Listen to “Halfway Home at the Legislature” on Spreaker.
Let’s go rapid-fire on Capitol happenings from this week…
My Talkline tenure is only a little more than a year old, but politics has long been a pastime. From early fascination with West Virginia politics to a prior professional life tracking more than a dozen statehouses across the country — plus D.C. — a surprising, even startling, thing or two has come along the way.
Experience established, rarely has there been a more direct or caustic attack on the business community at the state level – at least from a chamber floor – than what House Majority Leader Pat McGeehan delivered this week.
“Perhaps they (the West Virginia Chamber and other business associations) oppose it (E-Verify) because a lot of the associations you just named love to make money at the expense of our people through illegal labor,” McGeehan said.
That’s a broad brush applied without evidence. Any business evaluating West Virginia could hardly be blamed for pausing after rhetoric like that. Politically speaking, Democrat challenger Quincy Wilson may have just received the best soundbite imaginable for a general election matchup.
Governor Morrisey continues pressing for a 10 percent personal income tax reduction this session. Whether it happens seems a matter of perspective.
Senate Majority Whip Ben Queen noted on Talkline that the Senate is working to find a path to 10 percent. House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, also on Talkline and in a press conference, pointed out the House was only presented a five-percent plan from the executive — suggesting the governor must first put a detailed 10-percent proposal on the table.
Prediction: 10 percent likely clears the Senate but runs into resistance in the House. Politically, that could leave the House absorbing criticism in an election cycle, though the chamber has increasingly styled itself these days as the home of fiscal caution under the dome. There’s value in that role. There’s also some political upside in opposing the governor here if properly messaged.
Several seasoned Capitol observers believe, however, the cut ultimately reaches the finish line. In an election year, few want to campaign against a tax reduction. Time will test that assumption.
On the school aid formula and special education funding, both chambers are exploring options, but the session clock is ticking and consensus remains elusive.
One lawmaker says it requires a special session. Another says a special session won’t work because of budget implications. The issue is multifaceted, and complexity slows movement.
Someone will need to quarterback the effort to move it. Senate Education Chair Amy Nichole Grady said on Talkline that she’s ready for that job and has asked the governor to make it so.
Realistically, increased special education funding — even if it falls short of the full need — may be the most achievable outcome this session. At best, it buys time and will help somewhat in filling what many see as the largest gap.
Kudos to Secretary of State Kris Warner on his decision to not release West Virginia voter information to the Department of Justice (DOJ) as requested and re-requested. West Virginia law is clear on the matter and Warner chose the rule of law over political pressure to acquiesce – no doubt extraordinary pressure at that.
Beyond Warner’s good example is the poor example DOJ chose to place front and center. If any agency should value the rule of law above all else, it most certainly should be the Department of Justice. Yet the department not once, but twice asked Warner to violate the law. Why? Surely, they can read and understand West Virginia law as clearly as Warner did. That question deserves an answer and action to ensure such an ask – an illegal one – doesn’t happen again.