State Senator Robert Karnes, halfway through the legislative session, has canceled his own committee assignments.
Karnes, R-Randolph, sent a letter asking to be removed from the committees, citing how busy he is with his business. The senator stirred controversy on social media during the legislative session as photos circulated of him wearing mesh masks or masks with no barrier at all, apparently flouting public health guidance and Senate rules during the pandemic.
Today was Day 28 of the 60-day legislative session.
A letter addressed to Senate President Craig Blair cited only a business conflict with his time.
“I recently took on a large project with my company and it will require a considerable amount of my time over the next several weeks to get the project properly launched,” Karnes wrote. “As a result, my ability to fully participate in committee meetings and deliberations will be significantly impacted.
“Knowing how important it is to the Senate that each committee member be present and fully participating in committee meetings as well as ancillary meetings with stakeholders and other legislators and knowing I may not be able to fully participate, I am requesting that you remove me from all committee assignments.”
Blair announced at the end of today’s floor session that Karnes had left the committees. He announced a variety of replacements for Karnes on the committees. His committee assignments had already been removed from the Senate’s web page this afternoon.
He had served on Banking and Insurance, Education (as the vice chairman), Interstate Cooperation (as the chairman), Judiciary, Pensions, and Transportation and Infrastructure.
Senator Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh, was serving as the vice chairman of Senate Education this afternoon.
Karnes was not at today’s Senate floor session and missed votes on 10 bills that were up for passage. He was granted a leave of absence by fellow senators.
Karnes took office in the Senate in 2014, defeating the Democratic incumbent, Greg Tucker.
In 2018, when he was up for re-election, Karnes was defeated in the primary by then-Delegate Bill Hamilton, who then won the General Election.
Karnes ran again in 2020 and defeated incumbent Senator John Pitsenbarger, who had been appointed to the role, in the primary. Karnes then won in the General Election to return to the Senate.
He received the votes of 23,364 residents of the sprawling district in the General Election.
The letter from Karnes alluded to the possibility that he will return to participate in committee meetings.
“As soon as I am able, I will notify you that my schedule has returned to normal and at that time I should be able to fulfill any committee assignment in which you determine I can benefit the Senate and West Virginia.”