MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice has said he plans to call the legislature into a special session to deal with a $677 million dollar allocation from the federal government under the American Rescue Act.
Del. Jason Barrett, R-Berkeley, said he expects the session to be called in the August-September time frame.
“Obviously we’ll be back then to do redistricting. It may coincide with appropriating this $677 million or at least part of it,” Barrett said.
Some of the money, according to Barrett, needs to go to state health care workers who have been on the front line during the pandemic in the form of pay raises. He also supports infrastructure funding like water and sewer projects. He said none is more important than broadband.
“To me, broadband really needs to be at the top of the list,” Barrett said.
Justice called lawmakers into special session twice in June to allocate approximately $400 million in revenue surplus funds from the recently completed fiscal year.
Barrett was a guest earlier week on Panhandle Live on the Panhandle News Network airing on WEPM-AM in Martinsburg.