The Charleston Gazette - Politics

Tomblin picks banker Kinsey for House seat

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:16:06 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A former longtime Wayne County banker is the newest member of West Virginias House of Delegates. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblins office announced Tuesday that hes appointed Timothy Kinsey to the seat vacated by former Speaker Rick Thomps...

Miley elected House of Delegates speaker

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:48:44 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Delegate Tim Miley, D-Harrison, was elected the 56th speaker of the House of Delegates Tuesday on a 53-44 vote that, in keeping with tradition, split mostly along party lines. Miley, who has been a delegate for nine years ...

W.Va. legislators to hear about housing challenges

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:13:45 -0400

WHEELING, W.Va. -- Lawmakers studying children and poverty are planning to hear from the public this week on housing issues. Legislators will be convening interim meetings in Wheeling Wednesday through Friday. The Senate Select Committee on Children an...

Marmet candidate alleges voter fraud

rustymarks@wvgazette.com (Rusty Marks) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:38:51 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- An unsuccessful candidate in Marmets town elections is accusing Mayor Bill Pauley of election fraud.

Robert Wells, one of three candidates who ran for mayor in t...

Racing Commission defers action on economic study

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:06:54 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Members of the state Racing Commission deferred action Tuesday on a request from thoroughbred and greyhound racing associations to underwrite an economic impact study of racing at the states four tracks. Commissioner Bill Phillips...

W.Va. jobless rate falls to 6.2% in May

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:45:14 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginias seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May inched down to 6.2 percent. Thats down from the April rate of 6.6 percent, which was the lowest in four years. WorkForce West Virginia said Tuesday the number of unemploy...

The Clinton paradox

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:33:47 -0400

Politico ContributorListen to Bill Clintons speeches this spring and you would have heard him talk at a father-of-the-year event about the satisfactions of parenting -- "...

Launching the Obamacare campaign

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:13:53 -0400

Politico ContributorPresident Barack Obama brought a campaigners mindset to the White House -- but the roll-out of Obamacare marks the first time hes adapted his campaigns gro...

CBO score brings good news for Gang of Eight

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:45:11 -0400

Politico ContributorThe Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday that the Senate Gang of Eights immigration bill will ...

Morrisey to review state abortion regulations

ericeyre@wvgazette.com (Eric Eyre) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:46:49 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A womens health advocate ripped West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morriseys pending review of state abortion regulations Monday, saying his actions were a veiled attempt to shut down abortion clinics. "Its a political att...

Longtime lawyer, candidate has license revoked

(Kate White) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:25:52 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A New Martinsville attorney and former political candidate had his law license annulled Monday by the state Supreme Court, which called his conduct "reprehensible." H. John Rogers, who most recently ran unsuccessfully for...

U.S., Europe agree to start talks on free-trade accord

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:11:15 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland -- The European Union and the United States will open negotiations next month on a long-sought deal to create free trade between the worlds two mightiest economic regions -- an effort that could create millions of jobs but t...

WVSU obtains old Rehab Center property

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:11:09 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia State Universitys campus got about 20 percent larger Monday, with a vote by the state Board of Public Works to transfer the former state Rehabilitation Center property to the university."West Virginia State Universit...

House of Delegates to convene in special session to elect speaker

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:16:09 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- For only the second time in state history, the House of Delegates will convene in special session at noon Tuesday to elect a speaker. Speaker Rick Thompson, D-Wayne, resigned Saturday to accept a gubernatorial appointment as secretary ...

Morrisey fires eight amid restructuring

ericeyre@wvgazette.com (Eric Eyre) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:44:55 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey recently fired eight employees as part of an "office restructuring," according to state personnel records filed Monday. The dismissals include two assistant attorneys general...

Surveillance programs divide Democrats

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:29:41 -0400

Politico ContributorRevelations about the Obama administrations expansive domestic surveillance programs have opened a chasm between Democratic elected officials and their progressive b...

Fighting fire sparked state marshal stint

sandyw@wvgazette.com (Sandy Wells) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 23:45:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- For 23 years, Sterling Lewis taught and coached at Shady Spring High School in Raleigh County. It was the realization of a boyhood dream. Joining the Beaver Volunteer Fire Department sent his life in a new direction. T...

Statehouse beat: Less funds may not be such a bad thing

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- When work begins later this month fixing up the Governors Mansion, funding wont be coming from the Executive Mansion Renovation Fund. Between 2007-2009, under the auspices of the previous occupants, the fund raised and spent more than ...

With immigration, he risks insider label

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:56:20 -0400

Politico ContributorThe biggest risk for Marco Rubio in the immigration debate was supposed to be the scarlet "A" of immigration politics: the toxic talk-radio buzzword ...

With immigration, he risks insider label

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:56:20 -0400

Politico ContributorThe biggest risk for Marco Rubio in the immigration debate was supposed to be the scarlet "A" of immigration politics: the toxic talk-radio buzzword ...

Statehouse Beat: White knew numbers dont lie

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:00:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- From a purely selfish standpoint, I was hoping to witness an unprecedented contested floor vote for House speaker. However, being a banker by trade, House Finance Chairman Harry Keith White, D-Mingo, knows how to...

PRISM a small part of more intrusive snooping effort

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 19:00:07 -0400
WASHINGTON -- In the months and early years after 9 /11, FBI agents began showing up at Microsoft Corp. more frequently than before, armed with court orders demanding information on customers. Around the world, government spies and eavesdroppers were trac...

Leaker Snowdens life surrounded by spycraft

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 19:07:14 -0400
FORT MEADE, Md. -- In the suburbs edged by woods midway between Baltimore and the nations capital, residents long joked that the government spy shop next door was so ultra-secretive its initials stood for "No Such Agency." However, when Edward ...

W.Va. Chief Justice Benjamin advises Turkish judges

(Laura Reston) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 20:00:06 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Against the background of widespread, violent protests, Chief Justice Brent Benjamin of the West Virginia Supreme Court traveled to Turkey earlier this month to advise Turkish judges on ways to improve their countrys justice system. T...

Miley closer to becoming next W.Va. House speaker

(David Gutman) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:10:58 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Barring any last minute chicanery or changes of heart, Delegate Tim Miley will become the next speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates. The race to succeed Speaker Rick Thompson, which started out with about a hal...

Lottery revenues down $90 million from May 2012

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:33:01 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- For an 11th straight year, total state Lottery revenues have topped $1 billion -- but the $1.22 billion collected through the end of May is down about $90 million from the same time last year, and well off the record of $1.56 billion...

W.Va. Radio demands WVU disqualify IMG as bidder

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 23:45:00 -0400
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia Radio Corp. wont bid on a contract for multimedia rights to some West Virginia University athletic events, but it still wants the previous winner -- North Carolina-based IMG College -- disqualified. WVU officials decl...

Senators ask network to ban junk food ads aimed at kids

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:54:12 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Four U.S. senators are calling on childrens cable network Nickelodeon to ban ads targeted at children that promote and sell junk food and sugar. A letter was sent this week to Nickelodeon and its parent company, Viacom, by Democratic...

Hillary talks up McDowell County initiative in Chicago

(David Gutman) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:20:54 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In her first major speech since stepping down as U.S. secretary of state in February, Hillary Clinton spent several minutes Thursday talking about McDowell County, citing the Reconnecting McDowell program as a model for public/private ...

Teacher hiring changes approved

(David Gutman) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:25:10 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State Board of Education members unanimously approved an overhaul of how teachers are hired at schools throughout West Virginia on Thursday, but teacher groups were still concerned that nepotism could sneak into the hiring process. Th...

Gang of Eight seeks alternative border plan

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:09:55 -0400

Politico ContributorSen. Marco Rubio initially praised a border security proposal from Sen. John Cornyn, helping to make it the leading choice of conservatives demandi...

The presidents forced hand on Syria

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:24:45 -0400

Politico ContributorPresident Barack Obama has crossed a red line of his own on Syria -- spurred by the fast flood of bad news on the ground and a spirited internal debate ...

Obamas forced hand on Syria

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:24:45 -0400

Politico ContributorPresident Barack Obama has crossed a red line of his own on Syria -- spurred by the fast flood of bad news on the ground and a spirited internal debate ...

Handful of votes cant settle 2 state mayoral races

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 08:32:41 -0400
WHEELING, W.Va. -- Two West Virginia communities will have to wait a little longer to find out who won their mayors races.In municipal elections held Monday, WTRF-TV reports the races for mayor in Hundred and Friendly ended in a tie. In Hundred, both Charl...

Clendenin mayor ousted; town council race tied

(Staff reports) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:23:30 -0400
CLENDENIN, W.Va. -- Mayor Bob Ore was ousted in Tuesdays town election, and his nephew, Billy Ore, is part of a tied race for a Town Council seat. Bob Ore finished third in the three-person mayoral race, according to Town Recorder David Ross. Ga...

Rahall asks for speedier update to bridge standards

(David Gutman) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In the wake of last months bridge collapse in Washington state, Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., is asking the U.S. Department of Transportation to speed up its implementation of new bridge inspection standards and requirements. A highway l...

W.Va. Governors Mansion to be repaired

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:23:10 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- It isnt quite 150 years old, but once the Sesquicentennial celebration is over, the Governors Mansion will get a sprucing up, with work approved Wednesday by the Capitol Building Commission. That will include repairing and repainting ...

NRA turns on Manchin over background checks

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:52:38 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- After years of showering Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., with stellar ratings and campaign endorsements, the National Rifle Association targeted the West Virginia Democrat with a TV ad launched Wednesday over his continuing push for bro...

Raese alleges WVU tailored media rights bid for competitor

ericeyre@wvgazette.com (Eric Eyre) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:34:25 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In their latest salvo on West Virginia Universitys handling of a media rights deal, lawyers for Morgantown businessman John Raese alleged Wednesday that WVU officials "tailored" a recent bid request so that Winston Salem, N....

Hearings on ways to fund state highways delayed

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:41:39 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A state panel studying ways to adequately fund state highways will begin a series of public hearings about a month later than originally hoped, the commissions chairman said. Jason Pizatella, counsel to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and chair...

Broadband panels death knell could be just a click away

ericeyre@wvgazette.com (Eric Eyre) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A governor-appointed group charged with expanding high-speed Internet in West Virginia could be disbanded next year unless it secures additional funding. The West Virginia Broadband Deployment Council plans to exhaust its remaining f...

UMW, Patriot trade charges over negotiations

pjnyden@wvgazette.com (Paul J. Nyden) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:49:18 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Patriot Coal officials are saying statements by the United Mine Workers are "inaccurate and distorted" and that the company never "walked out" on negotiations with the union. In a statement issued Wednesday night,...

Bill Clinton splits with Obama on Syria

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:11:38 -0400

Politico ContributorBill Clinton told Sen. John McCain he agrees that President Barack Obama should act more forcefully to support anti-Assad rebels in Syria, saying the American public...

Stimulus routers being shipped to higher ed sites

ericeyre@wvgazette.com (Eric Eyre) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:36:40 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- After being sharply criticized for installing high-capacity Internet routers at smaller public facilities, state officials overseeing West Virginias $126.3 million high-speed broadband expansion project have started to ship many o...

Former congressman calls for climate solutions

pjnyden@wvgazette.com (Paul J. Nyden) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:03:48 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- During his second stint in Congress, Bob Inglis said Tuesday, his concerns about climate change grew. The South Carolina Republican visited Antarctica twice, as part of congressional delegations. Those trips, he said, played a centr...

Wheeling Island must wait to install electronic table games

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Wheeling Island Casino management will probably have to wait until at least July 25 to get authorization from the state Lottery Commission to install electronic table games at the facility. Commissioners decided Tuesday that they ...

Wheeling Island to renew table games license

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:52:49 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Management of Wheeling Island Casino announced Monday they will pay $2.5 million to renew the facilitys annual license with the Lottery Commission to continue to operate table games, effective July 1. "The decision to renew for...

NSA leak highlights key role of private contractors

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:56:44 -0400
NEW YORK -- The U.S. government monitors threats to national security with the help of nearly 500,000 people like Edward Snowden -- employees of private firms who have access to the governments most sensitive secrets.When Snowden, an employee of one of tho...

Whistleblower suit against DHHR now reflects firing

(Staff reports) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:54:11 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A whistleblower lawsuit filed last year against the Department of Health and Human Resources was amended Monday to reflect an attorneys termination. Susan Perry and Jennifer Taylor filed the suits in October, contending they had bee...

Contested floor election for House speaker could be a first

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:05:29 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- If House Finance Chairman Harry Keith White, D-Mingo, is banking on a contested floor election for House speaker next week, it could be unprecedented.House rules permit multiple nominees for speaker, and require multiple ballots until ...