Let’s get right to it. Here’s a rundown of the latest issues brewing in Charleston.
ACCESS TO THE CAPITOL: While stores, restaurants, and schools are open in-person at 100% capacity, the capitol remains closed to the public. It’s time to change that. The capitol should be reopened following the mask, distancing, and sanitary guidelines everyone else follows. The public must have a voice in what is happening to our state this legislative session.
FORCED POOLING: Alongside the WV Farm Bureau, I want to call your attention to several “forced pooling” bills (SB538 and HB2853) that have been introduced by leadership in the supermajority. “Forced pooling” is a tactic used by energy companies to gobble up land and property/mineral rights. Under these bills, landowners would not have the right to sell or keep their own land. They would be forced to sell if a majority of their neighbors were selling. This is an assault on landowners, especially farmers in our state. I will fight these bills just as I have every other year.
LICENSING: A series of bills (HB2006, 2007, & 2008) reducing licensing requirements passed the House recently. What’s the impact? Funeral service directors, electricians, architects, and more professionals would see their licensing requirements slashed. Bill sponsors say it would attract workers from other states. Would you want an unqualified funeral service director from another state to come here and care for your loved ones? No. These bills are dangerous.
HOPE SCHOLARSHIP: Should public money be given to people for private education? HB2013 says yes, setting up education savings accounts. Students who want to homeschool or attend private school would be given $4,600 per year by the state for their educational expenses. The total cost of the bill is $100+ million. Each student is unique and deserves to find the option that best nurtures his/her development. At the same time, I am also concerned about the enormous cost of the bill as well as the negative effect it will have on our public schools. (A delegate recently said counties would still receive partial funds for students who get an ESA; that is false.)
50/50 CUSTODY: In each particular family law case, the judge determines what custody arrangement is in “the best interest of the child” and rules accordingly. Some parents feel that the system is broken, with fathers in particular feeling shortchanged. HB2363 was introduced to replace “best interest of the child” with “50/50 custody.” I do not support it, because 50/50 custody is not always in the best interest of the child. Every case is unique, and judges need the discretion to do what’s best for each child.
HARM REDUCTION: The Senate passed a bill (SB334) restricting “harm reduction” programs this week. “Harm reduction” programs are run by county health departments in our region as a way to curb the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and to move folks with substance use disorder into recovery. The intent of the bill’s sponsor, Senator Eric Tarr, was admittedly to ban all such programs. However, he lacked the votes to do that, so the bill instead makes it exceedingly difficult for the programs to be able to operate. Our drug problem is only getting worse; we cannot afford to get rid of any tools that help us recover.
VACCINE: My focus in terms of COVID response continues to be securing more vaccines. If we can continue to vaccinate citizens at a high rate, then we can get back to doing the things we love that have been unsafe for the past year. The flow of vaccines from the federal government continues to improve each week. I am in regular touch with our federal representatives to push for that. And after a brief interruption of vaccines to our local area from the state, that situation is rectified. Do your part by signing up for a vaccine at www.vaccinate.wv.gov or 833-734-0965. Everyone age 16 and up can register now and then be called upon when it’s their turn.
MASKS: After COVID cases bottomed out recently, our local health departments report increases over the past 10 days. We cannot let our guard down now when we are so close to defeating COVID. Let’s continue to wear our masks and socially distance unless we are with our immediate family or amongst a small group of fully vaccinated citizens.
That’s the view from the back pew, where it is my privilege to serve you!
Senator Stephen Baldwin is the Minority Leader and a local pastor. Reach him at 304-357-7959 or stephen.baldwin@wvsenate.gov. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram @BaldwinForWV.
