Capital Eye Vol. 11 No. 4

Week Four of the 2018 legislative session was a wild week, with President Trump and the GOP at the Greenbrier (we visited, too!), and teachers rallying at the Capitol for better pay and fixes for PEIA. While all this was happening the Senate passed a bill that gives West Virginians the option of attending community and technical colleges for free, and advanced proposals creating an Intermediate Court of Appeals, and a judicial budget constitutional amendment.

In the House, several bills pending in the House Judiciary Committee are or are likely to be the subject of public hearings this week. Keep reading for details and actions you can take.

We hope you can join us for All Kinds are Welcome Here Civil Liberties Lobby Day on Thursday, February 8 and other events at the Capitol this week. We also hope you’ll take advantage of the upcoming Your Voice WV: Citizen Lobbyist trainings if one is planned for your area. This week trainings are happening in Parkersburg (tomorrow, February 5) and Shepherdstown (Tuesday, February 6). See our Facebook events page for more details on these and other upcoming trainings and events. 

Finally, for a fight the will last beyond the 2018 legislative session, please consider joining us in the movement for Medicare for All. 

Yours for Action,

Team WV CAG

Wild Week Four
In this article: Trump Visits GOP at Greenbrier - We Visited Too; War on Unions Continues; Teachers Rally at Capitol; Free Community College Passes Senate; Intermediate Court of Appeals, Judicial Budget Amendment Clear First Hurdles; Department of Education and the Arts on Chopping Block; DHHR Reorganization Update; What's SNAPpening?; Making it Legal to Noodle Catfish?; Minister Protection Bill is all Fluff; Charleston Gazette-Mail Files for Bankruptcy; Water Crisis Settlement Nears Final Approval; FirstEnergy's Attempt at WV Bailout Continues; and Join In!
Tagged: Civil Justice, Education, Energy, Healthcare, Inequality, Kids and families, Medicare, Poverty, SNAP, Water, Workers

Health Not Politics – Public Hearing on HB 4012, Calls to House Judiciary Needed
When a woman in West Virginia is enrolled in the state's Medicaid health insurance program, all of her reproductive health services should be covered including annual check-ups, prenatal and maternity care, family planning services including birth control, and abortion. HB 4012 aims to take away abortion coverage under Medicaid and we must stop it! Please contact House Judiciary Committee members and tell them they shouldn't be playing politics with women's health care. 
Tagged: Discrimination, Healthcare, Inequality, Kids and families

“Co-Tenancy” Bill Advances Without Changes, Public Hearing Possible Wednesday
Last week the House Energy Committee passed the "co-tenancy" bill (HB 4268) without any changes. HB 4268 is problematic in a number of ways which we've outlined in detail here, and we remain opposed to the bill unless these issues are addressed. The bill is now before the House Judiciary Committee. A public hearing has been requested and will possibly be held this Wednesday, February 7 although there has been no official announcement yet. In the meantime, please contact House Judiciary Committee members and voice your concerns about HB 4268. 
Tagged: Energy, Fracking, Pollution

Join the Movement for Medicare for All
It will take a revolution – our revolution – to get Medicare for All in this country. The insurance and drug companies are spending millions to fight it and to take away the health care we currently have. Drug companies alone spent $240 million on lobbying in 2016. But the movement for Medicare for All is growing too. Medicare for All legislation has record numbers of co-sponsors in the House and the Senate. We’re going to be doing our part here in West Virginia in 2018 by putting pressure on candidates and making Medicare for All a major issue in Congressional elections. Join the movement.
Tagged: Healthcare, Medicare