CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Republicans in the West Virginia House of Representatives laid out their priorities for the upcoming legislative session on Tuesday.
The agenda places a sturdy emphasis on job opportunities and economic growth. House of Delegates Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay) said that in the survey, 81 of 91 Republican House members said their top priority was creating jobs and growing the economy.
“We know that the best way to move West Virginia forward is to empower local residents and local communities to make their own decisions about their own economic future,” Hanshaw said during a news conference.
He said the program would consist of three pillars:
- Creating an educational program tailored to the needs of the workforce
- Prioritizing companies that create jobs
- Responsible economic development
The first bill that House Republicans say they plan to introduce will be modeled after Ohio’s JobsOhio program. JobsOhio is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting economic development.
“We want to implement [JobsOhio] here in the Team West Virginia concept; move economic development in a direction that removes all political considerations and makes economic development decisions based on what is best for the people of West Virginia,” Hanshaw said at the news conference. “Because we want to emphasize the belief that job creation, providing good-paying jobs for men and women, is the number one priority for government.”
Other planned areas of focus include aviation and regional airports, supporting small businesses and considering teacher pay increases.
On the Democratic side, Del. Hollis Lewis (D-Kanawha) said many of Hanshaw’s proposals “sound good,” especially those focused on increasing housing and economic development.
“But,” Lewis added, “the devil is in the details.”
Lewis said Democrats’ priorities in the House are similar to Republicans’.
“Economic development, ensuring affordability for people – whether it’s utility rates or housing,” Lewis said, listing the priorities. “I’m trying to solve problems like PEIA by working on health-determining outcomes.”
