A party-line vote propelled Wayne County Delegate Rick Thompson back to position of Speaker of the House for the 81st Legislature which held its opening day in Charleston Wednesday. Thompson was voted into the leadership post over House Minority Leader Tim Armstead on a vote of 54-46.
The election day gains for the minority party however were not lost on Thompson as he accepted the victory on the House floor.
“Working with all of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we are united in our desire to improve this state and work toward a better future,” Thompson said. “Now more than ever it is essential that we work together to stand together. We must be pragmatic in dealing with the challenges our state faces.”
Thompson also let it be known he does not abide by the bitter political divisions which have torn the country’s federal government in recent yeas.
“This isn’t Washington, thank goodness. We know West Virginians don’t want gridlock. They want progress,” he said. “Voting ‘no’ at every turn or putting off earnest attempts at real solutions until we reach the edge of a cliff in order to avoid difficult votes….that will not work.”
Thompson used his roughly ten-minute acceptance speech to laud past accomplishments of the House including work on a number of items in the area of tax reduction. He also outlined the key elements of his agenda moving ahead.
Thompson’s first mention was a nine-member bi-partisan House committee he appointed to delve into the Governor’s Education Audit.
“The education system in West Virginia is on the brink of an overhaul,” Thomson said. “It is important that all members of the House of Delegates are up to date on what the audit recommends.”
He also laid out a loose framework for other topics will will headline the work of the 100-member body once the 60-day session starts next month. Thompson referenced health care improvements including his recent decision to me the Health Committee a major committee in the House.
He wants to maintain the Promise Scholarship and offer more assistance to veterans returning to the state to improve their lives.
He wants to see coal mine safety continue to improve and to find a better way to fund the state’s road system.
Thompson finally referenced efforts to balance the state’s budget and to continue to offer tax incentives to business with a better eye on which ones are effective in bringing more people into the state.
“We must always be careful stewards of the taxpayers money, that means taking steps to weight the cost and benefits of every piece of legislation.”