CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The opening day of West Virginia’s 85th Legislature is set for noon Wednesday at the state capitol.
Every four years members of the House Senate gather for one day on the second Wednesday in January to organize before recessing for a month to allow for the inauguration of the governor and give the administration time to set its agenda.
The purpose of Wednesday’s floor sessions will be to organize, elect leaders and publish returns from the November General Election.
The House of Delegates will once again choose Roger Hanshaw as its speaker. Hanshaw, R-Clay, was chosen in a caucus last month by GOP delegates. He said he expects the 60-day session, which will begin in earnest on Feb. 10, will be spent on pandemic-related issues.
“Things that have grown out of the response that we’ve seen over the past 10 months and plans for how we want the government to function the next time we face something like this which I hope is not in our lifetimes,” Hanshaw said during a recent appearance on MetroNews “Talkline.”
Hanshaw said neither West Virginia’s government, nor any state government, was designed to deal with a months long pandemic. He said that’s why several questions must be asked.
“How do we want the government to respond at every level the next time this occurs?”
Hanshaw said one thing he wants to make sure of is there are no hasty decisions that would hinder Gov. Jim Justice or any future governor from being nimble in time of disaster or emergency.
“Part of what I want to make sure that we don’t do here is make a hasty decision that in any way impedes the ability of the governor to respond to natural disasters,” Hanshaw said. “That we cannot have.”
One thing Hanshaw doesn’t have to deal with Wednesday is the removal of former Delegate Derrick Evans from the House. That would have been brought up had not Evans, who was elected for the first time in November, resigned back on Saturday. The resignation came a day after he was charged with two federal misdemeanor crimes in connection with his entrance into the U.S. Capitol during last week’s attack.
Hanshaw and new Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, who will also be elected Wednesday, enjoy super majorities. Once Evans’ seat is filled, the House will have 77 Republicans and 23 Democrats. The Senate has 23 Republicans and 11 Democrats.
Del. Doug Skaff, D-Kanawha, and Sen. Stephen Baldwin, D-Greenbrier, will be officially chosen as their caucuses minority leaders Wednesday. Baldwin said he’s looking forward to a good relationship with the super majority.
“I think it’s really important to maintain civility and try and build relationships,” Baldwin said. “That’s the way you solve problems and that’s what we’re all here to do. We’re here to solve problems and try and make a brighter future for West Virginia.”
Hanshaw said lawmakers will return on Feb. 10 to begin the 60-day session and work will be accomplished but the pandemic will play a large role in what happens.
“Both bodies are motivated to make some changes in the law and accomplish some things that people have wanted done for a long time. I’m one of those people and we some important goals we want to champion but we also want to keep people safe,” Hanshaw said.
It appears a majority, but not all, lawmakers have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination.