Charleston, WV (Wowk) – The legislators in West Virginia have completed the legislative period on Saturday on Sunday.
“I think we had a great first session together, the Senate Authority and the governor,” said Senator Brian Helton (R-Fayette). “We are all the way behind him. We will support his agenda. I think it is right with what is best for West Virginia. I am pleased to be part of this team in the next four years to work with governor Morrisey and to expand this state like never before.”
Other senators did not agree.
“I think it was a do-not session,” said Senator Joey Garcia (D-Marion). “We didn’t do anything. I recently heard some comments about all the wonderful things that we did. We didn’t do anything about care or childcare. We have not done the real work to which people asked us.”
Garcia, one of two democratic senators, was also not satisfied with the way his Republican colleagues said goodbye in the last minutes of the session that prohibits all DEI programs.
“Links and regulations of the rule. Whatever it takes to say goodbye to this agenda is what this Republican majority is ready,” said Garcia. “It’s not right.”
Even some Republicans were not entirely satisfied with the legislative period.
“I am a little disappointed that we had to have a little more growth in the budget that I would have liked,” said Del. Vernon Criss (R-Wood).
However, the financial chairman of the house approves several items that were included in the 5.3 billion dollars in -house budget, which said goodbye to both chambers.
“There are 125 million US dollars for an autumn pavement program go to the motorway department. It will be good,” said Criss. “Water and sewage projects are financed. The economic development is financed. What we are most proud of at the back of the budget are 250,000 US dollars to go to Lilly.”
The Republican Brian Helton refers to the law on the microgrids and the creation of economic growth districts as the success of the legislative meeting.
“And also Lauren’s law that we said goodbye this year. In honor of Lauren Cole, it improves the punishments for those who award death here in West Virginia,” said Helton. “For the hardened drug criminals, the fentanyl, which lead to death, we have strengthened these punishments.”
While Senator Helton greets Governor Patrick Morrisey’s leadership, Delegate Criss was much more critical.
“He doesn’t understand that the state comes from New Jersey,” said Criss. “He does not spend time here to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. Getting the collaboration of the legislator is a problem for him.”
Governor Patrick Morrisey hinted at a special session this summer, but if and when it will happen, it still has to be determined.
