Justice calls legislators into special session for tax cuts, child care, & appropriations

By RealWV staff,

In a video recording posted Monday afternoon, Governor Jim Justice called legislators into special session on Monday, September 30, in Charleston. The agenda will include a 5% personal income tax cut, a child care tax credit, and other appropriations of surplus dollars.

“We’ve worked with the legislative leadership over the weekend,” Justice said. “We’ve worked countless days.”

By law, the governor can call the legislature into special session when he chooses.

“I promised you I would stand up and fight like crazy for you in trying to get this 5% tax cut,” said Justice in the video. “I promised you I would try to help out with child care…there’s also supplemental appropriations that need to be done, and we need to get the money out the door and get these projects moving.”

Justice’s term as governor ends in early 2025, and he’s been adamant lately in wanting to “run across the finish line” as he finishes his second term while also running for US Senate.

“Toby and Edith need us,” Justice said, referencing the fictitious West Virginia couple he often talks about as symbolic of the needs of the people of West Virginia.

Legislators have expressed concern over the last few weeks about another 5% tax cut, saying the state may not be able to afford it in the years to come, but they have yet to see the governor’s specific proposal.

In a Joint Finance Committee meeting earlier Monday, Senator Eric Tarr, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a frequent Justice opponent, said of another tax cut on top of one last year and another one this year which are already in effect, “I’ve got some hesitation.”

Legislators are meeting in Parkersburg this week for interim meetings already. If they do meet in special session September 30 in Charleston, they will not already be assembled. Special sessions often coincide with interim meetings since legislators are already receiving pay for their time at the capitol. Interim meetings will occur October 6-8 in Charleston, but Justice wants to calls back legislators a week prior to that.

The approximate cost of a special session per day is $30,000. Legislative rules require bills be read on three separate days before passage. Those rules can be bypassed should the legislature agreed to do so via a 2/3 vote of each body.

Gubernatorial candidate and current Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said in a statement yesterday afternoon that while he supports tax cuts, he thinks this should be left to the legislature and next governor to decide in early 2025 and only happen alongside government cuts.

“I applaud Governor Justice’s advocacy to lower our state income tax,” said Morrisey. “Indeed, I plan to double down on that advocacy and advance the next phase of the Justice income tax cuts as the state’s next Governor.  At the same time, it’s crucial that any major changes to the income tax system be accompanied with changes rightsizing government and paying for these tax cuts-this is best achieved during the next regular session of the Legislature when we can make the best informed decisions.“

Stay tuned to RealWV for updates to this developing story.