2008 West Virginia Legislative Session Underway
Written by Jason Keeling on January 15, 2008
The West Virginia Legislature is seven days into its 60-day regular session. The Capitol chambers, halls, and committee rooms are filled with the sound of lawmakers, citizens, and lobbyists. Most everyone has an agenda, and although it’s not perfect, democracy in action is much better than the hopelessness within tyrannical nations.
Following the process is a bit easier today, as the Legislature’s Web site provides public access to bills, legislators’ contact information, and committee agendas (usually). A “Citizen’s Guide to the Legislature” is also available.
For those interested in following session happenings, see:
- Gov. Joe Manchin’s 2008 State of the State address
- West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s newsroom and “The Legislature Today”
- AP Statehouse Reporter Lawrence Messina’s blog
- West Virginia MetroNews
- Charleston Gazette, Charleston Daily Mail, Register-Herald, State Journal
- The only legislator who regularly blogs at present, Sen. Vic Sprouse
Posted in Government, Media, West Virginia
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January 16th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Jason- Welcome back! I’ve missed your blog commentaries. Ours has been a bit slow this month, too. Your post today on the legislative process is a very good one. We all need to take an interest. And I agree with your statement, “Democracy in action is better than the hopelessness in tyrannical nations.”
January 20th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Cool info!!! And you’re right — we definitely need to get out of the learned helplessness that we (as Americans) have gotten ourselves into. I think the recent elections have proven that there is power in the vote. For once, there is no runaway “winner,” and there have been a lot of surprises in the outcomes. The people are speaking, and it’s a beautiful thing to see happen.
Now, if we can get as many people out to vote as call in to vote for American Idol, we’ll really be taking back control of our elected leaders. They are our employees, after all. We pay their salaries.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Jason,thanks for developing this blog and presenting a professional overview of West Virginia.
Your recent presentation on blogs at the ELS Team meeting moved me to develop a personal blog. You will find my writings at http://www.yellow6347.wordpress.com. My blog is a personal view of growing up in WV and the wonderful memories from my childhood.
http://www.hudson-gillmor.com