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Concerns about funding for human services lead Governor Justice to sign the West Virginia budget.
Plans for a Special Session Motivated by Budgetary Differences and Fears for Vulnerable Populations
Governor Jim Justice of West Virginia approved a budget that came in just under $5 billion, but not before expressing serious worries about how it would affect important services, especially the Department of Human Services. Justice pointed out cuts that would negatively impact vulnerable groups, such as foster children and the disabled, and chastised lawmakers for hurrying the budget passage in the last hours of the 60-day term. Justice expressed dismay at the Human Services budget gap and announced plans to call lawmakers back into a special session as early as next month to discuss the funding disparities and make sure changes are addressed before the fiscal year ends in June.
(PHOTO: West Virginia Press Association)
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Talks about Federal Funding and Veto Controversies Shadow Budget Negotiations
In a recent article in AP News, Governor Justice urged the GOP-dominated Legislature to take into consideration other proposals he had made in January, such as tax breaks for families using daycare services and a reduction in property tax burdens for low-income senior citizens, in addition to addressing the funding gaps in Human Services. After a divisive legislative session characterized by budget disputes and social issue bills, the budget was finally negotiated behind closed doors. However, the process was complicated when it became known that the Department of Justice was in discussions with the federal government about recouping $465 million in COVID-19 funding. During these difficulties, Justice’s veto of a $300,000 allocation for a developmentally disabled facility in Cabell County and his rejection of certain appropriations and fund redirections highlighted the complexities and disputes surrounding the state’s budgetary decisions
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