Inside you will find informative updates on the 2021 Legislative session and the impact on League priorities. Also find helpful articles on redistricting in West Virginia, WV’s new green horizon and our upcoming virtual Convention.
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Please read on about 2 BAD BILLS moving in the Legislature and contact your legislators and tell them to vote NO. Each legislators’ phone number and a link to email can be accessed at https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Senate1/roster.cfm and https://www.wvlegislature.gov/House/roster.cfm
SB565 pertains to elections and has passed the Senate and will move to the House. The worst aspects are that it includes none of the reforms that contributed to the high turnouts in 2020, such as no-excuse absentee voting or having drop boxes for absentee ballot requests and ballots, and worse, it pretty much guts the Automatic Voter Registration at DMV bill that passed a few years ago but has yet to be implemented. It also moves the dates for early in-person voting back so that the Saturday before Election Day, the most popular day for early voting, is eliminated. This bill reflects the wish list of the Secretary of State and includes a few acceptable changes, but the bad far outweighs the good. The League has been involved in discussions along with other pro-voter organizations with the Secretary’s election staff advocating for voter-friendly changes, to no avail. The LWVWV priority on taxation for this session was that the LWVWV Supports measures that modernize the elections process, allow more efficient procedures for election officials, and give voters easier access to voting such as making permanent the expanded voting options that were available during the pandemic in 2020.
HB3300 is the House’s version of the governor’s plan to phase out the state income tax. It is on second reading in the House today. While the House’s bill phases the tax out more gradually than the governor’s plan, there is no way it could make up for the lost revenue without drastic cuts in funding to already strapped agencies and programs. Many West Virginians earn too little to pay income taxes and will see increases in sales taxes. Cutting and eliminating the state income tax will benefit the well-off while raising taxes and cutting services for people who are struggling. The LWVWV priority on taxation for this session was that the LWVWV Supports reforms of the West Virginia tax system that are broadly based, rely on diverse revenue sources, provide adequate, stable yield sufficient to provide essential services, and treat taxpayers fairly.
For more information on both bills, Citizen Action Group has up-to-date information: wvcag.org or type in the bill number (digits only) at the Legislature’s Bill Statue site: https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bill_status.cfm
Librarian Sabrina Thomas will speak on this important subject at the LWV Huntington’s virtual meeting, March 8, 7 pm. For over twelve years, Sabrina Thomas has served as an Instruction and Research Services Librarian for Marshall University Libraries. Ms. Thomas excels at teaching information literacy as a lifelong survival skill that characterizes Microsoft Teams Meeting -Join on your computer or mobile app Or call in (audio only) +1 304-306-8725,,902662792# United States, Charleston Phone Conference ID:902 662 792# LWVWV LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2021 The League of Women Voters of West Virginia has adopted the following issues as its legislative priorities for the 2021 session of the WV Legislature. The League of Women Voters of West Virginia: a.. Supports reforms of the West Virginia tax system that are broadly based, rely on diverse revenue sources, provide adequate, stable yield sufficient to provide essential services, and treat taxpayers fairly. b.. Supports measures that ensure health care for all West Virginians in light of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, including maintaining expanded Medicaid coverage, providing subsidies for those who cannot afford coverage under the ACA, ensuring coverage for pre-existing conditions, and addressing the disparity in health care availability and outcomes faced by Black West Virginians and other minority communities. c.. Supports measures that will continue to expand reliable broadband service to all parts of the state to increase educational and business opportunities in underserved areas. d.. Supports measures to eliminate discrimination and to ensure equality of opportunity for education, employment, and housing for all West Virginians regardless of their race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability. e.. Supports measures that modernize the elections process, allow more efficient procedures for election officials, and give voters easier access to voting such as making permanent the expanded voting options that were available during the pandemic in 2020. f.. Supports measures for redistricting for representatives to the US House of Representatives and the WV Legislature on a nonpartisan basis that allow West Virginia voters to choose their officials rather than officials to choose their voters. · Supports updating water quality standards to strengthen protections for human health, as well as measures that will give more West Virginians access to water service that meets these standards. The League of Women Voters of West Virginia urges the Legislature to work with the Governor to delegate Cares Acts funds to addressing housing insecurity and utility assistance for West Virginians who face loss of their homes due to the economic effects of the Covid 19 pandemic. Click HERE to view the Voter’s Guide for Wood County Candidates for WV Senate and House of Delegates. Inside you will find the latest on WV’s general election voting, local league updates on the Centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment and natural resources, healthcare and education reports. Enjoy! Click HERE to view the Voter’s Guide for Wood County Candidates for County Commissioner, Circuit Clerk, Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, Assessor and Surveyor Click HERE to view the Voter’s Guide for Wood County Candidates for Parkersburg Mayor and City Council |
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VoterSpring2021.pdf