The West Virginia Legislature has introduced legislation (SB 60 & HB 2741) that make it harder for low-income West Virginians to receive food assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If enacted, this legislation would create economic hardship for thousands of low-income West Virginians, drain our state of millions in SNAP dollars, and cost…
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Huntington Herald-Dispatch - The new Republican Legislature is looking to end free bargaining in West Virginia by adopting a so-called "right-to-work" (RTW) law that aims to cut wages and benefits for the state's working families. ReadThis is the last thing West Virginia needs. The state already has the highest share of low-wage jobs in the…
U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) unveiled the outline of the Patient Freedom Act of 2017, a one-page document describing a proposed legislative approach that could follow the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. However, the proposal raises serious questions and leaves important questions unanswered. Based…
The Charleston Gazette reported this morning that three West Virginia lawmakers are planning a trip to Richmond, Virginia to learn how they recently restructured funding for their ailing transportation system. According to a recent report by the Virginia-based Common Wealth Institute, there are several major flaws with the transportation funding package that was signed into…
Charleston Daily Mail - The Legislature is looking to end free bargaining in West Virginia by adopting a so-called “right-to-work” law.The result would be cutting wages and benefits for the state’s working families. West Virginia already has the highest share of low-wage jobs in the country.The principle aim of right-to-work laws is to diminish the…
Charleston Gazette-Mail - I have some questions for the West Virginia Legislature regarding its plans to get rid of the state income tax. Read the full op-ed. Have our roads or Public Employee Insurance Agency been fixed? I’ve not heard any rationale for terminating our income tax. What is it and who really benefits? We…
West Virginia MetroNews - A bill allowing families to use public money for private education costs is on the edge of passing West Virginia’s Legislature. Read the full article. “I am very proud to support this bill,” said Senator Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh, a pastor who is also administrator of the private school Victory Baptist Academy.…
W.Va. Approved for Federal Enhanced Unemployment Benefit, but Questions Arise Over How Far that Goes
West Virginia MetroNews - West Virginia leaders announced the state has been approved for a $68,269,946 FEMA grant to provide $300 a week in enhanced unemployment benefits. The state has pledged an additional $100 a week. Read full article. But there were already questions about just how far that money would stretch. The West Virginia Center…
West Virginia Watch - More than 25,000 children in West Virginia don’t have access to child care, and last year, budget concerns stalled bills meant to tackle the issue. This year, a new wave of budget questions could put the problem on the back burner. Read the full article. Addressing a web of child care issues was a…
Charleston Gazette-Mail, Huntington Herald Dispatch - The West Virginia House Finance Committee passed a personal income tax repeal phase-out bill in about three minutes Monday, but the legislation still faces an uphill fight. Read the full article. With no discussion or questions asked of counsel, committee members passed House Bill 4007, which first would implement…