Gov. Jim Justice issued Monday a change He added eight novel bills and a concurrent resolution to the current special session and changed his call for a 5% cut in the state’s income tax to a 2% cut.
Monday’s amendment to the proclamation is the second so far this special session – which began last Monday before lawmakers adjourned until Sunday – and brings the total number of items on the call to 40.
The amended request includes several novel budget proposals, including one to provide additional funding for higher education institutions, one to provide $5 million to the Department of Health and Human Services for EMS support, and another to provide $175,000 to the Department of Homeland Security to fund helicopter repairs The West Virginia State Police would provide it.
Other bills in the call include putting the state treasurer in charge of the municipal bond commission, increasing funding for broadband expansion in the state and transferring funds to cover deferred maintenance costs to colleges and universities, among others.
The concurrent resolution on the call, if passed, would honor World War II veteran Hershel “Woody” Williams as one of two West Virginians represented in the National Statuary Hall Collection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC are, a Medal of Honor recipient and Purple Heart recipient who died in 2022 at the age of 98.
Perhaps the most pressing issue on the call is the reduction of the income tax cut, which was the first item of the Justice’s first proclamation for this special session.
Justice has been pushing for another 5% cut in the state’s income tax for months, but it has been tough to reach consensus with lawmakers. Finance leaders in the capital — including Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, and Del. Vernon Criss, R-Wood, both chairs of their committees’ finance committees — have generally expressed support for tax cuts but also expressed concerns that a tax cut is just starting to happen given uncertainty over the state’s reduced tax revenues and recently passed tax cuts start to take effect, the reduction could be too high.
A proposed 2% cut might be more likely to reach consensus.
From Monday, 1 p.m., six bills The appropriations introduced for the special session – all appropriations overwhelmingly supported by the Republican supermajority – have passed both chambers of the Legislature and been sent to the governor’s desk for his signature.
This is a developing story. Be sure to tune in to West Virginia Watch later Monday evening to see how the third day of the special session unfolds and how lawmakers handle the bills before them.
