The House of Delegates on a key deadline date, passed a centerpiece of its “Jobs First — Opportunity Everywhere” agenda.
The vote was 87-8 with four absences.
It’s crossover day, the deadline to pass bills from one chamber to another. Weeks before the session began, members of the Republican supermajority gathered to emphasize legislation focused on jobs and workforce development. One by one, they’ve been advancing those bills this session.
House Bill 4001 is an initiative called TEAM-WV, meant to create a competitive, statewide nonprofit to drive a cohesive strategy for site development, partnerships and business growth.
That is modeled after a program called JobsOhio.
“TEAM-WV” is a non-stock, not-for-profit corporation for promoting economic development, job creation, job retention, job training and the recruitment of business.
“Teams West Virginia is a way that you can restructure the way economic development is done and moves us into the 21st century,” said Delegate Clay Riley, R-Harrison, vice chairman to the finance committee.
“So it allows us to move quicker. It doesn’t really change the incentives because those still have to come back approved by the government.”
Riley said the concept means “we can be more nimble, more effective when we’re really trying to diversify our economy. We’ve had a lot of successes and we should continue with those successes. But we really need diversification on these large scale capital projects and really to diversify our economy so we are sustainable for the long term.”
Delegate Bill Ridenour, R-Jefferson, said he has significant concerns about the legislation.
“I think that there’s some issues with our potential oversight as a legislative body and as well as with executive oversight,” Ridenour said.
He added, “I think we need to be more cautious on this.”
Delegate Eric Brooks, R-Raleigh, called the legislation consequential and said he had struggled with how to vote.
But he alluded to the common references to running government like a business. He said entrepreneurs have an advantage of thinking differently.
“If there’s a way to put the proverbial foot on the gas, I want to do that,” Brooks said, expressing support for the structure that the legislation would establish.
“Will this work? I’ll be honest with you, I’m not sure,” Brooks conceded.