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The Good, the Bad and the Stupid 6

Good: HB 4223 — “that the Division of Corrections provide each probationer with physical copies of their birth certificate and Social Security Administration card upon release from a facility.” Both of these documents are essential to securing financial accounts, housing and employment. Multiple studies have shown that when former inmates have access to housing and work, they are less like to reoffend. This is a small step that can have a larger impact on reducing recidivism. Bad: SB 593 — “prohibiting ranked choice voting in any election held in West Virginia.” (For ...

There is a vocal group of extreme anti-abortion West Virginians, but despite their outsized presence in the Capitol’s halls, they are a statistical minority. Several polls show West Virginians support at least some access to abortion: A 2019 poll showed two-thirds of respondents believed full access to reproductive health care was important (even 49% of Republicans agreed), and a 2022 poll showed slightly over two-thirds of respondents strongly believed that there should at least be exceptions for rape and incest, and a slight majority said it wasn’t the place of the government to ...

10 years and one pandemic later …

Depending on how you look at it, we’re either more than a week late in congratulating Dr. Lee Smith on his imminent retirement from the Monongalia County Health Department, or a little more than two months early. After 10 years leading the MCHD, Smith has announced he will retire in May and Dr. Brian Huggins will take over. Smith has more than earned his retirement after leading Mon County through the COVID-19 pandemic — especially those early days. Under Smith’s leadership — and with the hard work and dedication of MCHD employees — Mon County residents had access to ...

Cheat Lake State Park?

Amid all the drama surrounding Lake Lynn Generation and Cheat Lake Park, there is a ray of hope: a resolution introduced in the Legislature to consider making Cheat Lake a state park. A quick refresher: Lake Lynn Generation owns and operates the Cheat Lake hydroelectric dam and the recreational-use land surrounding Cheat Lake. Lake Lynn Generation has requested to remove about 307 acres from federal protection. The community is concerned that doing so would open the land to private development, destroying the existing recreation and access to the lake. On top of that, community ...

HB 4654 does not protect kids

Do you know what bills are currently sitting in the House Judiciary Committee, awaiting lawmakers; attention? Among the 513 bills, there are dozens of authorizations bills for state agencies and licensing boards; multiple bills related to sex crimes, including ones against children; several bills related to domestic violence; and dozens of others that would impact people’s lives for the better. Instead of pursuing those, House Judiciary dedicated several hours this past week to debating, then passing HB 4654 — “removing bona fide schools, public libraries, and museums from the ...

Only 1 protection for women in ‘Women’s Bill of Rights’

We previously opined on the so-called “Women’s Bill of Rights” — HB 5243 — that has absolutely nothing to do with women’s rights and everything to do with promoting an anti-trans, anti-nonbinary, anti-intersex agenda. Recently, House Democrats tried to amend in some actual women’s rights — but House Republicans killed all proposed amendments but one. Here’s what could have been in the bill: Removing a tax on feminine hygiene products. Certain consumer supplies deemed “essential” — like aspirin or antacids — are sold sales-tax-free, because it’s unfair ...