The West Virginia Legislature passed a bill three years ago legalizing the use of medical marijuana. But that law has never really taken effect.
John Doyle
Whither Hilltop House?
A bill has passed the Legislature taking away the authority of the Harpers Ferry Town Council regarding anything relating to the Hilltop House hotel.
Big Manufacturers Want a Big Property Tax Break
Once again, the West Virginia Manufacturers Association (WVMA) is coming to the Legislature with a proposal to give large manufacturers and mining companies a property tax break.
Clean Drinking Water Bill to be Introduced
On December 16, several members of the House of Delegates, I included, held a press conference in Charleston at which we announced that we would be sponsoring a bill that would significantly improve drinking water protection.
MARC Train Service Appears to Be Saved
As of this writing, the West Virginia State Rail Authority (SRA), at the direction of Governor Jim Justice, was actively involved in discussions with the Maryland Mass Transit Administration (MTA) for a multi-year agreement to continue MARC commuter rail service at its current level.
Are the Higher Education Policy Commission’s Days Numbered?
There have been four different systems of higher education in West Virginia since the 1960s. We seem to want to completely overhaul the structure every 20 years or so.
Do We Need to Pollute the Water to Create Jobs?
On October 23, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) will hold a public hearing on Rockwool’s applications for two stormwater permits. The hearing will begin at 6pm in the Storer Ballroom of the Shepherd University Student Center and will end at 8pm. Any citizen concerned about drinking water should come to this hearing.
MARC Train: Critical Public Hearing
The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), which operates MARC, has said it will cut service from Martinsburg to Washington, D.C. (now three trains each way) to one train per day. Maryland has said the service to West Virginia costs it over $3 million per year, and West Virginia has not paid anywhere near that amount. The two trains that would be eliminated would still run from Brunswick to D.C.
Partisan Gerrymandering is Constitutional
About a month ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that what is called “partisan gerrymandering” passes constitutional muster. But that doesn’t make it right.
Keep the Trains Running!
The Maryland Rail Corporation (MARC) has informed the West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) that passenger service from West Virginia will be cut from three trains each way to one in October. This would be a disaster for Jefferson and Berkeley Counties.
West Virginia’s Premature Budget
The state constitution requires that a budget (that is balanced) be passed prior to the beginning of the fiscal year for which it is to be law. Our state’s fiscal year begins on July 1 of each calendar year.
Pipeline Bait and Switch
On March 26, Delegate Sammi Brown and I met with Scott Mandirola, Deputy Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and DEP General Counsel Jason Wandling. We met with them to urge the DEP to make good on its promise to hold a public hearing on the natural gas pipeline coming to Jefferson County.