West Virginia Political News
No raises, but no staff cuts, in 2010-11 Kanawha budget
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County commissioners approved a $46 million, bare-bones budget on Thursday. "There are no raises," said Commission President Kent Carper. "There are no sheriffs cars in the budget. There are no new employees.&quo...
Friday March 12, 2010 1:51AM | com
House passes bill to allow some inmates early parole
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Some nonviolent inmates in West Virginia could be eligible for early parole under a bill approved Thursday by the House of Delegates -- but only if their crimes dont involve children. Gov. Joe Manchin had requested the bill (SB218),...
Friday March 12, 2010 1:22AM | com
W.Va. senators decline to raise dropout age from 16 to 17
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Keeping would-be dropouts in school until theyre 17 years old could cause more problems than it would solve, members of the Senate Finance Committee concluded Thursday. Committee members advanced a bill (HB4593) to the full...
Friday March 12, 2010 1:09AM | com
Fees taken out of public campaign financing plan
The March 12 legislative schedule is at the end of this story.CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- There will be a lot less money available for a pilot public financing project for the 2012 state Supreme Court races, after the state Senate vo...
Friday March 12, 2010 12:48AM | com
Bill to manage state vehicle fleet clears House
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- For perhaps the first time, a single agency could soon manage the estimated 9,300 vehicles owned or leased by West Virginia state government. The House of Delegates unanimously passed a proposal from Gov. Joe Manchin on Thursda...
Friday March 12, 2010 12:33AM | com
Dead bills pile up in Legislature
By Tom Breen and Lawrence Messina The Associated PressCHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Teenage tanners, seatbelt scofflaws and adults who text while driving are among those who will evade further legislative restriction this year. W...
Friday March 12, 2010 12:04AM | com
Court to hear Chief Logan drilling appeal
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The state Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal of a lower court ruling regarding new natural gas drilling proposed for Chief Logan State Park. Manchin administration officials and environmental groups filed the appeal, seeking...
Thursday March 11, 2010 10:29PM | com
GOP wants Massa probe reopened
By Politico ContributorHouse Minority Leader John Boehner and other top Republicans will offer a resolution calling on the ethics committee to reopen its investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by for...
Thursday March 11, 2010 5:12PM | com
Hildebrand: Dems risk slaughter
By Politico ContributorFormer Obama campaign adviser Steve Hildebrand is concerned Democrats could get “slaughtered” in this fall’s elections if they continue to not live up to their campaign pr...
Thursday March 11, 2010 3:52PM | com
CBC: Obama not listening
By Politico ContributorMembers of the Congressional Black Caucus are headed to the White House for a meeting on jobs Thursday, and they’ll have a few words to say about how President Barack Obama is doing h...
Thursday March 11, 2010 10:04AM | com
POLITICO Interview: Karl Rove
By Politico ContributorPOLITICO March, 11, 2010 (Recorded March 9, 2010) INTERVIEWER: MIKE ALLEN, White House Correspondent, Politico GUEST: KARL RO...
Thursday March 11, 2010 4:34AM | com
House Judiciary advances abortion bill with changes
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State lawmakers on Wednesday advanced a contentious anti-abortion bill after hours of behind-the-scenes negotiations. A split House Judiciary Committee amended and passed legislation (SB597) meant to make it easier for women seeking...
Thursday March 11, 2010 12:58AM | com
Senators OK business courts proposal
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Circuit courts in more populous areas of the state could set up business courts under a proposal approved by state senators Wednesday, after concerns some senators had about the cost of the new court systems were allayed. The bill (HB...
Thursday March 11, 2010 12:19AM | com
Toll roads bill heads to House
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Legislation to allow the state Parkways Authority to operate additional toll roads in the state (SB427) advanced to the full House of Delegates Wednesday -- with a new version of a discount plan for commuters who use E-ZPass to pay Tur...
Wednesday March 10, 2010 11:59PM | com
Manchin opposes EPA regulation of greenhouse gases
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Joe Manchin wants Congress to stop a plan that would give the Environmental Protection Agency authority to regulate greenhouse gases. Manchins office says the governor added his signature to a letter to congressional leaders Wedn...
Wednesday March 10, 2010 10:47PM | com
Boehner: Keep investigating Massa
By Politico ContributorThe top House Republican signaled Wednesday that he hopes the ethics committee will continue its investigation into harassment charges against Eric Massa even though he has resigned from Co...
Wednesday March 10, 2010 3:52PM | com
Arena Digest: Liz Cheney vs. DoJ lawyers
By Politico ContributorPOLITICOs Arena contributors discuss Liz Cheneys attacks on the Department of Justice lawyers. Elliott Abrams, former official, National Security Council I wa...
Wednesday March 10, 2010 10:12AM | com
Dems: No thanks to new gang of 14
By Politico ContributorSen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) wants to revive the bipartisan Gang of 14 — this time for health care reform, not judicial nominees. But most of his moderate Democratic c...
Wednesday March 10, 2010 9:03AM | com
GOP weighs Massa options
By Politico ContributorAfter a week of lying low and watching House Democrats struggle with the Eric Massa sex scandal and resignation, GOP leaders are now weighing their options on how best to exploit the contro...
Wednesday March 10, 2010 4:55AM | com
House panel passes optometrist bill, minus laser surgery
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A bill to allow optometrists to perform new procedures advanced from House Health and Human Resources Committee Tuesday evening -- with all provisions to allow them to perform laser surgery stripped out of the bill (SB230). State ...
Wednesday March 10, 2010 1:13AM | com
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