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By Brad McElhinny, WV MetroNews
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice said he will play a more direct role in legislative budget discussions, particularly relating to a teacher pay raise that he has backed for months.
“What I want to do is to try to bring everybody together, if it be a special session or whatever it be and try to make some real progress,” Justice said during a midday press conference.
The governor said he will talk to each caucus,...
By Ryan Quinn, Charleston Gazette-Mail
As of Friday evening, a week since the West Virginia House of Delegates passed a “clean” public school worker pay raise bill, Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Patricia Rucker hadn’t put it on her committee’s agenda.
Her committee, and others, which will continue to meet Saturday, have been advancing other education bills ahead of the end of this year’s regular legislative session next Saturday. One bill seeks to specifically allow...
By Brad McElhinny, WV MetroNews
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The budgets in the state Senate and House of Delegates are on a collision course, with the biggest difference – predictably – a pay raise for teachers.
The House Finance Committee voted to approve its budget on Thursday afternoon, the 51st day of the legislative session. It includes the pay raise for teachers and school service personnel. The full House then took up the bill on first reading during a Thursday...
The following is a press release sent out after the governor signed SB 267.
BECKLEY, WV – Gov. Jim Justice held a ceremonial bill signing today for Senate Bill 267 at Cranberry-Prosperity Elementary School in Beckley, WV. The new law makes West Virginia the first state in the nation to require that students receive computer science education before graduating high school.
“I’ve said all along that we need to make education our centerpiece here in West...
By Phil Kabler, Charleston Gazette-Mail
Two bills intended to fulfill Gov. Jim Justice’s pledge to set aside $150 million to offset future cost increases for PEIA health insurance benefits were headed to the Senate on Tuesday after passing the House of Delegates by wide margins — despite concern that one of the bills poses a $16 million unfunded mandate for state colleges and universities.
The governor’s bill to transfer $105 million in 2018-19 budget surplus into the new...