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The final week of the legislative session

The West Virginia Legislature is entering the final stretch of the 2017 regular session.

Lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn at midnight April 8, so there is certain to be a flurry of action, arguments, amendments and more taking place this week as proposed legislation is finalized and votes are taken.

It can be difficult to keep up with everything going on in the halls of the Legislature.

Our local newspapers have attempted to keep you informed by having a reporter in Charleston at various points of the session, following numerous bills and providing reports which have been shared with sister publications throughout northern West Virginia.

We also receive the occasional article or brief from the Associated Press.

Along with those reports, though, the hope is residents will take the time to look further into what their elected representatives are doing.

What bills have they sponsored? How have they voted on the issues?

The Legislature has a website, and there are various social media platforms available to assist in following the action.

There is a lot taking place during any legislative session. This year, though, as the political fabric of our state and nation continues to change, it seems as if more is taking place as lawmakers attempt to implement a new vision for the Mountain State.

A variety of bills have been proposed. As I’m writing this Saturday afternoon, for example, discussion continues on whether to eliminate the state’s greyhound breeder fund.

The bill was passed in the House, and now heads to the governor’s desk.

Some lawmakers, including several from the Northern Panhandle, have said if this fund is eliminated, it could mean the end of greyhound racing in West Virginia. That, in turn, would create difficulty for the future of Wheeling Island Casino, which then could spill over into the economy of the Wheeling area.

The budget also has been a major topic, as various tax proposals have been passed back and forth.

The governor and some lawmakers have openly battled (sometimes in ways we might consider childish) over what should be done to help close the financial gap of potentially hundreds of millions of dollars for the next fiscal year.

West Virginia definitely has many problems in its future, and I, for one, had hoped to see more communication and cooperation in tackling those problems.

However, much of the visible action has still been steeped in partisan discord. That is something that needs to stop if we truly are going to move forward.

At some point, partisan politics needs to take a back seat to finding the best path forward.

There is still much to do in the next few days, and I’m sure there will be even more as there most likely will be a need for a special session or two this year.

I would encourage all of our lawmakers, on both sides of the aisle, to take the time to remain informed on the issues. Talk to your constituents and learn exactly how your decisions are affecting them.

Don’t cast your votes just because it will look good for the party. Do it because it will truly best for the people.

And to our residents, keep a close eye on what they are doing. Keep them all accountable.

(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter @CHowellWDT)

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