MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A leader of the House of Delegates is waiting for answers and a plan on utilizing coronavirus relief funding.
West Virginia received $1.25 billion from the federal government for addressing the pandemic, yet a debate on utilizing the money has emerged between Gov. Jim Justice and state lawmakers.
Justice met with some of them Friday at the Governor’s Mansion in Charleston. He shared his plan at his media briefing on the coronavirus later.
House Majority Leader Amy Summers, R-Taylor, told MetroNews affiliate WAJR-AM there is a legal question before legislators.
“Can the executive branch spend federal dollars without going through the legislative branch? We could address that and clear that up if we were called in for a special session, but that has not been done.”
Summers said Justice has agreed to establish a legislative advisory panel for providing input on using money.
“I don’t know if that’s going to appease the members of the legislature or not,” she noted.
During coronavirus briefings, the governor has directed municipalities to apply for the funds to cover pandemic costs. Other states, such as North Carolina, have passed bills to direct relief checks.
Summers said lawmakers do not want a lengthy special session, but they want to ensure money is being properly used.
“West Virginia has been cited by federal agencies for deficiencies in internal control and management issues with federal funds; tree officials from Richwood face charges of embezzlement in connection with the use of federal flood dollars.
“From our state’s history, we know we need to have transparency on where the money is going and oversight on how that money is spent,” Summers said.