Lawmakers Expect to Debate Taxes, Workers’ Comp
By CARRA HIGGINS, Staff Writer
POSTED: January 5, 2008
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Gov. Joe Manchin will need to reveal his budget and agenda for the upcoming session before legislators will know exactly what will be discussed in the session, according to Proudfoot. He said he is looking forward to a good, productive session and hearing the governor’s State of the State address.
Likely to be on the agenda will be plans on how to use the state’s reserve fund, which is among the top five in the country. But Proudfoot and Hartman said they plan to be cautious when making plans for the funds. Both said they will take steps to use the extra money responsibly and to ensure a positive future for the state.
“We can’t make long-term commitments that will affect our stability,” Hartman said.
“I want to keep the state moving in a positive direction,” Proudfoot said. “Too much good right now could hurt the future.”
Barnes said he hopes to make West Virginia a more business-friendly state and is also considering the future.
During the legislative session, members will also look at workers’ compensation which has been a concern to both citizens and representatives. The state privatized workers’ compensation two years ago. However, recently some groups have been lobbying to put the state back in charge.
“I think that’s an absolute mistake — keep the politicians out of it,” said Hartman about movement.
Barnes and Proudfoot agreed that the privatization of workers’ compensation was best for businesses and the state, but they are concerned about questions people have about Brickstreet Insurance Co. and its practices.
Heath care is on the minds of many people, including Barnes, Proudfoot and Hartman. However, the delegation thinks the issue cannot be fixed immediately.
Proudfoot said he expects to see property tax credits and the possible elimination of the privilege tax and business franchise tax come up during the session, which he said will help the state’s economy and encourage people to open businesses in the state.
Barnes said he is also concerned with and looks forward to making the state more appealing to businesses, which includes economic growth for the area and preservation of local heritages.
He thinks the state government’s structure is anti-capitalism.
Barnes stressed that people should be interested in issues he hopes to address in the senate that would help with job creation.
Capital for small businesses must continue to grow, he said, and in order to do that the state must abolish the Anti-Competition Tax — a franchise tax that keeps businesses from investing in themselves. The tax requires businesses to pay taxes on any equipment that would expand or help the business. Barnes said the tax has been reduced in small steps, but the Republican party has been pushing to eliminate the tax.
Assisting senior citizens by re-examining the Homestead Exemption tax is also on Barnes’ agenda. Because of the rise in property taxes, seniors have been financially burdened by not receiving more credits on their taxes.
National issues also concern the local representation. Proudfoot hopes the state can work around the complications of the “No Child Left Behind” act that was established by the federal government. Proudfoot thinks students should be able to attend vocational classes to learn a trade that could help them find jobs.
“Education is extremely important, but we’ve deprived young men and women because they’re repeating levels of academic education because they can’t meet the standards,” Proudfoot said.
Proudfoot said he also wants to look at the funding for regional jails and how they could be run more efficiently.
Lowering the corporation debt tax, examining senior programs, reducing the food tax, and revisiting teachers’ pay raises and the different retirement systems are all issues Proudfoot expects to encounter during the session.
Hartman said the biggest issue is health care and how people will pay for it, but he said there is no immediate way to solve the problems.
The Anti-Degradation Act is another that concerns Hartman because he said it affects his constituents. He hopes to hold the Department of Environmental Protection accountable to the standards of water the state established 10 years ago.
The timber industry is the flagship industry of Hartman’s counties and he believes that industry should be protected because “it’s not in good shape.”
Hartman also wants to see the 11 rural counties in the state that make up 51 percent of the population form a caucus. He said that if the rural counties band together, they will form a majority in state government.
Barnes and Helmick represent Randolph, Upshur, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Grant, Hardy, Berkeley, Hampshire and Morgan counties.
Proudfoot and Hartman represent Randolph and Pocahontas counties.
