…….The West Virginia Legislative Special Session is done. It lasted a week. Nothing was accomplished except spending the taxpayers’ money. Take 134 legislators and multiply their per day rate; factor in cost of hotels and a per diem meal rate; and don’t for mileage for them to get there and return home. Is it their fault? No, when you receive a call into a special session by the Governor, you are required to go. They actually can send the State Police after you if you fail to show up.
…..In my opinion, Governor Justice broke a cardinal rule of Special Session…wait two….actually three. He didn’t communicate and he didn’t get consensus and as a result he just created chaos. Prior to calling Legislators into Special Session, there were no sit downs with the leadership to see if his tax proposal would fly. The bill was dead on arrival in the Senate and just like birthing a baby, creating a bill takes two…the House and the Senate.
…….Then the abortion bill was thrown into the mix. Special Sessions are to be brief when needed. You have consensus worked out prior to your arrival; you vote; and you get out of town. An issue as serious and life altering like abortion requires more than a quick vote. That vote requires soul searching and seriously looking at the other viewpoints being offered. I cringed when I saw a bill forbidding abortion emerge from the Judiciary Committee without exception for rape and incest. I was appalled that Del. Pat McGeehan (R-1st) voted against any attempt to amend that into the legislation in both committee and on the floor. I applaud Del. Mark Zatezalo (R-2nd) who broke party ranks to support the amendment. A group of Republicans joined with Democrats to pass the amendment to the House bill. Both the Senate and House bills, of differing versions, died when a conference committee was not appointed. I anticipate both issues to be a priority in the upcoming legislative sessions. Prior to that, however, the General Election will decide if both delegates return. McGeehan is challenged by Hancock County Attorney Jack Wood while Zatezalo has former delegate Ronnie Jones.
…….So many things I started to write about this week. Stopped and took picture of the new Blessing Box for pets next to the Books Blessing Box on Chester St near the red light in New Cumberland. I’ve thought a lot about what our small towns do locally lately. The impact of volunteers is so evident in each one. New Cumberland community garden is flourishing and flowers are in evidence throughout the town. The Riverfest is coming In September and the annual event takes so much effort. Chester’s tremendous turnout for the homecoming and people who work on 4th of July. Teapot day will soon be here. Laurel Hollow Park is busy with events made possible by citizens of Newell.
…..Is this why I am hooked the Netflix. For those of our readers who do not know about that Netflix series Virgin River or do not care, I’d stop reading now because I’m going to bore or worse yet appall you. It’s a glorified, nighttime soap opera series based on the books by Robyn Carr. You know those books that are a guilty pleasure and fall under the romance category on kindle which I browse when no is looking. I compare it to the ice cream or chocolate you love when no one is looking, but choose the healthy option when someone is looking. I watched the 12th and final episodes in series 4 last night and am assured series 5 is coming. I can’t wait. I tried not to binge watch, but I couldn’t help it.
…..What’s the appeal. The small, rural town has characters whose lives have more twists and turns than is believable…..or is it?