West Virginia Blue
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In a 27-5 vote, Senate Republicans and conservacrats have joined the House in declaring that, after 20 weeks, women shall remain pregnant by order of the state, with no exceptions for rape or incest.
If you take a gallon of milk and place it in the refrigerator, it doesn't make that gallon of milk a part of the refrigerator. The refrigerator keeps the milk from spooling. The womb is the most protective place in the world, but it has become victim to the hearts and minds of the people."
--Del. Kayla Kessinger, R-Fayette
3. Pregnancy has nothing to do with women's health
Speakers to include: AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, UWUA Vice President John Duffy, USW Secretary Treasurer Stan Johnson, North America Building Trades President Sean McGarvey, NEA President Lily Garcia, AFT President Randi Weingarten, Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall and UMWA President Cecil Roberts.
Event kicks off at noon, March 7 on the riverside capitol steps, and is set to rally workers against the attack on working familes coming from our new GOP legislature, on issues such as "Right to Work," repeal of prevailing wage, worker safety and charter schools.
Posted by Delegate Justin J. Marcum, D-Mingo on Facebook:
Today we are considering a Bill to drug test those who receive TANF benefits. I have proudly co-sponsored an Amendment to require legislators, the Governor, and all members of YOUR state government to also be drug tested before being tested. Let's hope the new majority will support my amendment. Thanks to Delegates Jeff Eldridge and and Ralph Rodighiero for helping me with this.
Considering the nutty ideas coming out of this legislature, one has to wonder if many of them could pass.
The governor moves on the unconstitutional forced birther trainwreck (with no exceptions for rape or incest). Now it heads back to the Legislature, where only a simple majority is needed to override.
Despite the fact that that there's no demand from WV employers for this wage gutting and attack on workers, the new Republican majority is swiftly moving on their real mandate: the one set by their out-of-state donors.
Another great article written by Chris Regan the Vice Chair of the West Virginia Democratic Party. Another good read. Posted here at wvablue with the permission of Christopher J. Regan.
Wednesday, February 25th, 2015 should be a long-remembered day in West Virginia. Some are calling it the worst day yet for this Republican legislative session. I feel differently. I think it was the day equal rights for gay and lesbian West Virginians shifted from a long-held dream of some of to a near-certainty for all. The longer the day went on, the clearer it became that equality will prevail in the Mountain State. House Bill 2881 has showed us the future.
It didn’t feel that way at first. Listening the Republican-controlled House Government Organization Committee debate, and following the discussion online, there were depressing posts and comments. The hardest to read were those from West Virginians who felt totally disillusioned that in 2015, any part of our State government would pass a law targeting LGTB West Virginians and trying to legitimize discrimination against them. Some said they felt like leaving and never coming back. Others wrote movingly of how much they cared about their home State and how they wished it would love them, as much as they love it.
But after reading those understandable and justified reactions, I went looking for the arguments in favor of this bill. It’s part of my job to read them. Anyway, there’s always a controversy on every bill isn’t there? When Republicans take aim at working families’ wages, they at least have a position – even if it’s a wrong one – for what they are doing. When they try to cut back safety for coal miners, they have a position – even if it’s a wrong one – and they’ll tell it to you. Even when they go after vaccinations against disease, a move we know is a wrong one, they’ll give you some reason why they’re doing it
What did they have to say for their (it’s actually copied from Arkansas) anti-gay bill? Nothing. They were on the run from the jump, ridiculously naming their bill the “West Virginia Interstate Commerce Improvement Act.” Even the reliably-conservative Hoppy Kercheval tweaked them for that. And they stayed on the run throughout the day, basically spending the whole time pretending the bill was about something else and avoiding direct questions about what they were up to. When the vote to exempt existing anti-discrimination ordinances occurred, the Chairman refused to let those voting against be identified in the record.
ALEC and friends are on the West Virginia Legislative agenda again with sponsors on both sides of the aisle to pass H.B. 2881 cobbled together from an act passed in Arkansas and awaiting passage in Texas (as dictated by ALEC). The Bill presumes to make West Virginia more business friendly in their mind by prohibiting cities and counties from enacting ordinances that protect any class of citizens not aready protected by state law. It woud also nullify any previous ordinances that don't comply with their Bill. The Bill is aimed directly at the LGBT community.
"Such uniform laws will benefit the businesses, organizations and employers seeking to do business in our state and will attract new ones to our state," the bill claims, despite the fact that businesses successfully navigate variations in local ordinances without issue.
"HB 2881 not only prohibits the rights of communities to govern themselves but it also interferes with democracy in its purest form: city and town councils," Andrew Schneider, Executive Director of Fairness West Virginia said in an email. "When a nondiscrimination ordinance or resolution is considered or passed, each community has the opportunity to speak out against it, vote the city or town leadership out of office, or repeal the ordinance. There’s no need for interference by the state legislature."
The legislation has strong support already, including eight Republican and three Democratic co-sponsors.
Read more here. The bill itself can be read by clicking here. Not much to read but it will get the job done for the folks that want to keep LGBT folks from being protected from discrimination.
Sponsors are: Lynn Arvin (R-Raleigh), Tom Fast (R-Fayette), Kayla Kessinger (R-Fayette), Mike Azinger (R-Wood), Jim Butler (R-Wood), Rick Moye (R-Raleigh), Rupert Phillips (D-Logan), Danny Hamrick (R-Harrison), Ray Canterbury (R-Greenbrier), David Perry (D-Fayette),and Anna Border-Sheppard (R-Wood). The Bill is scheduled for a vote in the House Government Organization Committee today.
So if you live in Raleigh, Fayette, Wood, Logan, Harrison or Greenbrier County let these backward folks know how you feel about another obnoxious piece of legislation that if passed will keep West Virginia in the Dark Ages.
UPDATE: The Bill is out of Committee as of tonight. Read this and get MAD abd FIGHT this Republican BS!!
WVa Blue is pleased to pass on the latest article published by Chris Regan the newly elected Vice Chair of the WV Democratic Party titled Republicans Hang a "For Sale" Sign on our Capitol . Chris doesn't hold anything back when talking about the current folks holding power in the WV House of Delegates and the WV Senate. Our readers shouldn't hold back either. It will take real Democrats to change the tide in West Virginia. Mr Regan puts it in words that are easily understood by all who are in Republican crosshairs. If you are an Independent who believes in the traditional ideals of the Democratic Party do what Chris Regan did. Register as a Democrat and join the fight.
You can read his article on the next page by clicking below...
The WV Legislature is proving to be as nutty and out of touch as Bill O'Reilly as mentioned by Eric Enberg in a recent interview. Do they honestly believe that House Bill 2509 can pass muster much less survive a veto. It gets worse here every day... read it and weep:
Language from WV House Bill 2509:
" (a) Any official, agent or employee of the United States Government or an employee of any corporation or other entity providing services to the United States Government, who enforces or attempts to enforce an act, order, law, statute, rule or regulation, pursuant to either the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) or the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152) is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,500 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility not less than one year, or both fined and imprisoned.
(b) An official, agent or employee of this state who enforces or attempts to enforce an act, order, law, statute, rule or regulation, pursuant to either the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) or the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or confined in jail not more than one year, or both fined and confined."
Dumb and Dumber no help for these crazies. Bill submitted by Larry Faircloth (R-Berkley) with co-sponsors McGeehan (R-Hancock), Moffat (R- Putnam), Kessinger (R - Fayette), J Nelson (R -Boone) and Ihle (R -Jackson). Obviously the Bill is unconstitutional and a real disgrace to our legislature that such a Bill could by moved on to a committee. It is also an insult to all the citizens of our state that are enjoying the benefits of the Affordable Care Act. Such a waste of time and effort.
More info on this crappy bill can be read in the Charleston Gazette titled GOP-backed bill would make it criminal to enforce ACA in W.Va. by Eric Eyre please read here.
Members of the West Virginia House of Delegates and the WV Senate are very serious about passing Right to Work Legislation. Much to their chagrin they had to listen to Ohio Governor John Kasich tell them that the such a law hasn't held Ohio back according to an article by Dave Gutman in today's Charleston Gazette.
Surrounded by Republican legislators who are pushing for West Virginia to pass a “right-to-work” law, Ohio’s Republican governor said last week that a similar move was not necessary in his state.
There is no indication that businesses are staying away from Ohio just because it has not passed a right-to-work law, Gov. John Kasich said. “No, we don’t see that in our state, I don’t have any evidence of it,” Kasich said. “Now, if we have major unrest I think it causes a problem, but without major labor unrest, we’re up 300,000, almost 300,000 jobs and I don’t find that to be a big issue in our state.”
WV Senate President Bill Cole (R-Mercer) a strong advocate of a Right to Work Law in West Virginia had this to say...
Senate President Bill Cole, R-Mercer, has advocated for right-to-work and was standing next to Kasich when the governor gave his remarks.
“He’s taking the high road,” Cole said. “I’m not out to break a union or to do any of that stuff, I’m just out to try and free up any avenue that brings economic growth to West Virginia.”
Ohio’s Legislature, which is also controlled by Republicans, has considered right-to-work legislation in recent years, but it has never come close to passing.
“But what works in Ohio may,” Cole paused. “We’re the same but we’re different.”
Real Democrats need to support our Union Brothers and Sisters to insure that Right to Work does not pass in this or any other session of our legislature.
WV is still the unhappiest State in the nation as reported in the Washington Post.. Check it out. Our Republican Masters in Charleston are doing everything they can to keep us there!
The 2014 edition shows Alaskans near the head of the pack in every category. Texans and New Mexicans had the second and third greatest sense of purpose. Only Hawaiians were more pleased than Alaskans with their financial and physical lives. Inhabitants of the Last Frontier were happier with their communities than anyone but South Dakotans and Montanans. And they scored the seventh-highest in social satisfaction; South Dakota, Wyoming and South Carolina made up the top three.
While the 10 most satisfied states were all in the West and Midwest, residents of the Rust Belt and the South were the most unhappy. West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Mississippi dwelled at the bottom of the rankings. Virginia landed in the 14th position, while Maryland fell at 29th.
Well-being surveys aren’t just for bragging rights. Previous surveys have found that better scores are related to positive outcomes such as lower workplace absenteeism rates, better performance at work, lower obesity rates, and lower rates of teen pregnancy and crime.
Not fair to give so much credit to the Republicans as the Republicrats support for the phony War on Coal and hating Obama assured that our state would make the bottom of the heap for the fourth straight year. Maybe if real Democrats ran the State this could be changed.
If you don't submit your application and enroll in a health insurance plan before the final deadline this Sunday, February 15, you won't have coverage for 2015.
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Don't miss out. Over 10 million people have already signed up for quality coverage, and 8 out of 10 people are getting financial help with their premiums - saving an average of $268 a month.
Join the millions getting covered! Enroll by the deadline, Sunday, February 15.
Alternative teacher certification bill passes WV House, moves onto Senate
"The goal is to try to fill West Virginia's 700 current teaching vacancies.
On Tuesday, February 10, the House of Delegates voted 60 to 35, passing a bill that would expand a county's options when it comes to hiring teachers.
The bill would permit professionals who may not have teaching degrees to teach subjects they know, from grades 6 to 12. However, they would first be required to pass a state subject test."
Also I can't find the link but I heard something about a bill to waive some sort of requirement that a person teaching homeschool have a HS diploma??
It seems to me that with WV low educational levels and HS and college graduation rate that we'd be wanting to test more and ginning up the requirements for people not cutting them??
It would seem if we want to "hold teachers accountable" which seems to be the buzzword these days we'd be asking for MORE testing not LESS??
Seems if we have huge vacancies in the amout of teachers we might want to embrace the free market and pay our teachers MORE than surrounding states rather than making it so people who have no history in education can teach. Not saying those people might not be good teachers but with the hostility toward testing how would we know?
In an 87-12 vote, with no exceptions for rape or incest.
Here's the mentality we're dealing with here:
@wvdemocrats 2h2 hours ago
"This isn't about a woman's body," Delegate @ElectSairaBlair on #HB2568 Please tell us how bearing a child isn't about a woman's body.
Smaller gub'mint Republicans and conservacrats in action.
Some excerpts from WV Free, keeping us up-to-date on the abortion bill:
@WVFREE · 57m 57 minutes ago
"FORCING a woman to bear children as a result of rape is inconsistent with a civil society." @DelegateBarbara #HB2568 #StandwithWVWomen
@WVFREE · 55m 55 minutes ago
"I'm having a hard time understanding why for something as hideous as this we wouldn't allow an exception." Del. Guthrie #standwithWVwomen
@WVFREE · 48m 48 minutes ago
"If you're a cow there are rules in place to protect you from pain." @KelliSobonya on why she opposes rape & incest exceptions. Whaa?
@WVFREE · 40m 40 minutes ago
.@delegateskinner says this is an incredibly narrow exception & only deals with a 2 week time period. It's time to do something moderate.
@WVFREE · 38m 38 minutes ago
Amendment to make an exception for rape & incest victims to #20weekban fails in #WV. 17 yes/ 78 no #HB2568
@WVFREE · 38m 38 minutes ago
.@DelegateBarbara introduces an amendment to include a risk to a "woman's health" specifically as an exception. #standwithWVwomen
@WVFREE · 22m 22 minutes ago
Amendment to allow for a woman's health exception fails 15 yes/ 79 no votes. #HB2568
@WVFREE · 15m 15 minutes ago
#HB2568 moves on with no change to it's 3rd reading & vote on the @wvhouse floor tmrw. Tell Delegates to vote NO: http://bit.ly/1zP6KSQ
The speech is one given by former WV Senate President Jeff Kessler nominating a former Independent now Democrat to be Chairman of the WV Democratic Party. The nomination is not what I consider to be important here rather it is the words that Senator Kessler speaks to a crowded room filled with Democrats telling us all what we are going to have to do to win back our state. He is right on in my opinion.This was recorded Saturday February 15th at Flatwoods WV.
Listen carefully as we need to insure that we show folks we are Democrats and not Republican-Lite to win elections. Hopefully the new leadership of new Chairperson Belinda Biafore and Vice Chair Chris Regan will insure that WV Democrats follow a path to victory in 2016.
A member of the West Virginia House of Delegates is in the running for the Distinguished Wing Nut of the Year Award. Read what the Huffington Post has to say about Delegate Brian Kurcaba (R-Monongalia) and his unbelievable thoughts on Rape...
A Republican state lawmaker said Thursday that women who become pregnant from sexual assault should not be exempt from an anti-abortion measure, because childbirth resulting from rape is "beautiful."
"Obviously rape is awful," West Virginia Del. Brian Kurcaba (R) said during a committee hearing on a new abortion restriction, according to David Gutman, a Charleston Gazette reporter. "What is beautiful is the child that could come from this."
Kurcaba, a financial adviser, was elected to the House of Delegates in November.
Kurcaba falls right in line with Republicans from other states that have stepped into the fray with dumb and nonsensical coments...
Kurcaba's comment about rape and abortion is similar to an argument made by U.S. Senate candidate Richard Mourdock of Indiana in October 2012. "I think that even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen," Mourdock said in a debate.
Mourdock lost the election to a Democrat weeks later, and the GOP's big losses in elections that year were largely attributed to controversial rape comments made by Republican candidates.
The most notorious remark that election season came from U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin of Missouri.
“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down," Akin said of pregnancy. "But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”
The right wing in West Virginia is pervasive in both parties in our state legislature. Enjoy reading an excellect analysis by John Cole at balloonjuice.com on the craziness that abounds in Charleston these days. A bill that is virtually identical to one vetoed by Governor Tomblin last year is making its way out of committee to the floor of the House of Delegates. Read John's analysis and weep also a quote from the Gazette article on the bill follows:
The West Virginia House of Delegates began moving a bill Thursday to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The bill is very similar to one that was passed last year, only to be vetoed by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.
The bill is one of 11 introduced so far this legislative session that seek to restrict women’s access to abortion.
A similar bill passed both houses of the Legislature last year with overwhelming bipartisan support but was vetoed by Tomblin, who said he had been advised that it was unconstitutional.
The House Health Committee held a public hearing on the bill before discussing it and ultimately passing it 20-5.
The public hearing had 25 speakers against the bill and 8 speaking in favor, although neither side seemed likely to change the other’s mind.
This year’s bill (HB2568) would ban abortions that occur more than 22 weeks after the woman’s last menstrual period. While that is a change in language from last year’s bill, it does not seem to be a change in practice, as the bill defines that time as “generally consistent with the time that is twenty weeks after fertilization.”
Welcome to the Republican version of West Virginia. The Republicans have got folks that match the worst crazies in the nation at the helm.
Maybe the WV GOP should hold off on the Social Studies Kill Bill and claiming they know better than educators on teaching WV kids about U.S. and state history.
Instead, they should turn attention to their own Congressman, Maryland Republican Alex Mooney, who still has a lot to learn about the state he's carpetbagging in.
Check out the great catch from the weekend, via Brian Powell, here.
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