CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Sometimes levity is a part of the Legislature.
Debate broke out Wednesday on the House floor between delegates Ruth Rowan and Pat McGeehan, both Republicans, over the third reading of a bill that would broaden the Silver Alert for senior citizens.
Under the amended version, up for consideration, the bill wouldn’t just apply to cognitively-impaired people. Instead, a Silver Alert could be called for police to help find any senior citizen believed to be missing.
A senior citizen is defined in the bill as anyone over 65 years of age.
Rowan, who is from Hampshire County, was describing the bill and was questioned by McGeehan, who is from Hancock.
“My question is, what about a senior citizen who simply wants to be away from home?” McGeehan asked.
Rowan said that a person who had become concerned could report a missing senior citizen to law enforcement officials, who then could put out a Silver Alert with the cooperation of broadcast media.
“All that criteria is subjective,” responded McGeehan, who again cited the possibility of a senior citizen who just wants to get away somewhere and not be found.
“It could be a grandmother who says ‘You know what, I want to go down to the Florida Keys for a little bit and I just don’t want my family to harass me.'”
Rowan responded that there are plenty of instances where it’s appropriate to show concern for the whereabouts of someone over 65.
“Somebody could be a disabled veteran, maybe they have an artificial leg, maybe they do want some privacy, possibly they want to be independent. Maybe it’s your next door neighbor, maybe you see them walk in the woods. Maybe they don’t come out,” Rowan said.
At that point, McGeehan gave an example from his own family.
“My grandmother likes to go down to the Mountaineer Casino and play the machines. Guess what, she doesn’t want me to know. She doesn’t want my mom to know or the rest of the family. With this, we could report her missing,” he said.
Rowan responded, “I bet your grandmother is a wonderful lady. I bet she is a patient lady to put up with you for all these years.”
That drew laughter throughout the House chamber.
McGeehan smiled too and said, “To answer your question, she constantly asks me how I keep the ladies away and I say it’s quite easy grandma, my personality does that.”
House Speaker Tim Armsetead was among those chuckling.
“I’m afraid to even ask if there are further members asking to speak to this bill, but I will ask,” he said.
No one else wanted to talk, so Armstead asked for a vote and read the results. The bill passed 99-1 and moves on to the Senate for consideration. Yes, McGeehan was the lone nay.
The next delegate recognized to speak was Mike Caputo, the minority whip, a Democrat from Marion County.
“First, I’d like to ask that that exchange be recorded in the Appendix to the Journal,” Caputo said. “That one will go down in the history of West Virginia.”