Householder says communication key with 88 Republicans in 100-member House

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — New House of Delegates Majority Leader Eric Householder said he’s looking forward to working with 87 other Republican delegates when the 100-member House begins the 60-day regular session next Wednesday.

Eric Householder

Householder, R-Berkeley, agreed to leave the chairman’s job of the power House Finance Committee for his new position. He said he was looking for a change.

“I’ve been doing it for four years and I wanted to do something different,” Householder said during an appearance Thursday on MetroNews “Talkline.”Our Republican caucus has grown and I think it’s important for our leadership team to utilize everyone’s strength. I always want to do what’s best for the House.”

There have been challenges in the House in recent years with several factions developing among the Republican majority. House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, has beefed up his leadership team for the next two years including more members who will work with Householder and those in the majority whip positions.

“You’re talking about 11 people here that’s going to be focusing on communication and I just feel it’s more than ever to communicate among our members,” Householder said.

Householder’s assistant majority leaders will be Delegates David Kelly, R-Tyler, Dean Jeffries, R-Kanawha, and Laura Kimble, R-Harrison. Delegate Marty Gearheart, R-Mercer, is majority whips while Delegates Erikka Storch, R-Ohio, and Chris Pritt, R-Kanawha, will be deputy whips

Hanshaw has named Delegate Clay Riley, R-Harrison, will lead the GOP caucus meetings as conference chairman. He’ll be assisted by Delegates John Paul Hott, R-Grant, and Doug Smith, R-Mercer, who are the vice-chairmen.

“The time is right to realign the expertise we have across our leadership team, and Eric has been at the forefront of our efforts throughout the past decade to bring conservative principles to bear through the House,” Hanshaw said in a news release last week.

Hanshaw said Thursday they’ll be working in teams to communicate and educate other GOP members.

“I think I can share a lot of my legislative experience with younger and newer members just to help the Speaker keep his focus where it needs to be and get bills across the finish line,” Householder said.

Income Tax reduction

Although Householder will no longer lead the finance committee, he doesn’t plan to be far from the tax reform discussions.

Householder has gained support a reduction in the state’s personal income tax the last few years in the House but it’s been unable to clear the final legislative hurdles.

Householder said Thursday he favors an income tax reduction over another across-the-board pay raise for teachers, school service personnel and other state workers.

“The biggest pay raise that I can give teachers and everybody would be a personal income tax cut,” Householder said. “If we could get a 50% personal income tax cut that’s a big pay raise for everybody. That’s what I’m going to advocate for.”





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