The Legislature is now in full swing and living up to its reputation as the ‘Bad Idea Factory’, as Delegate Mike Pushkin (D-Kanawha) often refers to it. On the bright side, the pace of new bills being introduced has slowed, but we are approaching 1,600. The break down is 1,055 House bills and 543 Senate bills. And it’s not all bad — there are some good things happening, too — like the rescheduled ‘Save Our Solar’ Rally happening this Saturday, Jan. 27 at 2PM in the Lower Rotunda.
We know it’s challenging to follow the session and try and figure out what’s going on and how to make a difference. But please keep up the good work making those calls to lawmakers on your high priority issues — because you’re the citizen in Citizen Action —and it does get their attention! And, if you haven’t already, please renew your membership so we can keep our team in action with you and for you. Thank YOU for your support!
‘Bad Idea Factory’ in Full SwingSome of the most harmful proposals deal with criminal law. Not only are they doubling down on the failed war on drugs, but two different death penalty bills have been introduced in the Senate. Not satisfied that they did enough harm to trans youth during the last legislative session, there is yet another bill (SB 194) aimed at further restricting access to care to life-saving care for these vulnerable young people. There's also a transphobic ‘bathroom bill’ (HB 4806) seeks to prohibit trans youth from using school restrooms associated with their gender identity.Tagged: Civil Rights, Families, Healthcare Urgent Partner Alerts: Keep Guns and Propaganda Out of WV SchoolsCall to Action from Moms Demand Action: We received notice that HB 4299, the Arming Teachers and Administrators bill will be heard in the House Education Committee WEDNESDAY 1/24 at 2:00 p.m. Plus details and ways to take action on other bills soon to be considered by the full Senate, including SB 468, which would require West Virginia teachers to use curriculum developed by out-of-state, anti-science, anti-abortion extremists. Tagged: Civil Rights, Families January 23rd was Maternal Health Awareness DayAccess to maternal healthcare is a crisis around the country, especially rural states. More than 2.2 million US women live in maternity care deserts, which means that in their county there are no hospitals that provide obstetric care, birth centers, ob/gyns or certified nurse midwives. Women in the Mountain State deserve to have the best care before and after their babies are born. It is up to our leaders to make sure these services are available. Tagged: Civil Rights, Families, Healthcare Climate Eye – Week 3In this Climate Eye update: WV Public Service Commission net metering hearings; Save Our Solar Rally; citizen air monitoring under attack; orphaned gas wells and DEP inspector shortage; and PLAN's Beyond Waste Student Summit. Tagged: Environment
