Gambling or Groceries?

There has been some confusion and publicity in our Eastern Panhandle about which Delegates voted for or against entirely eliminating the West Virginia grocery tax, as well as consternation and confusion about which Delegates voted for a $100 million giveaway of tax dollars for gambling dens to buy new slot machines (SB550)

For the record, SB 550 was voted for (on final passage) by Delegate Doyle. Voting against SB 550 were Delegates Cowles, Duke, Householder, Kump, J. Miller, and Overington. Delegate Lawrence was excused from that final vote, but not excused from the other votes to amend SB 550.

Prior to that final SB55 vote and on Friday, March 11th at 5:11 PM, Delegate Tim Armstead offered an amendment to SB 550 (Roll Call Vote # 329, HFA Armstead 3-10 #2).

The Armstead amendment would have eliminated the $100 million giveaway to gambling dens and instead use that money to completely eliminate the West Virginia grocery tax.

The Armstead amendment failed by a vote of 66-33.

Eastern Panhandle Delegates voting to eliminate the grocery tax were Delegates Cowles, Duke, Householder, Kump, J. Miller, and Overington. Voting against the Armstead amendment and against eliminating the grocery tax were Delegates Doyle and Lawrence. Only Delegate Crosier did not vote, inasmuch as he was absent.

Click on "WV State Legislature" on the right hand side of this webpage to verify this information for yourself, access the entire text of the Armstead amendment, and to see the entire House of Delegates voting record on all the SB550 votes.

So now you know.