CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin turned specific about two issues the Republican-led state legislature is likely to take up this session, judicial reform and tolls on the West Virginia Turnpike.
In his State of the State Address, Tomblin denounced outside groups that labeled West Virginia a “judicial hellhole.” He also favored retaining tolls when 84 percent of the highway users are from outside of the state.
Sen. Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael (R-Jackson) said the issue of judicial reform can’t be ignored.
“I think we need to glean from the rating agencies the problems that we face here in West Virginia, and just to merely attack the messenger is not the right way to go about this,” he said.
Some Republican House members introduced judicial reform legislation Wednesday.
“We can’t keep burying our head in the sand and say we don’t have a problem,” Cabell County Del. Kelli Sobonya said. “Before you fix a problem you have to recognize you have one.”
Del. Marty Gearheart (R-Mercer) wasn’t happy with the governor’s comments about tolls.
“The governor called that out specifically. From my perspective that’s a broken promise from the state of West Virginia and that’s a specific broken campaign promise from the governor,” Gearheart said.
The delegate said the GOP isn’t suggesting tolls be removed this year but the legislature could pass a plan to make that happen by 2020.
“Tolls were designed for a 30-year payout, it’s been over 60. The time has come and gone for the tolls to be removed,” Gearheart said. “We have to do it the right way. We have to pay off our bonds, get our debts in line, but we have a plan in order to ease the West Virginia Division of Highways into the maintenance of that highway.”
As for Tomblin’s opposition?
“The governor wants a fight, I guess he’s in for one,” Gearheart said.