WVCBP in the News

February 3, 2019 by WVCBP
Kids of Many Charter School Backers in WV Senate Don’t Attend Public Schools

Huntington Herald-Dispatch - The administrator of a private religious school sponsored a bill that will let students use public dollars to pay to attend private religious schools. Read full article. The Senate Education chairwoman, who home-schools her five children, sponsored the bill as well, which critics say will taper funds away from cash-strapped public schools. At…

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February 2, 2019 by WVCBP
Delegates call Social Security Vote Delivery on Campaign Promise

WV Metro News - The state House of Delegates approved its bill on Friday to exempt Social Security retirement benefits from state income tax and sent it to the Senate. Read full article. HB 2001 gives retirees age 65 and up, or taxpayers of any age permanently and totally disabled two options: exclude Social Security benefits…

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January 29, 2019 by WVCBP
Recreational Cannabis: Good or Bad for Business in WV?

WV News - While West Virginia may be moving forward in developing medical cannabis and industrial hemp, the same cannot be said for recreational marijuana. Read. Last year’s session of the Legislature saw advancements regarding industrial hemp that could provide a new use for reclaimed mines, with former boxer and entrepreneur Mike Tyson looking to get…

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January 29, 2019 by WVCBP
Lawmakers Look at Bills to Decriminalize Marijuana

WSAZ TV - Lawmakers in both Kentucky and West Virginia are considering bills that would make marijuana less of a crime. Watch/Read. In Kentucky, Senate Bill 136 would allow for medical marijuana and Senate Bill 82 would make the penalty for those caught with small amounts like a traffic ticket. In West Virginia, where medical marijuana…

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January 27, 2019 by Seth DiStefano
Judiciary Chairman: Criminal Justice Reform ‘Humanitarian’ and ‘Economic’ Issue

Charleston Gazette-Mail - In a break from tough-on-crime thinking, the Legislature is moving a series of bills designed to keep ex-convicts out of jails, not reel more in. Read full article. From letting certain nonviolent offenders clear their records after years of good behavior, to allowing the dismissal of drug offenses after people complete drug court…

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January 25, 2019 by WVCBP
Cannabis Moving Toward Legalization, Legitimization in WV

Charleston Daily Mail - Chris Yeager says he is sick of seeing people dying of opioid overdoses. Over the past several years, two members of his family overdosed and died, including his brother, who died on Christmas Eve in 2010. Both were taking suboxone, which is used to treat pain and opiate addiction. Read article. “It…

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January 24, 2019 by Kelly Allen
Legislative Engagement Workshop Held in Wheeling

WTOV - Wheeling residents had the chance to learn more about West Virginia legislature on Wednesday during a workshop at the First State Capitol Building downtown. Read/watch. The workshop gave guests an overview of the West Virginia state government and political infrastructure. Guests also engaged in mock interviews to learn how to talk to legislators.

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January 24, 2019 by WVCBP
West Virginia Lawmakers May Pave Way for Business Inventory Tax Repeal

Wheeling Intelligencer - The House Finance Committee on Wednesday took a first look at a possible amendment to the West Virginia Constitution paving the way for eliminating the business and inventory tax. Read full article. The proposal is House Joint Resolution 17. The resolution proposes an amendment to the state Constitution stating that the taxation of…

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January 19, 2019 by WVCBP
Bill Would Reverse Ban on Drug Felons Getting SNAP Benefits

Huntington Herald-Dispatch - Currently in West Virginia, a person convicted of mass murder can receive food assistance from the state if he or she is released from prison, but a felony drug conviction comes with a lifetime ban. Legislators hope to make that more fair and hopefully give those who served their time a better second…

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