Published: June 03, 2009 09:21 pm      

Lawmakers support Moore’s cause, but only vocally

PRINCETON — While they are providing morale support to Delegate Clif Moore, several southern West Virginia lawmakers said Wednesday they don’t plan on joining the McDowell County delegate in getting “arrested” as part of a proposed turnpike toll increase protest.

Moore, D-McDowell, said he’s willing to go to jail to stop the looming toll hike. Moore told reporters on Tuesday that if the toll hike is approved, he’ll block the Ghent toll plaza with his car. He says if another seven to 10 people join the protest, they can stop traffic along the turnpike.

Delegate John Shott, R-Mercer, said he shares in the frustrations expressed by Moore.

“I understand Clif’s frustrations, and I’m frustrated as well,” Shott said. “But that wouldn’t be my first response. I think there are other alternatives. I don’t intend to be arrested myself.”

Shott said a number of solutions were proposed to members of the Parkways Authority during a recent public hearing held in Princeton last month. Shott said local lawmakers are still hoping to sit down with the Parkways Authority members to discuss those options.

“I think the governor has every intention of seeing that rate increase become effective,” Shott said. “I have been told that they are looking at some other ways to make it less objectionable to the folks down here, which may include some modifications of the West Virginia User Pass, or whatever it is they call that thing. I gave them a list of five or six things that I felt certain the Legislature would back in the next session to try to help the situation from the standpoint of West Virginia users. But I haven’t gotten any response from that.”

Senate Majority Leader Truman Chafin, D-Mingo, said other options remain on the table.

“We all have to live within the context of the law,” Chafin said when asked about Moore’s proposed protest. “I’m not going to make a comment about that. That’s up to him as an elected delegate.”

Chafin said lawmakers are still trying to determine if state officials were correct in using federal funds earmarked for the 88-mile toll system on other unrelated projects.

“We have done everything reasonable that we can,” Chafin said. “We’ve tried to pass every bill we can and have met a road block at every spot. It’s either legal or not legal, It’s going to boil down to that. So stay tuned.”

While millions in federal funds were received for the upkeep and maintenance of the turnpike, state officials conceded earlier this year that the funds were used on other projects.

Senate Minority Leader Don Caruth, R-Mercer, said the fight continues.

“I don’t want to comment on how he (Moore) plans to approach this, but all of us, and I’m certain of Clif, and Truman and myself and most of the other delegates are very, very frustrated, and do not plan to leave the issue alone,” Caruth said.

Caruth said the Parkways Authority cannot continue to expect the citizens of southern West Virginia to shoulder the burden of maintaining the turnpike system.

While officials have indicated the Parkways Authority will vote on the turnpike toll hike on June 25, Caruth said such action doesn’t mean the fight is over.

“That date is not a deadline for me,” Caruth said. “Because as long as there is any prospect of increasing the tolls, I will continue to be vocally in opposition. I think that the media and the citizens of this state need to have the same feelings about it, and I think many of them do. I would also suggest that the June 25 meeting is open to the public. I would suggest many of them (the concerned citizens) should attend the meeting.”

Members of the West Virginia Parkways, Economic Development and Tourism Authority are scheduled to vote on the proposed turnpike toll increase during a meeting at the parkway offices in Charleston on Thursday, June 25, according to an earlier report by Teresa Nissel, executive assistant to Turnpike General Manager Greg Barr.

Nissel said two items are listed on the board’s agenda for the June 25 meeting — consideration of the proposed turnpike toll increase and the adoption of a budget.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com