Bipartisan group wants access restored
Sunshine: W.Va. lawmakers call on governor to lift prohibition on public in Capitol
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CHARLESTON -- A bipartisan group of lawmakers in both the West Virginia House of Delegates and state Senate are calling on Gov. Jim Justice to lift his pandemic executive order limiting access to the State Capitol Building by the public.
Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, released a letter Tuesday with 80 signatures from Republican and Democratic members of the House calling on Justice to begin allowing the public back into the State Capitol Building.
"We believe that it is time to restore full transparency and open the Capitol back up to the people," the letter stated. "It is more important than ever to ensure the voices of West Virginians are heard as we work together to rebuild our families, small businesses and our state."
Speaking Wednesday before the start of the House floor session, Worrell said if the governor is lifting occupancy restrictions on restaurants, bars, and other retailers, then it is time for the State Capitol Building to follow suit.
"We've seen our (COVID-19) active case count drop drastically the last two months," Worrell said. "I think it's time, past time we opened up the Capitol. I think that we all can maintain masks, physical distancing, and all those things. But they need to be able to be in the Capitol during this process. It's very important during this process."
It's been almost one year since Justice issued a state of emergency March 16, 2020, to prepare for the COVID-19 pandemic. Two days after the state of emergency was issued, Justice issued an executive order halting all non-official business and tours of the State Capitol Building.
That executive order remains in effect and has not been lifted or altered since last year, even as other restrictions on the public and businesses have been reduced or lifted. The public are only allowed in by appointment, including guests of lawmakers and witnesses for committee meetings.
"We're opening the state, but yet we still have the Capitol closed and I just don't understand why," Worrell said. "I would actually argue the opposite. I would say that this Capitol needs to be open. Even if everything else is still closed, people have a right to be part of this process."
The Governor's Office declined to comment for this story.
On the state Senate side of the building, two Democratic members have also called on the governor to open the doors of the Capitol to the public. Senate Minority Whip Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, spoke on the Senate floor Wednesday and cited the West Virginia Constitution, which states that "the right of the people … to instruct their representatives, or to apply for redress of grievances" shall not be violated.
"We're violating the constitutional rights of every citizen of this state," Woelfel said. "It's outrageous and it's unconstitutional. I call on each one of our members...open up the doors of the people's house."
On Monday, state Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, also called on the governor to lift restrictions on the public inside the State Capitol Building.
"I think it's time we open it up to the public," Caputo said. "Every seat in this chamber belongs to our constituents. This chamber belongs to the people of West Virginia. They should not be locked out of their house."
The 2021 legislative session began Feb. 10 and today marks the halfway point of the 60-day session.
(Adams can be contacted at sadams@newsandsentinel.com)