6:00pm: Sportsline with Tony Caridi

What to expect as special session on WV budget resumes

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Legislators are back at the Capitol today to continue a special session, with lawmakers absorbing and reacting to changes in the main bill aimed at balancing the budget for the coming fiscal year.

Both the House of Delegates and Senate gaveled in shortly after 11 a.m. but recessed quickly because the main bills affecting the budget weren’t yet ready to be considered. Legislators planned to return to their floor sessions this afternoon.

The bill that was being introduced this morning included  6.85 percent state sales tax that would also lower the personal income tax by an average of 20 percent over two years. The bill was sent to be officially drafted at 9:30 a.m.

Tim Miley

“It feels like the target is constantly moving. It seems to change so often,” House Minority Leader Tim Miley said this morning on MetroNews’ “Talkline.”

Miley said his Democratic caucus in the House was still trying to get a handle on changes but was concerned about taxes that might hit consumers versus tax reductions that could benefit wealthier wage-earners. Miley said earlier incarnations of the bill had business taxes that don’t seem to be present in the latest version.

“There needs to be a shared burden by the business community,” Miley said.

Meanwhile, Gov. Jim Justice added a bill allowing for the furloughing of state employees to the special session call. The bill is meant to allow for flexibility in case there’s no budget in place for the new fiscal year July 1.

“We have to prepare for the worst case scenario, and if that day comes I want to ensure all of our state workers are protected,” Justice stated in a news release. “It’s not right for our state workforce to lose their health insurance coverage or see their benefits disappear on July 1 if there is no budget in place. This bill needs to pass in order to safeguard state employees.”

Nick Casey

Nick Casey, the governor’s chief of staff, said he hopes there’s no need for the furlough bill in the end.  “We want the law to be clarified, that’s why we did this to protect our folks,” Casey said today on “Talkline.”

He urged the House and Senate to swiftly approve the budget plan endorsed by the governor to settle uncertainty. He said if the House continues to object to the proposal, as its Republican majority has for several weeks, it should put forward an alternative.

“This is the only plan we have,” Casey said today. “This is the plan that keeps us from going over the hill.”

Casey said the latest version of the bill includes some broadening-of-the-base measures beyond what were in earlier versions. He said those new taxes on business-to-business transactions represent how the business community would participate in efforts toward the state’s fiscal health.

The House of Delegates twice voted down a bill affecting state revenue the last time legislators were in session 10 days ago. The Legislature recessed for 10 days after that.

The House and Senate both were returning to session about 11 a.m. today. Republicans in each house were caucusing prior to that — with Democrats caucusing later. It’s in those closed-door meetings where they should get a better sense of what their peers are willing to accept and what’s a deal-breaker.

Mitch Carmichael

Senate President Mitch Carmichael predicted on “Talkline” that his house would recess fairly quickly today to give lawmakers an opportunity to absorb the details of the latest proposal. After that, he predicted the Senate would suspend the rules to pass the proposal in short order.

Carmichael, alluding to the stated reluctance in the House, said anyone who objects to the bill should be prepared to offer an alternative.

“Any transaction you should have an alternative. You can’t just say no,” he said. “You’re just whining about someone else’s solution.

Carmichael said that would apply to anyone objecting to a suggestion put forth by someone else.

“Any reasonable person would understand that if you say no to an idea you have to offer an alternative,’ Carmichael said.

 

Earlier variations of proposal to be under consideration by the Legislature would have balanced the budget for the coming fiscal year by raising the sales tax six months prior to lowering the personal income tax, providing a revenue cushion.

But models showed deficits in coming years as a result of continued income tax reductions.

Bills dealing with fuel and DMV fees, highways rolling and a proposed teacher payraise also remain to be dealt with. Those are in committee in both houses and could be discussed today and in the coming days.

Here’s some more reading about the issues that could lie ahead as the special session gets underway:





More News

News
PEIA examines financial effects of new law meant to ensure local pharmacies get fair reimbursements
Gov. Jim Justice signed Senate Bill 453 into law this week.
March 28, 2024 - 4:11 pm
News
Barbour County woman sentenced after death case sent back to circuit court by Supreme Court
Carli Reed sentenced on voluntary manslaughter conviction.
March 28, 2024 - 4:11 pm
News
UMWA to fight planned Pennsylvania coal mine closure, 700 mining jobs at risk
Cumberland Mine less than 40 miles from Morgantown.
March 28, 2024 - 2:23 pm
News
Bridge collapse having an impact on West Virginia coal shipments
About third of the coal mined in northern West Virginia is shipped out of the presently idled Port of Baltimore
March 28, 2024 - 1:18 pm