OK, we’re wonks and the start of the legislative session means a new budget for everyone at the WVCBP to pore over. As with last year, the biggest concern is if funding will be preserved for important family programs.
During his State of the State, Governor Tomblin talked a lot more about what his office is going to do to attract business to the state, than about helping lift West Virginia working families out of poverty.
Here was WVCBP’s Executive Director Ted Boettner’s response to this year’s State of the State:
West Virginia will not have a strong economy with good-paying jobs until we make the much-needed investments that will give more people an opportunity to thrive. The governor failed to mention the recommendations from his own Early Childhood Planning Task Force like expanding home visiting, and his plan for paying for about $115 million in planned cuts from his FY 2016 budget. We need prosperity instead of austerity. We need affordable college for all, not more debt piled on our best and brightest, and we need a commitment to help lift West Virginia families out of poverty.
And here’s more reaction in this week’s Charleston Gazette.
Shared prosperity doesn’t happen by accident. Here’s our recommendations on what needs to be done to move the state from austerity to prosperity.
To watch the process in action, attend these upcoming Budget hearings (in respective Finance Committee rooms):
1/19/2015
1:00 PM – Revenue presentation (House)
2:00 PM – Secretary of State (House)
3:00 PM – Supreme Court (Senate)
1/20/2015
3:00 PM – Attorney General (Senate)
4:00 PM – Secretary of State (Senate)
1/21/2015
9:00 AM – Department of Transportation (House)
2:00 PM – School Building Authority (House)
3:00 PM – Public Education (House)
3:00 PM – Department of Agriculture (Senate)
3:45 PM – State Conservation Agency (Senate)
1/22/2015
9:30 AM – State Treasurer’s office (Senate)
3:00 PM – State Auditor’s office (Senate)
1/23/2015
9:00 AM – Bureau of Senior Services (House)
10:00 AM – Department of Education and the Arts (House)
The 2015 Legislative Session got off to a rousing start with over 800 kids and families descending on the state Capitol. They were there to remind legislators to keep West Virginia’s hard working families in mind this session.
West Virginia schoolchildren get first-hand info on the state budget from WV State Treasurer John Perdue
Kids and Families Day 1/14/15
Have you registered? The 2nd Annual Budget Breakfast is just days away, Wednesday, January 21 at the Four Points Sheraton, downtown Charleston. Please register to hold your seat for our annual event which includes a buffet breakfast.
Panelists include Senate Finance Chair Mike Hall, Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler and Secretary of Revenue Bob Kiss. The morning will also include a presentation on the new state budget by WVCBP Executive Director Ted Boettner.
The WVCBP’s top legislative priority this session is Paid Sick Days for West Virginia workers, so they don’t need to choose between missing a day of work and taking care of sick child. Check out the new website to stay informed and sign up for updates! Not convinced Paid Sick Days are a good idea? Here’s more on how they can help stop the spread of disease, like this year’s flu epidemic.
Want to prevent another chemical leak? Participate in chemical safety conversations. Learn about successful models and solutions that address disproportionate impacts of chemical releases on communities of color and low-income communities. Be a part of local solutions to prevent another Elk River chemical spill.
Attend the Summit on Chemical Safety in West Virginia on January 23 and 24. To register for this free event, click here. For more information, contact Maya Nye at maya@chemsafety.org or call 304-389-6859.
