By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
The Tucker County Chamber of Commerce hosted a Legislative Update June 2nd at the Parsons Senior Center at which the President of the West Virginia Senate Randy Smith and West Virginia State Senator Jay Taylor addressed a variety of issues from this year’s legislative session.
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates District 85 John Paul Hott II was also invited to attend, but declined, due to not running for reelection, according to Tucker County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jessica Waldo, who acted as Master of Ceremonies for the event.
First to speak on the legislative session was Senator Smith, who has represented Tucker County for 14 years, who began by explaining not only how many bills were passed this session, but why so many bills were passed with his name attached. He said his position as President of the Senate attaches his name to bills that are introduced from the Governor, as well as many other sources that cannot introduce bills directly to the floor themselves.
Smith said he was especially proud to have passed Senate Bill 1, what his called his “Big Bill.” The bill was the first to be passed and was focused on helping small businesses. Smith said that small business was his top priority since most people employed in West Virginia were employed by small businesses.
Smith said last session the Senate passed a bill that invested $20 million in zero interest or low interest loans into start ups. This session’s Senate Bill 1 follows up the investment with framework for existing businesses with loans.
Another major issue this session, according to Smith was CPS and Foster Care. Smith referred to CPS in the State as “a shambles.” Smith said that there has been a decisive effort to see many children who have been sent out of state to specialized facilities, brought back home to West Virginia.
“We don’t have a lot of facilities in West Virginia for children,” Smith said.
In total, Smith said that 169 children a year are cared for out of state at a cost of $20 million a year. CPS workers are required to see each child once a month at an additional cost of $7 million per year in travel and accommodation costs, as those children are in facilities across the nation. Privatization, Smith said would save the State an estimated $17 million a year and be able to bring those children back to West Virginia.
“They’re our kids and they need to be here,” Smith said.
Senator Taylor spoke on the effort to further regulate Vape Shops. Taylor said that the goal was to stop the sale of illegal products imported from China. The main testing of these products, Taylor said, was under the control of the Department of Agriculture, who will go into the shops to test the products on site, with law enforcement as the enforcement arm of the legislation.
“So many Vape Shops these days are just selling poison, that’s what it is,” Smith added. “They package these to sell to kids.”
Among questions posed to the Senators from the public was the issue of the future of Medicaid in the State. Smith said that the State lost $4.3 million from Covid allocation. The state has been using a reserve fund to cover the loss. However, those funds are rapidly depleting and will be gone in a mere 18 months.
The issue of Date Centers and HB 2014 were brought up, as well by the public. Smith said that on the matter of Data Centers, he hears both sides, both for and against the issue. Smith made it a point to say that he hears from many people that do not want to be harassed for supporting it, which is why they do not publicly support the project. On HB 2014, Smith said that the issue of local control still needs to be addressed in the legislation.
Smith said when confronted on why he did not bring a bill to the floor repealing HB 2014, that due to overwhelming support for Data Center project throughout the State as a whole, he is unable to even get 18 votes in support of a measure to bring a bill to the floor.
Nuclear energy was raised, as well due to Fundamental Data’s own admitted plans for nuclear in Phase III of their Grant County part of the Ridgeline Project. Smith said that the technology for such a project was at least a decade off, but should such a project come to fruition, the new technology showed promise to come with far reduced waste.
A proposition was also raised to Smith during the Q & A. He was asked if he would be open to the idea of a special election for Tucker County residents on the issue of the Ridgeline project. Smith said he would need to see the proposed document outlining the mandate on data centers in Tucker County, but would gladly look it over and work with those proposing the vote.
“I’m open to anything,” Smith said.
Smith said that all he has ever done is try to bring economic development to Tucker County. He asked those present for suggestions on what the community was looking for. Smith listed that over the years every economic development plan that has been brought forth has been faced with venomous opposition by one or more group in the County: Corridor H, Data Centers, Hydro Plant and the Hyperloop.
Smith said that most big companies want to locate in the eastern panhandle or along the Ohio River corridor. Companies look for amenities and utilities, something the interior of West Virginia is still struggling to catch up with. As a whole, Smith said West Virginia has the worst workforce participation in the country, mostly due to substance abuse issues.
Even with its struggles, Smith said he tries incandescently to steer companies to the area. He said companies are always contacting the State wanting to locate in West Virginia and he is steering them to Tucker and Grant Counties.
