CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Fresh off the General Election, state lawmakers return to the state capitol Sunday for three days of interim committee meetings.
Approximately two dozen meetings are scheduled over the next three days.
The schedule begins Sunday afternoon with an update on school safety efforts in West Virginia. The oversight commission on education accountability will hear from Micah Whitlow and Jonah Adkins from the state Department of Education.
Other meetings Sunday will focus on flood prevention efforts and government operations.
Lawmakers will get updated Monday on the state’s finances, highways and cybersecurity.
A meeting set for Monday morning that will get a lot of attention will involve PEIA Director Brian Cunningham. PEIA is currently in the midst of a public hearing schedule where it is proposing a 14 percent increase in health insurance premiums for state workers and a 40 percent increase in deductibles.
Tourism and health care will get some focus during Tuesday’s scheduled meetings.
Morrisey transition
The meetings begin with lawmakers now knowing for sure state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey will be the next governor.
Morrisey’s transition is underway.
Del. Joe Statler, R-Monongalia, said once next year’s legislative session begins, he believes Morrisey will be at the Capitol frequently talking to lawmakers.
Statler expects Morrisey to be a detail-oriented leader that will be a fixture during legislative sessions. That perception would be consistent with the way he defended the state in cases involving EPA emissions standards, school choice laws, transgender issues, and successfully suing opioid manufacturers and distributors.
“I guarantee you he’s going to be a hands-on governor,” Statler said. “He is going to be involved with everything out there, but at the same time I think he’s someone you can meet with.”
The legislative team Morrisey will assemble is of great interest to Statler and one he said will set the tone for the working relationship with lawmakers.
“It’s going to be interesting to see who his team is,” Statler said. “That also makes a big difference on who he puts in place, that he surrounds himself and what their working relationship is with the legislature.”
Statler attended a recent event with Morrisey and noted the two share an interest in making education a priority. Statler served on the Monongalia County Board of Education and on the Advisory Board of the Monongalia County Technical Education Center and is currently the vice chair of the House Education Committee.
“He really wants bear down and be a governor that is looking at education across the state and I think it’s very important to do that,” Statler said.
Statler also serves on the Committee on Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services. In that role, Statler has worked to get emergency and temporary funding for volunteer and EMS units across the state. His efforts have included working to secure state funding for paid EMT training and the purchase of training ambulances used across the state for training, certification, recertification at locations across the state.
” We need to find a permanent solution to funding these EMS systems across the state of West Virginia,” Statler said. “We can’t continue to lose these systems and serve the people well.”
Working with Morrisey he believes will be productive on legislative matters. Statler is confident Morrisey will have the ability to incorporate the ideas of others when they make sense for policy that moves the state forward.
“I think you can talk to him about his ideas and your ideas and I think he’s one that can bend and we’ll find the best solution to the problems out there,” Statler said.