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Senate Finance chair says bigger Rainy Day dip could keep state government running in short-term
By Shauna Johnson, WV MetroNews
The budget deadline is closer than some West Virginia lawmakers may think, according to Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Hall (R-Putnam, 04).
Friday marks five weeks until the beginning of West Virginia’s 2017 fiscal year and, nine days into a Special Session, there were no indications state lawmakers were nearing a budget...
Budget impasse continues as House snuffs out tobacco tax
By Pamela Pritt Register, Herald Reporter
Undeterred by the failure of a tobacco tax in the House of Delegates Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael said the GOP leadership will now focus on other revenue-producing measures to bolster an ailing state budget now $271 million out of whack.
As soon as the House vote failed, a war of words broke out between Speaker of the House Tim Armstead...
Gov. Tomblin: Don’t raid WV Rainy Day Fund
By Eric Eyre, Staff Writer
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin sent a strong message to West Virginia lawmakers Tuesday: Don’t raid the state’s Rainy Day reserve funds to balance the budget.
Tomblin indicated that he would veto any budget bill that strips more than a “few million dollars” from the state’s Rainy Day account.
“I prefer, first of all, not to take any out, but if I have to close the budget gap, I’d be able...
W.Va. House kills tobacco tax hike
By Lacie Pierson, The Herald-Dispatch
CHARLESTON - The West Virginia House of Delegates has voted against increasing the state’s tobacco tax.
With a vote of 44-55 the proposed increase died in the House Thursday afternoon after almost of debate.
Senate Bill 1005, the tobacco tax increase, was the only revenue measure proposed during the current special legislative session to gain traction among legislators.
...House rejects tobacco tax hike bill, the only new revenues in budget proposals
By Shauna Johnson, MetroNews
The crafters of West Virginia’s budget for the new fiscal year that begins on July 1 have more work to do. On Tuesday, the House of Delegates rejected SB 1005, the tobacco tax bill, with a 44-55 vote following more than three hours of debate.
House Finance Committee Chair Eric Nelson (R-Kanawha, 35) called the bill a “primary revenue component” of...