News
Gov. Justice Calling Lawmakers Back to Resolve Budget
By: Associated Press
Posted on:
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – Gov. Jim Justice says he’s calling the Legislature back to Thursday’s special budget session to specifically consider four bills that would resolve their disagreements on spending cuts and taxes.
The Democratic governor two weeks ago vetoed the $4.1 billion general revenue spending plan approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature, saying it cut too much state funding from education and from health care for poor West Virginians.
Negotiations have continued this week.
One of the proposed bills would cut and eventually eliminate West Virginia’s personal income tax while increasing sales and corporate net income taxes and imposing a temporary income tax hike on those earning $300,000 or more.
Others would raise gasoline taxes, motor vehicle fees and parkway tolls to fund road reconstruction. The fourth would raise teachers’ pay.