Creating Responsible Government:

• Paid more than $1.8 billion toward unfunded pensions and state debt, including $731 million to the Teacher’s Retirement Fund.
• Saved more than $2.5 billion by paying down these liabilities early.
• Delivered a state budget surplus for five years in a row.
• West Virginia’s bond rating has increase to AA.

Creating Jobs and Expanding Investments:

• 240 companies have expanded or located in West Virginia
• Created nearly $13 billion in new, private business investments

Protecting Our Energy Future:

• Developed a plan for the future using coal, natural gas, and new technology
• Required the Division of Energy to track challenges to the energy industries and report to the state

Helping Families:

• Increased school clothing vouchers from $150 to $200, helping 57,000 children a year
• Expanded newborn testing to require 26 tests, including sickle-cell anemia, cystic fibrosis and hearing deficiency
• Increased the age limit to 25 for a dependent child or stepchild to qualify for PEIA
• Created the Child Protection Act, which greatly increased penalties for sexual predators, created a unit in the State Police for abuse and established an abuse registry
• Raised the state minimum wage

Supporting Veterans:

• Created the Helmets to Hardhats program to provide military personnel with training and job opportunities
• West Virginia was the first state to offer the Veteran’s Bonus Program which has provided 7,600 bonuses in excess of $4.5 million

Cutting Taxes:

• Cut the food tax by 50%
• Gave low-income families a tax credit
• Doubled the property tax credit for seniors
• Eliminated the state privilege tax on autos
• Lowered the business franchise tax
• Cut the corporate net income tax

Supporting Seniors:

• Dedicated more than $316 million in additional revenue for seniors services in the past five years

Protecting Workers:

• Passed historic mine safety legislation
• Hired additional inspectors to investigate companies that employ illegal workers to level the playing field for everyone

Workers at the plant will be making Global Hawk unmanned aircraft for the United States Air Force and heavy-lift helicopters.

The project received funding from a special purpose grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the West Virginia Economic Development Authority and the Harrison County Ecomomic Alliance Corporation.

Turner Construction Company landed the $142 million contract to build the Biometrics Technology Center at the FBI complex in Clarksburg.  Currently the FBI employs 2,500 workers and adding 2,000 more will be a wonderful push to our local economy.

The Harrison County Development Authority has published its August 2010 report.  It gives a break down of our economic news showing that while Harrison County jobs are down slightly in the first half of 2010, the performance is much better than the state and national averages.

Delegate Miley with President Jean Sartoris

Delegate Tim Miley attended the Harrison County Democratic Women’s Candidate Forum on April 12, 2010.  The Harrison County Democratic Women typically have the forum during every primary election cycle.  All 41st House of Delegate Candidates attended except for Anthony Barberio.

Tim Miley with Harrison County Commissioner Ron Watson

The Harrison County Democratic Women’s Group has over 100 members and is led by President Jean Sartoris.  This year the Democratic Women hosted all of the Harrison County Democratic Candidates, the Harrison County Democratic current office holders and even invited the non-partisan candidates from the Harrison County Board of Education race.  County Commissioner Ron Watson was gracious enough to be the Master of Ceremonies for the event.

Delegate Miley with Harrison County Clerk Susan Thomas

Delegate Miley spoke for approximately five minutes asking for support and discussing what his current position as the WV House Judiciary Chairman entails.  He also spoke about the job growth in North Central West Virginia, the current financial shape of the State of West Virginia, gave a summary on some of the bills that passed the 2010 Legislative Session and briefly covered some upcoming issues that will be undertaken in the Interim Sessions.

Delegate Tim Miley with WV Federation of Democratic Women's 1st District Director Fran Nutter

Several people took time to attend the forum, including West Virginia State Treasurer John Perdue.  Treasurer Perdue was in Harrison County for the Women and Money Conference he was holding the following morning at the Bridgeport Conference Center.

Everyone expressed their appreciation to the Harrison County Democratic Women for their support and dedication to the Democratic Candidates.  Delegate Miley thanked them all for being the backbone of the Democratic Party and working  hard for their families, in their community and in everything they put their minds to do.

Delegate Tim Miley introducing President Bill Clinton

Delegate Tim Miley was honored to be able to introduce former President Bill Clinton when he visited Clarksburg, WV.

President Clinton was in Clarkburg campaigning for his wife, then Senator Hillary Clinton.  President Clinton held a front porch rally at the residence of Stephen and Mary McCoy on Mulberry Street.  Estimates were that over 200 people attended the rally.  President Clinton spoke about the accomplishments his wife has had as a New York Senator and the experience she provides by coming into an office he held previously.

The rally went amazingly well and Delegate Miley was able to speak with President Clinton about political issues concerning West Virginia, the United States and the World.

President Clinton Speaking in Clarksburg, WV

President Clinton stayed after the rally to take picture and sign autographs for the McCoy family and for friends of Delegate Miley.

It was an exciting day for Delegate Tim Miley, the McCoy family and for everyone that attended the rally.

WV House Judiciary Chairman Tim Miley

Delegate Tim Miley addresses the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce during the 2010 Legislative Session.

Delegate Miley discussed the Business Court Division (House Bill 4352), the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Public Campaign Financing Pilot Program (House Bill 4130), and the prospect of having an Intermediate Court of Appeals.

The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce endorsed Delegate Miley’s 2010 Candidacy for the 41st District WV House of Delegate race.

WV State Capitol

The 2010 Regular Session drew to an end March 13, 2010.  There were 2,079 bills  introduced and of those, 219 were passed by the Legislature, 12 were vetoed by the governor.

Some of the highlights:

House Bill 4164 (Jacob’s Law) creates a pilot program setting up four specialized foster care homes in different regions of the state where children meet a team of experts to receive immediate valuations and testing upon being pulled from their natural homes.

House Bill 4604 (Jerry Alan Jones Act) increases the criminal penalties for crimes against law enforcement, probation and parole officers; establishing crime for disarming or attempting to disarm probation and parole officers.  It establishes a new crime for reckless fleeing and increasing penalties for fleeing or attempting to flee in a vehicle and increasing penalties for fleeing or attempting to flee in a vehicle causing property damage, causing injury or causing death while attempting to flee.

House Bill 4593 (H.S. Graduation Rates) it increases the maximum compulsory school attendance age from 16 to 17 years, beginning with the 2011-2012 freshman class, and decreases from 10 to 5 the unexcused absences allowed.  Authorizes up to 5 additional Juvenile Drug Courts and requires county boards to develop plans to improve retention and increase graduation rates.  Additionally, it increases the School Aid Formula allocation for alternative education from $12 to $18 per student.

House Bill 4130 (West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Public Campaign Financing Pilot Program) establishes the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Public Campaign Financing Pilot Program, which provides for the public funding of campaigns for the West Virginia Supreme Court o Appeals to be implemented for the 2012 primary election and the 2012 general election.  The program would be funded through attorney fees, special court fees, and funds from the Purchasing Card Administration Fund.  Candidates participating in the pilot program would be required to raise a certain amount of campaign funds to qualify for the program and receive public funds.  Candidates accepting public funds would thereafter be prohibited from raising or spending money from private sources.

If you would like to find out more, please read the 2010 Legislative Wrap-Up.

West Virginia State Capitol

Completed Legislative Action
(Week of March 18-25, 2009)

In the House

As of 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 25th, 2009, the 43rd Day of the Regular Session, 1,340 bills have been introduced in the House of Delegates. Of those, 73 have passed and have been sent to the Senate for its consideration. Some bills passed this week were:

House Bill 3083 would allow 16-year olds to donate blood with parental consent. Under current law, 17-year olds can donate blood without permission of a parent or guardian.

House Bill 2401 would provide for the expiration of the alternative minimum tax. The tax would be nullified and have no further effect for tax years after January 1, 2010.

House Bill 2541 would include poultry among those domesticated farm animals that would make the owner liable for damages those creatures cause on other peoples’ property.

House Bill 2952 would clarify that a terroristic threat is a felony regardless of intent to actually commit the threatened act. “Terrorist act” would be defined as an act that is likely to result in serious bodily injury or damage to property or the environment and is intended to intimidate or coerce the civilian population. It would also include attempting to influence the policy of a branch or level of government by intimidation or coercion, affect the conduct of a branch or level of government and to retaliate against a branch or level of government for a policy or its conduct.

House Bill 2968 would require the State Fire Commission to propose rules for approval by the Legislature to provide standard safe practices for the design, construction, location, installation, maintenance and operation of liquefied petroleum gas systems, as established by the National Fire Protection Association Standard 58. Training standards and qualifications must also be provided for persons who install or maintain liquefied petroleum gas systems as established by the National Propane Gas Association’s Certified Employee Training Program.

House Bill 2413 would raise the upper level age restriction for new hires for certain law enforcement agencies from 35 to 45 years of age. This bill would allow for persons who are hired at age 45 to secure a 20-year tenure before retiring at age 65.

House Bill 2771 would require contractors to submit documentation that they have complied with state regulations prior to the final payment for their work. This bill would define that a contract under this section would have a price floor set at $50,000. The bill would also not require employees who must submit to federal Department of Transportation drug testing to submit to further drug testing. The bill requires a contractor to submit yearly documentation to the awarding agency on its drug-free workplace policy.

House Bill 2836 would establish zones of educational innovation that would enable faculty members to collaboratively create and implement initiatives that would have West Virginia schools meeting the needs of the 21st Century. Currently these improvements are restrained and/or restricted by policies issued by the state board or the West Virginia Code. With the passing of this bill, current restrictions would be repealed and schools would be able to begin implementation initiatives they see fit for the improvement of education.

House Bill 2884 would establish a public-private state long-term care partnership program with the purpose of reducing Medicaid costs for long-term care, by encouraging the purchase of private long-term care insurance policies. These private insurance policies would be covered under long-term care insurance partnerships with the state.

House Bill 2958 would increase the fines for a trespassing conviction to no less than $100 for the first offense, no less than $500 for the second offense, and no less than $1,000 for the third offense. Current law set the fines at $100 to $500 no matter which offense.

House Bill 3066 clarifies the supervision requirements for elevator apprentices under elevator safety. Under this law, a person would not be able to construct, install, alter, service, repair or maintain elevators or related conveyances covered by current law, unless he or she has a license issued by the Commissioner of Labor.

House Bill 3074 would allow the Secretary of State to notify people with delinquent taxes by way of certified mail. Currently, the Secretary of State is only authorized to carry out this action through registered mail. This bill would save the state $1,200/year.

House Bill 3086 would permit home incarceration supervisors to carry handguns in the course of their official duties. The bill would require that before such supervisors may carry handguns they must meet specialized qualifications established by the Governor’s Committee on Crime, Delinquency and Correction, including the successful completion of handgun training and a minimum of four hours of training in handgun safety. The bill also exempts these supervisors from handgun licensing requirements and states that supervisors are not law-enforcement officers.

House Bill 3229 would create the Science and Research Council. This council would be charged with increasing the capacity of the state and its state institutions of higher education to attract, implement and utilize cutting-edge, competitive research funds and infrastructure. The Science and Research Council would replace the EPSCoR State Advisory Council and would consist of 13 members.

For the rest of the Legislative Wrap-Up link to the following:

Legislative Wrap-Up March 25, 2009