Search Block
Both houses pass budgets, but issues lie directly ahead
By Brad McElhinny, WV MetroNews
Of all the numbers associated with the budget bills that passed both houses of the state Legislature on Wednesday, one stands out.
Two thirds.
That’s the number required to override a veto by Gov. Jim Justice, and it doesn’t look like either the Senate or the House of Delegates has it.
The House of Delegates passed its budget bill 58-42 a little after 8 p...
House, Senate likely to pass differing WV budget bills
Phil Kabler, Charleston Gazette Mail
The West Virginia House and Senate are poised Wednesday to pass versions of the 2017-18 state budget that are miles apart from each other and even further from Gov. Jim Justice’s budget proposal, a $4.394 billion budget that requires $224 million in new taxes.
With the Governor’s Office indicating that he will veto either legislative version of the budget,...
WV House Ed rejects bill to nix seniority as No. 1 factor in teacher layoffs
Ryan Quinn, Charleston Gazette-Mail
With seven delegates voting for and 14 against, West Virginia’s House Education Committee on Tuesday rejected a bill that would’ve removed the statewide mandate that public school teachers with the least amount of seniority automatically lose their positions when job cuts are made in a particular teaching area.
The bill (SB 401) said the least...
Paine returns to job as state School Superintendent
By Carrie Hodousek, WV MetroNews
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — New state Superintendent of Schools Steve Paine says he wants West Virginia students to learn without being over-tested.
“We over-assess students,” said Paine on Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline, one week after returning to the job.
Paine, who replaced former state Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano last week, said, “We need to reduce the amount...
Senate passes its tax reform bill, House leaves its own on the table and Casey expresses budget hope
By Brad McElhinny, WV MetroNews
The state Senate passed a version of tax reform today, the last day for bills to be passed out of their house of origin.
The House of Delegates still had a third-reading vote ahead on its own version of tax reform, but left the bill on the table without a vote. Today was the last day for bills to be passed out of their...