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West Virginia Governor Calling Lawmakers for Budget Session
By: Associated Press
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is calling lawmakers back into session to work on a long-delayed budget.
Tomblin spokesman Chris Stadelman said Monday that the Democratic governor would call back the Republican-led Legislature starting May 16.
He said Tomblin expects lawmakers to stay in Charleston until they pass a budget.
Plagued by falling tax revenues from coal and natural gas, West Virginia lawmakers and Tomblin haven’t agreed so far on a 2017 budget that’s still $270 million short. The next fiscal year begins July 1.
Lawmakers left Charleston in mid-March without passing a budget.
Stadelman said there’s still no widespread agreement, but the uncertainty has been problematic.
Tomblin’s administration is calling for tax increases, including tobacco taxes. The GOP-led House wants to make deeper budget cuts and use reserves.