WVCBP in the News

February 20, 2015 by Sean O'Leary
House Bill Implements Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients

Charleston Daily Mail - Legislation calling for the drug testing of welfare recipients has drawn ire from interest groups opposed to such laws. ReadThe House Health Committee held a public hearing Thursday on House Bill 2021, which would subject recipients of state and federal public assistance to drug tests. Groups such as ACLU of West…

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February 19, 2015 by Ted Boettner
Senators Want to Change US Constitution

Charleston Daily Mail - Members of the Senate Interstate Cooperation Committee heard on Wednesday why they should, or shouldn't, support a resolution calling for a constitutional convention. ReadSenate Concurrent Resolution 21, introduced earlier this month, urges Congress to call a convention of the states to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution that impose fiscal restraint,…

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February 19, 2015 by Sean O'Leary
WV Lawmakers Push for Welfare Drug Testing

WOWK-TV - If you're among the many West Virginians getting state assistance, the Republican majority in the Legislature wants you to be drug-free. Read/WatchBills introduced in the House and Senate would require drug testing for some people who receive welfare checks.The proposals would require a reasonable suspicion of drug use before a drug test is…

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February 11, 2015 by Sean O'Leary
After Delays, WV Senate Advances Prevailing Wage; Vote Expected Soon

The State Journal - A bill that would repeal the prevailing wage was advanced to a third reading with the right to make amendments in the West Virginia Senate Feb. 11. ReadSenators said they wanted to reach a compromise before passing the legislation, which would eliminate prevailing hourly wage requirements for the construction of pubic…

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February 11, 2015 by WVCBP
Enrollment Surge Expected as Insurance Deadline Nears

Charleston Gazette - With less than a week to go before the 2015 deadline to sign up under the Affordable Care Act, enrollment numbers for West Virginia have leveled off, but health officials predict the state will see a surge in sign-ups similar to last year's before the enrollment periods closes on Monday. ReadSunday is…

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February 9, 2015 by Sean O'Leary
Scores Of Contractors Say Don’t Repeal WV Prevailing Wage

West Virginia Public News Service - At least 100 West Virginia contracting companies have written to state senators opposing the repeal of the state's prevailing wage law, according to state lawmakers. ReadMany of the letters say the law keeps local contractors on a level playing field with out-of-state firms.John Strickland, president of the Maynard C.…

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February 4, 2015 by Sean O'Leary
Prevailing Wage Bill Heads to Senate Floor

Charleston Daily Mail - Hundreds of contractors and laborers lined the halls of the west wing of the state Capitol as lawmakers discussed and advanced a bill which would repeal the state's prevailing wage rates for the first time during two separate Senate committee meetings on Tuesday. ReadWith a committee room pushed beyond capacity —…

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February 3, 2015 by Ted Boettner
Obama’s Budget Includes Coalfields Aid

Charleston Gazette - Coalfield communities struggling with mounting job losses as the nation's energy markets restructure would receive hundreds of millions of dollars in new money to help create jobs and plan economic diversification programs, under the new budget proposed Monday by President Obama. ReadThe administration is proposing $1 billion in new spending over the…

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February 2, 2015 by Sean O'Leary
Should WV’s Prevailing Wage Law Prevail for Public Projects?

West Virginia Public News, Hampshire Review, Gilmer Free Press - People pushing to end West Virginia's prevailing wage law say the move is intended to cut the cost of building schools and other public construction projects. But several new studies warn that a repeal would raise costs instead. ReadThe prevailing wage law mandates that construction…

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February 1, 2015 by Ted Boettner
‘Right to Work’ Fight Coming to Capitol

Sunday Gazette-Mail - Debates about "right to work" legislation are likely to heat up in West Virginia during coming weeks. ReadLast Tuesday, a bill called the "Creating Workplace Freedom Act" was introduced in the state Senate.The bill, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, would prohibit requiring workers to join unions in workplaces covered…

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