Eastern Panhandle Legislative News

 On late Friday afternoon on February 25th, the Democrats in West Virginia House of Delegates voted to refuse further consideration of their own proposal to reduce the sales tax on grocercies (HB 2649, Roll Call #152).

 

 Voting to continue considering a reduction in the grocery tax were Delegates Duke, Kump, and Overington (Berkeley County Republicans).

 

 Voting against further consideration of reducing the grocery tax were Delegates Doyle and Lawrence (Jefferson County Democrats)

Crunching the Numbers

A Memo Sent to the West Virginia Legislative Leadership:

SB 564, creation of a Legislative Fiscal and Policy Division, is a welcome breath of fresh air for independent and accurate fiscal and policy analysis of legislative proposals.

My previous years of experience and service with Legislatures in Indiana, Maryland, and Pennsylvania has firmly persuaded me that Legislatures simply cannot truly function as coequal and effective branches of government without the ability to independently and accurately analyze the probable impact of proposed legislation in a non-partisan, accurate, and transparent basis.

I enthusiastically support SB 564.


Delegate Larry D. Kump

Legislative Session News #6

 This week, the West Virginia House of Delegates Constitutional Revision Committee continued to discuss proposals regarding the election of West Virginia's Governor.

 

 Although a special Primary and General election for Governor now has been signed into law and set for later this year, the issue of whether or not to create the office of Lt. Governor would require a Constitutional amendment and still is under discussion.

 

 Committee concensus seems to be building on a proposal to create the office of an unsalaried Lt. Governor, who also would be appointed by the Governor to one of West Virginia's current cabinet level positions. As such, the Lt. Governor would be paid for the duties and responsibilities of that cabinet officer position. This would eliminate the extra expense to taxpayers from the creation of the office of Lt. Governor, and also resolve future confusions and contentions about how to fill a vacancy in the office of Governor.

 

 Other Constitutional amendment proposals submitted to the committee include my proposal (HJR 40) to create an independent commission to determine legislative redistricting in the House of Delegates and the Senate following every census. This would create legislative election districts which more fairly and realistically reflect local communities, instead of the current practice of "gerrymandering" legislative districts to favor political parties and incumbent legislators.

 

 Another of my proposed Constitutional amendments is HJR41, to change the start of the sixty day legislative session each year from January to March. This would make it much easier for legislators and constituents to avoid severe winter weather in their travels to the State Capitol in Charleston.

 

  Finally, I have made it a deliberate personal policy to not participate in lobbyist receptions and dinners. I also make it a point and a personal practice to arrive at the State House between 5:30 AM and 6:00 AM each session day and make a sincere effort to respond to all constituent inquiries as well as to be available to meet with them during the day. My Charleston telephone number is (304) 340-3122 and my email address is Larry.Kump@wvhouse.gov.

 

 

What are They Smoking?

What is the West Virginia legislative leadership smoking to be considering a tobacco tax increase of one dollar per pack?

 The only way that I would consider supporting a tobacco tax increase would be if those revenues were used to decrease the grocery, gasoline, or home heating fuel taxes.

 Otherwise, aren't we taxed enough already?

Legislative Session News #5

This week and in a straight political party line vote, the Democrats in the West Virginia House of Delegates Constitutional Revision Committee voted to ram through a Constitutional Amendment (HJR 29) which would make it easier to raise taxes. It now goes to the House Judiciary Committee for further consideration before going to the full House of Delegates for a vote. HJR29 would decrease the amount of votes (from 60% to 50%) that counties and local governments need to pass non-school bonds and other levies. Since this is a Constitutional Amendment, HJR 29 must be approved by two-thirds of the Legislature, before it goes to the voters for final approval. Eastern Panhandle area delegates who voted against HJR 29 were Larry D. Kump, Eric Householder, and John Overington. Voting for HJR 29 was John Doyle.

Eastern Panhandle sponsors of HJR 29 are Delegates John Doyle and Tiffany Lawrence,

 HB 2949 to simplify and increase property tax relief for low income senior citizens was passed unanimously by the House of Delegates and now is pending further action in the Senate.

 I am pleased to be a cosponsor of HB 3125, which is a comprehensive revision of West Virginia's gun laws. It expands the rights of law-abiding gun owners and also increases the penalties for the criminal misuse of firearms and other weapons.

 It also is an honor to support HB 3146, which will create an ongoing process to reduce wasteful state spending and to return those savings to the empty pockets of taxpayers in the form of yearly tax rebate payments.

 Other legislative proposals still are forthcoming from me, including a Constitutional amendment to create an independent commission to oversee legislative redistricting. This would stop the partisan political "gerrymandering" of voting districts and ensure that citizens have more clout at the ballot box.

 Click on "WV State Legislature" (right hand column) for more legislative information. 

More on the Death Penalty Debate

http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/556247/Delegate-opposes-capital-punishment.html?nav=5006

More on the Plight of West Virginians (HB 2698)

Bob,
That legislation did not provide for the three West Virginia Eastern Panhandle Counties to join Virginia. That never was the real issue or point of the legislation.

If passed, it would have provided a non-binding referendum for the residents of those three counties on the issue, solely as a means for further discussion on and education about the woeful political mismanagement of West Virginia's economy and the need for West Virginia to make much needed reforms.

Although the legislation received media attention, it never received a hearing in legislative committee.

Visit my website (www.LarryKump.us) for other legislative news.

Also, at that website, there are numerous more posted entries on that issue.

Delegate Larry D. Kump

Original Message:
-----------------
From: Robert Thomas
To: Larry.Kump@wvhouse.gov
Subject: Bill Passage

Sir,
I was wondering the status of the bill introduced for three West Virginia counties to join Virginia.
I read about this in the Daily Press and became very interested.
                                                                     
                   
                                                                            
                  Thank you,
                                                                            
                Robert Thomas

More on the Second Amendment Legislation

The best single-sentence explanation of HB 3125 would be: "HB 3125 is a comprehensive revision of West Virginia's gun laws that expands the rights of law-abiding gun owners and increases the penalties for the criminal misuse of firearms and other weapons."

In a press release announcing the introduction of HB 3125,  the West Virginia Defense League  listed the following as the top 5 most significant things HB 3125 does:

<![if !supportLists]>1.      <![endif]>Eliminates the requirement of a license to carry concealed weapons in most places, as is already practiced in Alaska, Arizona, and Vermont. Instead, HB 3125 would prohibit certain, narrowly-defined categories of persons from carrying concealed weapons—similar to standard licensing eligibility requirements in most states—with the availability of judicial relief from disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Several other states, including Kentucky, are actively considering similar legislation.

<![if !supportLists]>2.      <![endif]>Reduces & reforms places where carrying is prohibited.  HB 3125 would provide that a person who is licensed to carry a concealed weapon would have an absolute right to carry in any state or local government building that do not have in place both adequate security measures (including mandatory metal detector screenings and armed security guards), specified signage warning that weapons are prohibited, and secure weapon storage facilities for individuals to check their weapons while in a secure restricted access area.  Colorado has a similar law (Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-12-214).  However, regardless of what security measures are in place, HB 3125 would continue to prohibit weapons in correctional facilities (WV Code §61-5-8(c)(1)) and courtrooms (proposed WV Code §61-7-11b).

<![if !supportLists]>3.      <![endif]>Strengthens state preemption of local gun control ordinances and prevents state agencies and other publicly-funded or controlled entities from imposing more restrictive rules than what the Legislature has enacted. HB 3125 would bring to a quick conclusion the lawsuits recently filed against the cities of Charleston, South Charleston, Dunbar, and Martinsburg, challenging a variety of local gun control ordinances, by completely preempting all the challenged ordinances as a matter of state law and avoiding the need for more extensive and expensive litigation that may result if the Legislature does not act.

<![if !supportLists]>4.      <![endif]>Increases the value of West Virginia's concealed weapons license (which, in most cases, would be optional within West Virginia under HB 3125) by qualifying West Virginia for reciprocity with every state that has some form of reciprocity law in effect and qualifying West Virginia to join 16 other states (map) in which concealed weapon license background checks are thorough enough to meet requirements under federal law to permit a concealed weapons license holder to use the license in lieu of a separate background check to purchase a firearm from a licensed dealer.  If passed in its current form, HB 3125 would make West Virginia the first and only state to achieve full reciprocity with every state that has some form of reciprocity law in effect. Click here for a map of West Virginia's current reciprocity with other states, here for a map of West Virginia's potential reciprocity with other states, and here for a map showing the reasons why West Virginia does not have reciprocity with many states.

<![if !supportLists]>5.      <![endif]>Prescribes new, enhanced criminal penalties for the unlawful use or possession of firearms during the commission of felony crimes of violence, felony drug offenses, and certain other criminal acts.  See proposed WV Code §61-7-13.

Debating the Death Penalty

 Local Berkeley Countian Sidney Devonshire and other sincere citizens will be traveling to the State House in Charleston tomorrow at 2:30 PM to speak on the floor of the West Virginia House of Delegates in favor of the death penalty (HB 2526).

 

 This debate about the death penalty in West Virginia is a profound public policy issue that should be weighed both prayerfully and carefully by all of us.

 

 As a former prison case manager, my previous job duties and responsibilities included participating in "open" parole hearings. In these public hearings, families tearfully testified about the intensely personal and devastating effects to themselves and their families regarding heinous acts of murder, rape, and child abuse. Being a part of these hearings truly seared my soul. The nightmarish memories of these hearings continue to haunt my heart on behalf of all of these innocent victims.

 

 Further, it was not so long ago that correctional officer Jeffrey Wroten was savagely murdered by an inmate who he was escorting to a local hospital for medical treatment. Jeffrey was my coworker, good friend, and member of my church in Berkeley County.

 

 These and other similarly situated tragedies have helped persuade me that the public safety of ourselves, our families, and our children justly demand that murderers, rapists, and child abusers never should be eligible for parole.

 

 However, what restitution does the death penalty bring to shattered lives?

 

 Do we really want our state government to be complicit in the taking of another's life, whether that life be born or unborn?

 

 

 

 

Dorothy Gets It!

Larry,

For some reason, the quote "To thine own self be true, thou canst not then be false to any man" came to me just now when I thought of you.

I just encourage you to continue on in your own unique way.

You most certainly are not the "Cookie Cutter" politician that we've all grown so tired of!

Also and regarding the secession legislation (HB 2698) - I get it!

You truly want us to compare - look at what our neighbors have!

Why can't West Virginia prosper?

We can, but it requires adopting new practices and policies and discarding that which strangles us!

It may take a while for others to "see" this, and some will never catch the vision.

BUT, some just might, and that could make ALL the difference.

So, to you I say, - keep on rocking the boat!

I know you, and I also know that you want what is best for all of us here in West Virginia!

God bless!

Your friend always,
Dorothy

P.S.: I believe in you! Keep fighting the good fight! You are the "Real
Deal" and a breath of fresh air in West Virginia! I'm behind you!

Legislative Session News #4

On Monday, February 7th, Delegate Larry D. Kump, as one of the sponsors of legislation to create a special Primary and General election to fill the vacant office of West Virginia Governor, was a guest of Acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, when he signed a version of this legislation into law.

 In addition to other legislation sponsored by him, this freshman Delegate also has cosponsored HJR 33 and HB 3009.

 HJR 33 is a Constitutional amendment to increase the Homestead Exemption from property taxes for senior citizens.

 HB 3009 would increase the personal income tax exemption for senior citizens.

 Delegate Kump also will be participating  in a reception (open to the public) hosted by the Blue Ridge Patriots from 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM and a meeting from 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon at "Ryan's" in  Martinsburg on Saturday, February 12th and then immediately returning to Charleston.

 Visit www.LarryKump.us for more on the issues.

Legislative Session News #3

 

 More than simply pleased, Delegate Larry D. Kump District #52 (R-Portions of Morgan & Berkeley Counties) applauds the bi-partisan concensus that finally has emerged in the West Virginia House of Delegates to push forward to authorize a timely and special Primary and General election for Governor, and also to fix the law to prevent further election confusion and organizational anarachy. 

 

 Along with other legislators from the Eastern Panhandle, Delegate Kump met with Charleston officials of the West Virginia Division of Highways to push on behalf of local road needs. He will continue to press for the upgrade of Rt. #9 between Martinsburg and Berkeley Springs and also for a traffic light at the intersection of Grade Road and Rt. #11 in the Marlowe/Falling Waters area.

 

 This freshman legislator is cosponsoring HB 2705 (West Virginia Firearms Freedom Act) to exempt all firearms, accessories, and ammunition manufactured and retained in West Virginia from federal regulation (under the Commerce clause of the United States Constitution).

 

 He is cosponsoring HB 2886 (Wages for Construction of Public Improvements) to establish  more cost-effective and competitive wage rates for private sector employees working on government projects (such as highways, schools, and libraries).

 

 On behalf of  hard-pressed senior citizens, he is cosponsoring HB 2916 to exempt all social security benefits from West Virginia State Income Taxes. 

 

"Mother Jones" - More on HB2698

Click on the link below to access the magazine article:

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/01/west-virginia-legislator-hatches-plan-rejoin-virginia