Inventory tax, PEIA and foster care were among the many topics discussed at the Monongalia County Education Association (MCEA) Legislative Breakfast Saturday morning. Educators met with local legislators to discuss the upcoming legislative session and issues that will impact West Virginia.
Danielle Walker during the MCEA Legislative Breakfast at Shoney’s
Heather DeLuca-Nestor teaches at South Middle School as an 8th grade science teacher. She’s been a teacher for 20 years and a few years ago, right before the work stoppages started, she was elected president of MCEA.
“We just wanted to meet with the legislators before they go into session, which will happen this week. We wanted to touch base with them and see what bills are probably coming up that are going to move West Virginia forward,” she said.
With the teachers, of course, their focus is education. Education has been a hot topic in legislature in the last couple years since the teacher strike in 2018.
Evan Hansen speaks during the MCEA Legislative Breakfast at Shoney’s
“We’re really, really worried about PEIA in the upcoming years. As we look at the numbers, they’re going to progress in 2022, 23, 24. They are going to cripple public employees,” she said.
She said employees are looking at these increases in payment, and retirees have it even worse. She said teachers are aware people are leaving West Virginia, and their concern is their education and the students’ education.
Looking to inventory tax, it’s been reported as a hurdle to existing business and new businesses in the state. The tax brings in about $250 million to $300 million per year. About 36% to 37% goes to county school boards, about 26% to 27% to counties and about 5% to municipalities.
Delegate Evan Hansen said the tax is a constitutional amendment so two-thirds of the House and Senate would need to vote to remove the tax. Then it would need to be approved in a special election.
Bob Beach speaks during the MCEA Legislative Breakfast at Shoney’s
Senator Bob Beach said teachers will need to remain vocal on the issue.
DeLuca-Nestor said she believes there needs to not be tax breaks for larger corporations in West Virginia.
“It’s time to step up. Do the right thing. You’re not going to make everybody happy, but making the lobbyists happy for large corporations is not what’s taking care of the people of West Virginia,” she said.
She mentioned there is already a decline in people going into education. She said looking at those issues, it will get worse when the projected numbers come out.
“We’ve had a pay raise the last two years but once PEIA kicks in in 2020 that’s going to be absorbed, plus more, out of those paychecks,” DeLuca-Nestor said.
She said it’s very important to elect people who are going to help you where you live. She said when voting in a state election, people have to vote for who takes care of a person’s business and industry and what pays their bills.
John Williams speaks during the MCEA Legislative Breakfast at Shoney’s
Legislators also talked about other issues they are bringing to the table. Barbara Fleischauer talked about her work in acquiring cheap insulin. Rodney Pyles talked about signage at places that sell vapes to tell of the health issues associated with them, and Danielle Walker talked about the Fairness Act.
“We’re so blessed in Monongalia County to have supportive legislators that will say, ‘How do you want to vote? How do you feel about this? How do your members feel?’ because that’s what this is about,” DeLuca-Nestor said.
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