CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Governor Jim Justice wants to propose a five percent payraise for all state workers and a 2.5 percent one time bonus to combat inflation. The Governor made those announcements this week. The funds would come from the general revenue fund and he plans to make it part of his pitch to lawmakers when the regular session convenes next month.
During the announcements Senate President Craig Blair stood behind the idea. House Speaker Roger Hanshaw said while he was supportive, he hinted his body may looking through the proposals with a different prism.
“It’s safe to say we have support in the House from a majority of members to take a look at an additional salary enhancement this year,” Hanshaw said in a Friday edition of MetroNews Talkline.
However, the 2. 5 percent bonus may face a different set of circumstances in the chamber.
“We support the Governor putting forward any proposal for consideration. We like working with the Governor and like working with the Senate, so we’re not taking it off the table,” Hanshaw said.
But the Speaker indicated in his conversation with Talkline Host Hoppy Kercheval there’s a desire to extend programs which would help everybody deal with inflation and not just public employees.
Governor Justice announced two pay increases yesterday – one is a raise and the other is a bonus. What does @SpeakerHanshaw think about this announcement? He gives his opinion to @HoppyKercheval. WATCH: https://t.co/yCFQ3nDJuy pic.twitter.com/xrg2bYh8P7
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) December 17, 2021
“We have a lot of members who are interested in asking the questions how we help every West Virginian deal with inflation,” Hanshaw said.
According to Hanshaw it’s a conversation which is yet to occur and while the idea of the 2.5 percent across the board bonus isn’t at all dead on arrival, there are a lot of lawmakers wanting to consider other forms of the idea and ways to extended that buffer against inflation to all West Virginians.
“We have not arrived at a conclusion for that question yet. The question is not answered as far as the House is concerned yet and that will remain on the table,” he said.