2023 Session Wrap-up - WV Citizen Action Group

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The 2023 Legislative Session ended over the weekend, and 332 bills were completed. It has been a rough one, with a lot of bad and some good done. Keep reading to find out more. And be sure to check our events calendar for more opportunities for learning and action.

Keep Those Memberships Coming! YOU can be a part of the solution by simply clicking the Donate button to renew or becoming a new supporting member of WV Citizen Action. Our Education Fund is the place to send larger tax-deductible donations. Of course a good old fashion check in the mail to 1500 Dixie Street, Charleston, WV 25311 will do the trick! Thank YOU in advance for your support and being an active ‘Citizen’ in Citizen Action!

Gary’s Wrap-up: The Final Daze
Our state employees will be using most, if not all, of their $2,300 pay raise to pay for the increases in premiums and co-pays on their PEIA health plans... But hey, let’s give away $700 million in tax revenue and make state workers spend their raise on healthcare…
Tagged: Budget priorities, Criminal Justice, Discrimination, Fair taxation, Health Insurance, Healthcare, Incarceration, Medicaid

Elections & Courts – Final Legislative Update
Of the nine election bills passed by the Senate, three were taken up and passed by the House during the final week of the session. Unfortunately, two of these would decrease transparency of political spending in West Virginia.
Tagged: Dark Money, Fair Courts, Redistricting, Transparency, Voting Rights, Worker's Safety

Great News for Diabetics in West Virginia!
This year all that education and hard work paid off. SB 577 passed the Legislature! After the bill is signed by the Governor, diabetics in West Virginia will have copay caps of $35 a month for insulin and $100 a month for supplies!
Tagged: Diabetes, Healthcare, Inequality, Medicaid, Prescription Drug Prices

Legislature Abdicates Responsibility on ARPA Funds, but Governor Justice Can Still Do the Right Thing
On March 7th, advocates gathered at the Capitol to draw attention to the many justice and fairness issues legislators have either ignored or worsened this session, and to demand that a portion of the state’s remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds be invested in West Virginia families and communities. ARPA represents a rare and historic opportunity to invest in strategic projects to address poverty and other social determinants of health in West Virginia’s poorest communities.
Tagged: ARPA, Budget priorities, Economic Justice, Equity, Fair taxation, Poverty

Climate Eye Wrap-up
First and foremost, all credit to the E-Council team for such a strong presence and so many successes in spite of all the odds—it speaks to the base building you’ve done, the relationships you’ve built, and the behind-the-scenes work over years and years that we didn’t just survive this session, but saw some significant wins...
Tagged: Clean Energy, Climate Change, Oil and Gas, Solar Power

The Inflation Reduction Act – Transition to a Clean Economy – Mar. 16, 7PM
Join Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action this Thursday at 7PM for a presentation on the "The Inflation Reduction Act – Transition to a Clean Economy". Attend via zoom or in-person at 1st UU Society of Marietta, 232 Third St, Marietta, OH. Learn how the IRA legislation will affect us - individual citizens - and our economy, with tools to help us face a changing climate.
Tagged: Climate Change, Climate Justice, Economy, Jobs

“Bring Renewable Energy Jobs to the West Side” Community Meeting – Mar. 17, 7PM
Join Common Defense this Friday at 7 PM for a discussion on how the West Side can benefit from these new investments, and what we can do to create more opportunities to put people back to work and help people get into higher paying jobs.
Tagged: Climate Justice, Inequality, Jobs