West Virginia Democrats want voices heard in state budget talks

After essentially watching state budget bill negotiations from the sidelines during the regular session, West Virginia House and Senate Democrats are hoping for a seat at the table as talks continue — particularly since their votes will be needed to make any budget take effect before the new fiscal year begins on July 1.

“I don’t see how any meaningful revenue measure can be passed without our support,” said Delegate Mick Bates, D-Raleigh, a House Finance Committee member who, during the regular session, gave weekly floor speeches updating the lack of progress on resolving the $500 million shortfall in the 2017-18 budget.

With 36 members in the House and 12 in the Senate, Democrats are clearly in the legislative minority, but their votes will be needed to reach the two-thirds majorities needed in each house to make whatever budget bill is eventually approved effective from passage.

Otherwise, the budget would go into effect 90 days after passage. That would create a potential government shutdown from the end of the current budget year on June 30 until whatever date the new budget bill would go into effect.

- See more at: http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-politics/20170419/wv-democrats-want-voices-heard-in-state-budget-talks