Mountain State Spotlight – This week, state lawmakers return to the Capitol for the first legislative session since the beginning of a pandemic that has so far claimed the lives of 2,150 West Virginians. Read the full article.
The Republican majority’s priorities include tax cuts that would favor richer West Virginians and charter schools. Less clear: whether or not lawmakers plan to help the West Virginians who still need help meeting basic needs, including putting food on the table and paying for rent and utilities.
Republicans have a supermajority in both chambers of the legislature, so they will likely be able to pass their legislative priorities without Democratic support. This year, they want to eliminate a tax that funds more than 40% of the state budget. They also want to pass “school choice” bills, meaning they want to make it easier for parents to send their children to private or charter schools.
