Published: January 15, 2007 06:04 pm      

WV House delegation busy with Democratic agenda ... King Day celebrated ... more

While the West Virginia Legislature is busy with mine safety issues and discussion of school teachers’ salaries and the Virginia General Assembly is working on transportation and education programs, the U.S. House of Representatives is pushing forward with some important decisions.

The Congress members have been voting on proposals, just as the Democrats promised when they took over the majorities in both the House and Senate earlier this month.

Four votes from last week were reported by the national voting record service on Monday, including implementation of the remaining 9/11 Commission’s Homeland Security recommendations, which passed 299 to 128 with 8 not voting. Locally, Virginia Rep. Rick Boucher from the 9th District voted in favor as did Third District Congressman Nick Rahall, a Democrat, and two other West Virginia lawmakers, Dan Mollohan, Democrat, and Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican.

The House also acted on the house bill to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour in the next two years. All four of the area congress members voted in favor of the increase in minimum wages.

The number for passage was 315 to 116 with 4 not voting.

The vote was split on a bill that would expand federal funding on embryonic stem cell research, a measure which was approved 253 to 174 with 8 not voting. Boucher and Capito voted approval while Rahall and Mollohan voted against.

On the House bill to require the government to negotiate Medicare prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies — and issue that Democrats have been supporting for several years but were unable to overcome the Republican majority — the issue was approved 255 to 174 with eight not voting.

The Democrats, Boucher, Mollohan and Rahall, all voted yes while the lone Republican from the Mountain State, Capito, voted no.

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The debate over an ATV proposal to prohibit the four-wheelers off all paved roads has at least two of Mercer County’s legislators in disagreement.

Dr. Marshall Long, Democratic Delegate from District 25, said he thinks the proposal, which originated from the State Police, is a good one which he supports.

He said those who have four-wheelers and need to cross the road to their property can go to the County Commission for permission to pass.

The bill also calls for registration of the ATVs, which has Delegate Mike Porter, the Republican representative from District 25, saying he is opposed. He doesn’t like the registration if it is going to cost users funds and he doubts that people will go to the County Commission for permission to cross the paved road.

Most local citizens who have discussed the issue with me in recent days support the proposal because of the number of ATVs they encounter on paved roads, especially at night.

The high death rate during the past year has put the focus on safety with ATVs back in the legislature this year.

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The state government didn’t ignore Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The annual memorial service was held on the north steps of the capital where a number of children took part, including Chafin’s daughter, Carah. Lawmakers, staff members, teachers and interested citizens were also in attendance.

Officials included U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., Gov. Joe Manchin, Speaker Richard Thompson, D-Wayne, Supreme Court Justice Spike Maynard and First Lady Gayle Manchin.

The officials representing the three branches of government, Manchin, Thompson and Maynard, rang the bell at the capitol in honor of the life and work of Dr. King.

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Today is the date for the annual meeting of the Mercer County Convention & Visitors Bureau. The session will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the First Floor Conference Room of the Bluefield State College Research & Development Center located at 704 Bland Street. All members have been urged to attend.

Barbara Hawkins is Chief Political Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph. Contact her at bhawkins@sunlitsurf.com.