MORGANTOWN – Gov. Jim Justice announced on Tuesday that he has vetoed a bill tied to economic development funding for technical errors, but plans to call a special session in April to allow the Legislature to fix it and re-pass it.
The bill is SB 279 and was intended to create a self-sustaining loan fund with the West Virginia Economic Development Authority.
“The self-sustaining loan fund that this bill will create is absolutely essential for us to be able to keep advancing our economic development efforts,” Justice said. “The bill also intended to create a $200 million revolving loan fund for our WVDOT [Department of Transportation] to use as a catalyst to start major road projects through the bipartisan federal infrastructure bill. I am committed to making sure that this revolving loan fund remains in the bill.”
Justice said the bill as passed contained several technical errors that would have made it nearly impossible to use the money appropriated to the EDA consistent with the intent of the bill.
He plans to call the special session to fix it to with April legislative interim meetings, scheduled for April 24-26, in order to avoid additional costs. He’s called previous special sessions to begin on Mondays, which would be April 25.
“If the Legislature passes the bill during the Special Session, this important legislation will be fixed to allow for the proper transfer of monies,” he said.
The state budget is expected to have a surplus of nearly $1 billion at the end of the fiscal year – June 30 – and plans are to use about $600 million for economic development, including the loan fund in SB 279.
Legislative Democrats have been calling for Justice and GOP leaders to get behind a gas tax holiday, and have discussed presenting a bill to be considered during a special session. Democratic leaders are planning a Wednesday press conference to further discuss their idea and may hope to include such a bill on the April session call – although the Senate president and House speaker have so far opposed the idea.
Justice said he’s open to the prospect if the Legislature wants it and brings him a bill.
Tweet David Beard @dbeardtdp Email dbeard@dominionpost.com
