Sometimes you’re almost glad for a Monday morning — a reset.
However, we suspect many state legislators wish tomorrow would never get here.
The Legislature resumes its special session at 8:30 a.m. Monday to take up the Senate’s Student Success Act and individual bills on public education.
For now, only the House of Delegates will convene following the Senate’s three-day special session earlier this month for passage of its omnibus education measure.
It’s no secret we have remained wary of taking up a comprehensive shake-up of public education in special session since the regular session ended March 9.
Though the fallout from the failure of SB 451 left us to conclude this reform effort was going to take time, legislative leaders have opted to press on.
No, we’re not going to call on the governor to cancel the special session, but we are leery of the chances for public education reform this week.
For one thing, the idea of the Legislature’s two chambers meeting separately would seem to not only be more costly, but inefficient.
There is little history of such a special session. As a rule, a special session only convenes when both chamber appear to be in consensus on legislation.
In this case, such a consensus would appear to not even be in the ballpark.
We’re also unsure how West Virginia Day (Thursday) will play out during this session.
It’s a holiday for all state employees, which presumably would hinder if not suspend the session for a day.
Also, by design, Gov. Jim Justice is mixing a major political fundraiser event for himself on the state’s birthday in Charleston.
But that may not be as much of a distraction to many legislators, including top Republicans as you may think.
Last week, the feud between Senate Republicans and the governor boiled over into a public feud.
Judging by the heated remarks between the governor and senators don’t look for them singing “Kumbaya” together anytime soon.
It’s obvious here too, the House fully intends to consider its delegates’ own individual education bills, as well.
Delegates are set to break into four 25-member select committees to fine tune a dozen House bills or more, too.
Finally, and they are no wild card, are the teachers’ unions that are not going to go quietly into the night.
It’s expected their leaders and members will be in attendance throughout this session.
It’s hard to see anything positive emerging from such circumstances and any better outcome than the regular session’s.
Yet, if nothing else emerges from this special session it’s obvious bipartisan discussions about education should continue through the fall.
Which could lead to consideration of renewed legislation during the regular session.
