Capitol Beat: Lawmakers in the Two Virginias wrap-up 60 day sessions
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) - The 60-day legislative sessions in each of the Two Virginias wrapped-up late Saturday night, with state budgets approved by both legislative bodies.
In the Mountain State, more than 2,000 bills were up for consideration in 2024. Less than 300 ended up making it to Gov. Jim Justice’s desk. On Saturday, however, the state budget ended up pushing other matters to the side.
Totaling just less than $5 billion, the legislature-approved budget includes a Social Security tax cut, a 5% raise for teachers and a cut to unemployment benefits for West Virginians. Social safety net cuts, like that for unemployment benefits, proved controversial on Saturday when some Democrats and Republicans appeared to agree it’s a bridge too far.
“We rushed through policy like this and we think this is a good deal. I think it’s preposterous,” said Del. Evan Worrell (R-Cabell).
“The same people will say ‘You should just pull yourselves up by the bootstraps,’ while at the same time taking away their boots. That’s what we do down here. It’s shameful,” said Del. Shawn Fluharty (D-Ohio).
While the budget evidently was a top priority on Saturday, its passage came at the expense of other bills lawmakers had hoped to push-through in the final hours. That includes Senate Bill 601 which would have created the West Virginia Women’s Bill of Rights, House Bill 4654 to remove criminal liability exemptions for schools, libraries and museums displaying obscene material and House Bill 4776 which would have broadened teachers’ abilities to remove disorderly students from West Virginia classrooms. All of those bills, and plenty more, did not make it to Gov. Jim Justice’s desk.
Meanwhile in the Commonwealth Saturday, Virginia lawmakers passed a nearly $190 billion dollar budget. But, Governor Glenn Youngkin has already signaled some potential issues on his end.
The budget proposal includes pay raised for teachers and state workers, along with new K-12 and higher education funding. Notably not included, however, is a top-priority for Gov. Youngkin. That’s funding for a proposed $2 billion sports arena to bring NBA and NHL teams to the Commonwealth. Gov. Youngkin now has one month to decide whether or not to accept the proposed budget.
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