Legislative Update – by – Delegate Brent Boggs - House Majority Leader - 03.17.14 Last Friday evening, the Legislature concluded work on the FY 2015 budget, passing the conference committee report by a wide margin in both the House and Senate. During last week’s budget session, a host of negotiations took place in order to facilitate agreement by the conferees, allowing us to meet formally Thursday evening and sign the conference committee document. Both houses completed work on the budget Friday morning and sent the document to the Governor for his action. One of the most important inclusions in the FY 2015 budget is an additional $5 million dollars dedicated to in-home care for the Title XIX Aged and Disabled program. Long underfunded by DHHR, the Senate version of the budget and the Governor’s budget included no additional funding. I am appreciative of the supportive senators, including Senator Facemire, as Vice Chair of Senate Finance, for his hard work to urge his colleagues to accept the House position on this important appropriation. Coupled with an additional $1 million in a special session supplemental appropriations bill, the Legislature has set aside funding to eliminate at least half of the aged and disabled waiting list for much needed in-home care. The $6 million total - if signed by the Governor - will reap multiple benefits. With a 3 to 1 match from the federal government, it will generate $24 million; create 500 healthcare jobs and add about $40 million in economic activity, according to the WVU Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Contrary to some reports otherwise, the $5 million is built into the budget and the $1 million from the legislative TRAFFIC account. It did not come from Attorney General’s office funds. However, we did expire $9 million from his office for other uses. Additionally, the Legislature’s budget added $13 million over the Governor’s recommendation for secondary road repair, paving and maintenance; restored multiple cuts to grants to public libraries, domestic violence prevention, and other programs to assist children and families. We also partially restored cuts to predator control for the Department of Agriculture; added an additional $2 million to the WV State Police, in part to fund additional troopers in the Crimes against Children unit, where on-line perpetrators are preying on our kids. Funds were also included and increased for the Correctional Training Academy at Glenville. With the passage in the extended session of the lottery realignment bill (previously HB 4333); additional funds were secured from racetracks and the racing industry to add much needed revenue to next year’s budget, while also favorably increasing our bond – debt ratio. State employees, teachers and service personnel also received a salary increase. As Finance Chairman, this was an extremely challenging budget year. However, we have presented to the Governor a balanced budget. We did no deficit spending, instead drawing on a small percentage of our state rainy day fund, set aside for just such a purpose already contemplated by the Governor. Just like any working family that wisely sets aside a portion of earnings for unforeseen circumstances, the amount used from the rainy day fund is not borrowing. No one went to a bank, Wall Street or any financial institution. Moreover, we’ve already instituted a plan to replenish the rainy day funds at a faster rate than previously incorporated. I think that is responsible use of taxpayer funds. Additionally, the Legislature set up the mechanism for our first ever Future Fund. Providing certain benchmarks are met, a portion of the increased severance tax on our natural resources will be placed in a fund to benefit our citizens in coming decades. Had this been done decades ago when coal was booming, West Virginia would have billions saved and available to use for our citizens. I’m glad to be part of moving in the right direction for future generations. I’m looking forward to briefing you in the coming weeks on the bills that passed; the ones that failed; and what it all means for the coming year. Please send your inquiries to the Capitol Office at: Building 1, Room 462-M, Charleston, WV 25305. Or, call the Finance Committee office at 304.340.3230; or Jennifer McPherson at 304.340.3942; or, fax to 304.340.3388. If you have an interest in any particular bill or issue, please let me know. For those with Internet access, my e-mail address is: [email protected] . You may also obtain additional legislative information, including the copies of bills, conference reports, daily summaries, interim highlights, and leave me a message on the Legislature’s web site at legis.state.wv.us/. When leaving a message, please remember to include your phone number with your inquiry and any details you can provide. Additional information, including agency links and the state government phone directory, may be found at wv.gov. Also, you may follow me on Facebook at “Brent Boggs”, Twitter at “@DelBrentBoggs” , as well as the WV Legislature’s Facebook page at “West Virginia Legislature” or on Twitter at twitter/wvlegislature. Continue to remember our troops - at home and abroad - and keep them and their families in your thoughts and prayers. Until next week – take care.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:40:59 +0000
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