House members disagree on halfway point accomplishments

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The halfway point of the 60-day legislative session couldn’t pass Thursday on the floor of the House of Delegates without comments from some lawmakers on whether anything has been accomplished in the first month of the session.

Shawn Fluharty

Del. Shawn Fluharty (D-Ohio) took aim at House Republicans and Gov. Jim Justice for what Fluharty described as a “do nothing” legislature.

Fluharty said Gov. Jim Justice has signed only one bill into law.

“We’re on the pace for two,” he said.

Fluharty said the only “democracy in action” he’s seen this session is when teachers marched on the capitol last week.

“Leaders lead the don’t mislead and that’s what going on in this legislature right now,” Fluharty said.

Delegate Jim Butler (R-Mason) said a lot has been accomplished in the first 30 days.

Jim Butler

“To say we’re a do nothing legislature–I’d say speak for yourselves, if that’s what you’re saying,” Butler said. “These issues may not come up in the order than you think they should but budgetary issues need to go through the process. We all realize the antics that have gone on here are for show.”

Butler is a member of the House Finance Committee where work has taken place this week on bills dealing with both teacher and correctional officer pay raises. Fluharty is the minority vice chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

“We’ve been doing the hard work on the committees I’ve been involved in and on the House floor. If you have not then maybe you need to join in the work,” Butler said.

WV Legislative Photography, Photo by Perry Bennett





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