1. HR 12

- would allow ten (10) delegates to discharge a bill from the committee(s) to which the bill was assigned. The committee(s) would have five days to report the bill to the full house. The House would then have five days to take up the issue. Many issues, including those dealing with taxing and spending, though having support to pass the House are not reported out due to committee chair domination. (HR 12) 2/6/03 RC#34 (71-21)

2. Amendment to House Bill 2828

- would maintain the Marriage Fee at $25 rather than raising it to $35 (HB 2828) 2/27/03 RC#181 (31-66). The traditional family unit does not need this further penalty. Local government should provide this service without placing a greater burden on this important institution.

3. Increasing courthouse fees

- including raising the marriage license ($25>$35) and other clerk and court fees and licenses and copying costs as well as adding new fees. (HB 2828) 3/8/03 RC#671 (83-14). Local government should be more accessible, not more expensive.

4. Tobacco Tax increasing

- from 17 cents to 55 cents, a 38 cent increase per 20 cigarettes. This goes with a 2002 tax of 7% on tobacco products other than cigarettes. (SB 105) 3/6/03 RC#377 (59-38) Any increase in taxes grows government and stymies economic growth.

5. Making the Tobacco Tax effective May 1, 2003

- rather than 90 days after passage thereby getting another month of the tax. A 2/3 affirmative vote is required but to change the effective date, thus enough of the 38 previous no votes switched to allow it to go into effect early. (SB 105) 3/6/03 RC#378 (74-24). This is another example of big government greed and lack of economic wisdom.

6. Budget Bill

- which for the first time exceeded $3 billion and included a tobacco tax (HB 2050) 3/16/03 RC#709 (92-5). West Virginia’s Budget continues to grow faster than inflation despite no increase in population.

7. This amendment to SB 2007

- (see next issue #8) would provide a fair method of dis- tribution, based on population per county, for economic development funds rather than basing the distribution on patronage or favoritism. (SB 2007) 6/14/03 RC#809 (21-65).

8. Senate Bill 2007

- would permit borrowing to fund economic development projects. Debt service would be funded by excess lottery reve-nues which is not a reliable source. (SB 2007) Passage 6/14/03 RC#811 (69-17) West Virginia does not need more debt for questionable economic projects.

9. Increasing lobbyist reporting threshold

- from $25 to $50 per reporting period. A lobbyist must report expenditures over $25 for legislator gifts or favors. (HB 3051) 3/8/03 RC#688 (77-22). Do we really need to make it easier for special interests to subvert the legislative process?

10. Judicial retirement

- to include prosecutorial service for time served as appointed or assistant prosecuting attorney (SB 547) 3/8/03 RC#553 (78-21) This is another example of “Public Servant” GREED. West Virginia judges have an excellent retirement system already. This bill was a blatant abuse of the “good ole boy system.”