Capital Eye Vol. 13 No. 5: Hump Week – Halfway Over, Session Speeds Up

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Welcome back to Week 5! We know you have a life and can’t track everything that happens during legislative session, so let us help. Stay up-to-date each week on what’s happening under the dome by watching for our weekly Capital Eye e-blast and following us on Facebook and Twitter! Encourage your friends to stay-up-to-date, too, by signing up for our emails (you can also use this form to update your email interests).

Click on the articles below to see what’s been happening since we touched base last week. Happy reading!

P.S. Bookmark our events page to keep track of upcoming events!

Hump Week – Halfway Over, Session Speeding Up
Committees are meeting earlier and lasting longer, and floor sessions are going on for hours as the work of the 2020 legislative session barrels toward several deadlines this month. There are now 1,340 bills introduced in the House, and 740 in the Senate.
Tagged: Civil Justice, Discrimination, Energy, Event, Kids and families, Water

Support HB 4543 for Affordable, Life Saving Insulin
Tell legislators its time to save West Virginians from price-gouging on insulin! The WV legislature is considering a bipartisan bill, HB 4543, that would cap copays for life-saving insulin at $25 for a 30-day supply. Currently, the cost of insurance co-payments for insulin can exceed $600 per month. The average price of insulin nearly tripled between 2002 and 2013, and has continued to rise.
Tagged: Healthcare

Stand Up for Democracy
WV CAG and allies are opposing a bill before the legislature that would discourage peaceful protest and stop people from criticizing the powerful. HB 4615 would create new criminal and civil penalties for conduct around “critical infrastructure facilities” that could be applied to individuals and organizations involved in peaceful protest. Just like voting or contacting elected officials, peaceful protest is an important way for everyday people to influence how the government makes decisions about our air, water, and land; when we go to war; and other issues. The right to peacefully assemble is protected under the First Amendment and has been an important way to make change in the history of our country.

West Virginians Deserve Clean, Safe Drinking Water
The Clean Drinking Water Act of 2020 was introduced recently in the House by Delegate Hansen as HB 4542, and it’s counterpart in the Senate was introduced by Senator Ihlenfeld as SB 679. The Act aims to identify and reduce exposure to class of chemical toxins known as polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. These substances are “forever chemicals” and accumulate in the environment. A main source of exposure to PFAS is through contaminated drinking water.
Tagged: Water