders and key stakeholders were still trying to hammer out details.
The biggest holdup appeared to be the Governor’s plan for variable rates on severance taxes. Also, key Senate Republicans had some consternation about changes the Governor made in their proposal to lower the state income tax rates.
Meanwhile, the tension between House Republican leaders and the Governor increased even more when the revenue bill wasn’t ready by the 11 a.m. start time. “Why in the hell are we here,” asked a frustrated Eric Nelson, chairman of the House Finance Committee. “How can we be called in when we don’t have one piece of paper on this proposed bill yet?”
Speaker Tim Armstead released a statement critical of Governor Justice, saying the special session was premature. “Now we’re here in Charleston wasting $35,000 a day and don’t even have the key bill we need to consider.”
The House and Senate adjourned until later in the day when the revenue bill was finally ready, and the Senate decided to put off action on the bill until today. But the bill’s fate was predetermined. House Republicans took up the bill late in the day, rejected it along party lines 59-36 and then gathered behind Speaker Armstead in the chamber for a solidarity photo op.
The Governor fumed in a tweet: “Stunt by Speaker Armstead today proves he has NO plan to create jobs, NO plan to cut taxes, and NO plan to fix budget crisis.”
So what now?
Justice, appearing on Talkline Thursday, admitted there is no back-up proposal. “I don’t have a second plan,” Justice said. “The good people of West Virginia should take note and take names.”
We’ve learned this so far about Justice: he’s willing to call out his opponents and if his budget plan fails we can expect him to turn up the heat on House Republicans. Justice has already singled out Speaker Armstead, criticizing him for refusing to buy into what he says is a compromise plan.
“I could have an inflatable Tim doll to sit in the corner with a button and have it say the same thing,” Justice said on Talkline.
But the rally by House Republicans with Armstead Thursday shows they have a united front, possibly more united than any time during the earlier regular session.
Gauntlets are being thrown down right and left at the Capitol, and those challenged are picking them up.
It’s on.