--Delegate Craig Blair of Berkeley County and Senator Clark Barnes of Randolph County are both Republicans, but they clearly are on opposite sides of the issue of whether West Virginians who get welfare, food stamps and unemployment should be subjected to random drug testing. They had a spirited debate about it on Talkline Wednesday. Blair has introduced a testing bill saying it may help people get off drugs, but Barnes argues that the suspicionless tests would be a violation of the individual’s Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. Blair got off the most interesting line of the debate when he asked, “Would you pee in a cup for $300?”
--American Federation of Teachers West Virginia and the West Virginia Education Association are the two unions that represent West Virginia school teachers and service workers, and they are also rivals. The AFT recently passed the WVEA in membership, which is a source of pride for the AFT and a sore spot for the WVEA. Because it is now the larger group, the AFT says it and not the WVEA should be able to nominate the education representative on the Public Employee Insurance Agency Finance Board. Currently, the WVEA’s man, Perry Bryant, is the rep on the board, but the AFT wants Bryant out and Joshua Sword in. The issue is now before the Senate Confirmations Committee.
--It’s all stimulus all the time. Ask legislators and Gov. Manchin what’s happening this legislative session and they’ll respond, “The stimulus.” Everybody continues to try to figure out exactly how the federal money can and will be spent. What’s evident so far is that most of the decisions are coming from the executive branch with little legislative control.
--Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin said the list of road projects to be paid for with the stimulus money had just been released when he started hearing from constituents. Tomblin told me everybody wanted to know why their road is not being paved or fixed. Tomblin said $211 million doesn’t go as far as you think when you try to divide it up across the state.
--One again, a bill has been introduced at the legislature that would make not wearing a seatbelt a primary offense. Under current law, you have to wear your seat belt, but you cannot be stopped for not wearing it. This change would allow the police to pull you over for not buckling up. This bill always generates some discussion, but typically has little chance of passing.
--Senate Majority Leader Truman Chafin (D-Mingo) says he’s concerned about excessive force within the West Virginia State Police. During a confirmation hearing yesterday for State Police Superintendent Col. T.S. Pack, Chafin referenced several newspaper articles about allegations of state police brutality and said, “A lot of people are scared of the state police.” Chafin admonished Pack to make sure he doesn’t have troopers who are trying to be “Rambo.”
--On an emotional level, President Obama’s speech Wednesday night was rousing, especially when he referenced the letter he received from the school girl who said, “We’re not quitters.” That should appeal to the determination in each of us. However, Politico reports Obama listed or mentioned at least 20 different things he wants to do—everything from providing universal health care to curing cancer to overhauling Social Security. I expect a letter from another bright young student to arrive at the White House soon that says, “Geesh Mr. President, we can’t do everything!”
--Octomom has been offered big money to make a skin flick. Vivid Entertainment says it will pay Nadya Suleman $1 million and give her family full health care benefits if she will star in a porn film. Right now, Suleman is depending on the government dole to pay for her and her 14 children so I say she should make the movie. At least that way she would be paying her own bills.
