Search Block
Statehouse Beat: Legislature had no plan for budget
Phil Kabler , Staff Writer
As the Legislature spent a third week wandering in the wilderness of the special session, frustrated Democrats poised a legitimate question to leadership: “What is the plan?”
The lack of a concise answer from leadership made it evident even before the passage of a budget bill that relies on a massive raid of the state Rainy Day reserve funds: There was no plan.
Senate...
As budget remains unsettled, PEIA debate expected to continue
By Jeff Jenkins, WV MetroNews
Funding for the upcoming new plan year for the state Public Employees Insurance Agency will be up for discussion again among state lawmakers when Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin vetoes the budget bill passed by state lawmakers Thursday night.
The bill includes an additional $43 million for the state workers insurance plan, an amount originally proposed by the governor, which...
Tomblin will veto “irresponsible” budget bill, spokesperson says
By Shauna Johnson, WV MetroNews
Expect a veto from Governor Earl Ray Tomblin for the proposed $4 billion spending plan the Legislature approved during a Special Session this week ahead of the start of the 2017 Fiscal Year on July 1.
“It’s completely unworkable. It’s an irresponsible plan and it’s not one that the governor can support,” said Chris Stadelman, communications director for...
Letter to Boone County educators, BCEA members
The BCEA's Jerry Pcholinsky and WVEA Organizational Development Specialist Michael Hennessey have written a letter to educators in Boone County in the wake of the county's unprecedented budget and payroll problems.
Read the letter...
Measure to help Boone schools remains up in the air
By Matt Maccaro, WV MetroNews
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Legislature passed a budget Thursday night but never took up a request added to the agenda by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to give $2.1 million to the Boone County school system to finish the current year.
The Boone County system has lost $9.3 million in property tax revenue in recent months because of the collapse of the coal industry, mainly linked...