CHARLESTON, W.Va. — It was clear Tuesday that Gov. Patrick Morrisey has grown impatient with some state lawmakers.
Morrisey took an opportunity at a ceremonial bill sign to criticize the legislature for not giving final passage to a bill authorizing the state’s involvement in the Rural Health Transformation fund.
“Now, I think it’s outrageous that here we are at the end of session and that something that should have happened in the first week hasn’t occurred yet—terrible on every level,” Morrisey said.
Morrisey said the bill needs to be in place to establish the structure for $199 million to flow from the federal government next year for the state’s rural health plan.
“We may very well pay a price for the delay, let me clear, we may pay a price financially for what’s already happened, that’s outrageous and every way and I want everyone in the public to know that,” Morrisey said.
In late December, officials announced that West Virginia has secured $199 million this year from the federal Rural Health Transformation Fund. The award almost doubled the guaranteed minimum for the first year.
Of the full amount, $25 billion is being evenly divided among the 50 states, and discretionary dollars are being allocated to states based on each state’s application, the state’s rural nature and other policies. Allocation to each state is based on a competitive application process and guided by the quality of state-proposed strategies.
Morrisey said he’s heard the bill will be on a legislative agenda on Wednesday. He said he hopes so.
“I’m hopeful that they will because we have to mitigate the damage from the delay. We have to make sure we’re moving very, very fast and I’m hopeful that will occur,” Morrisey said.
The bill, SB 570, is on the House Finance Committee agenda for Wednesday’s 9 a.m. meeting. The income tax bill, SB 392, is also on the agenda.
Morrisey is already at odds with lawmakers over a proposed income tax cut and other issues. The House of Delegates Finance Committee has yet to move on an income tax bill. It is on the committee’s agenda for Wednesday morning.
The legislature got the budget bill to Morrisey early so lawmakers can attempt to override his line-item videos by Saturday night’s session deadline—if there are any line-item vetoes.
Morrisey used his veto pen 29 times in the budget bill that passed last year.
Morrisey did not take any questions from reporters Tuesday.