CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The House of Delegates voted 59 ayes, 32 nayes on a roads bill that is a key piece of the Justice administration’s agenda.
House vote on roads bill https://t.co/gdDo74pkf9
— Brad McElhinny (@BradMcElhinny) June 16, 2017
The bill sets a higher floor on the fluctuating tax based on the wholesale price of gasoline, increases DMV fees and raises the luxury tax on vehicle purchases.
Gov. Jim Justice has been a major advocate for the roads funding bill, which is part of a package of bills that he would like to leverage by way of bonding.
The governor has repeatedly said he expects 48,000 jobs will be created by his overall highways plan.
Justice: The 800-pound gorilla is my roads plan. It’s everything b/c it will create 48,000 jobs and fix our existing roads. #wvgov #wvpol
— Governor Jim Justice (@WVGovernor) June 16, 2017
The resulting, anticipated economic stimulus is anticipated by the Justice administration to produce an additional $100 million in state revenue for the coming fiscal year.
In that sense, this was a budget issue, too.
The state Senate already passed the bills in Justice’s highways package.
A Justice bill expanding the tolling powers of the Parkways Authority passed Friday night in the House in a 64-24 vote.
In a later floor session, delegates passed bills authorizing the state Division of Health and Human Resources to investigate the possible sales of the aging Jackie Withrow and Hopemont hospitals.
Passed – HB 113 – relating to the sale of Jackie Withrow Hospital by the DHHR – https://t.co/QPU2SFnR9J
— WV House (@wvhouse) June 16, 2017
Passed – SB 1011 – Selling Hopemont Hospital – https://t.co/ZLJ5NvVSGG
— WV House (@wvhouse) June 16, 2017