The Charleston Gazette - Politics

Romneys bad day is Santorums best in Republican race

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:08:20 -0500

Maggie Haberman
Politico ContributorThe 2012 primary race just got more interesting. Rick Santorum was the toast of the GOP last night and Mitt Romney went home without any gold medals, in one of the most surpris...

Syrian emails cite Barbara Walters

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:51:46 -0500

MJ Lee
Politico ContributorA group of hackers reportedly leaked hundreds of emails from Syrian President Bashar Assad’s office this week, one of which revealed that in preparation for the dictator’s in...

Santorum: Weve got momentum

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:10:26 -0500

MJ Lee
Politico ContributorAfter pulling off a three-state sweep in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado, Rick Santorum declared Wednesday morning that his campaign is the one with the “momentum and the enthusia...

Court hears archivists wrongful-termination complaint

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:44:08 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- More than four years after he was fired without explanation, longtime state archivist Fred Armstrongs wrongful termination grievance reached the state Supreme Court Tuesday. His attorney, Charleston lawyer Jim Lees, argued that thro...

Health panel recommends generalized restaurant scores

lori.kersey@wvgazette.com (Lori Kersey) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:04:05 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department should change the way it notifies the public about restaurant inspections, a department subcommittee recommended Tuesday afternoon. The subcommittee will recommend changing from the depar...

Randolph senators bill to bar candidacies like Deems

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:27:41 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Just hours after reports confirming that former Sen. Frank Deem, R-Wood, will be certified as a candidate for state Senate in the May primary, a fellow Republican senator introduced a bill Tuesday that would bar such candidac...

Task force pushes CO detector requirement; House bill introduced

lori.kersey@wvgazette.com (Lori Kersey) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:39:15 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A bill introduced in the West Virginia House of Delegates would require carbon monoxide detectors in certain public facilities, and a task force wants to make sure that hotels are included in that list. As its currently written,...

Mineral trust boosted budget, ex-Wyoming governor says

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:45:31 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A long-term trust fund fueled by mineral taxes like that proposed for West Virginia has allowed Wyoming to weather the boom-bust cycle of extractive industries, a former Wyoming governor said Tuesday. "It has provided a...

Bill enlists scrap dealers to help curb copper theft

ericeyre@wvgazette.com (Eric Eyre) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:57:40 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State Sen. Herb Snyder hauled a hefty piece of 1,800-strand copper wire phone cable with him to the Senate chamber on Tuesday. Snyder, D-Jefferson, called copper theft an "epidemic" that must be stopped. "This is...

Afternoon tea caps Legislature's Women's Day (photo)

(Staff reports) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:02:37 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The annual Womens Day celebration at the Legislature concluded Tuesday afternoon with tea at the Governors Mansion. ...

AEP chief: Coals elimination just not going to happen

(Megan Workman) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:37:57 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Although the amount of energy produced by coal will decrease in the nation -- from 45 percent today to 39 percent by 2020 -- a top electric utility company CEO said there is definitely a future for coal. "Coal is naturally g...

Obama to return $200K in donations

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:08:51 -0500

Byron Tau
Politico ContributorThe Obama campaign will return more than $200,000 in campaign donations from the American relatives of a fugitive Mexican businessman and casino owner, a campaign official said Tuesda...

Duane Jackson, NYC vendor who alerted police to bomb, running for Congres

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:19:03 -0500

Associated Press
Politico ContributorWHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — A New York City vendor who alerted police to an attempted car bombing in Times Square is running for Congress.

Duane Jackson said...

Hero NYC vendor to run for Congress

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:19:03 -0500

Mackenzie Weinger
Politico ContributorThe New York City street vendor who notified police to the May 2010 car bomb in Times Square is making a bid for Congress, according to a report. Duane Jackson, 59, is seekin...

Blair Mountain protectors have no standing, coal group argues

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:07:37 -0500

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Groups trying to protect Logan Countys Blair Mountain from mining have no legal standing to sue because they dont own any of the property involved in the long-running dispute, the West Virginia Coal Association argues in a new co...

After getting approval, Gainer turns down expenses-paid trip to Australia

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:32:40 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- After getting permission from the Ethics Commission to take an expenses-paid trip to Australia, Auditor Glen Gainer has turned down the invitation, his spokesman said Monday. Gainer requested an advisory opinion to determine wheth...

Mailed-in filings adjust state candidate roster

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:45:58 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- More than 100 mailed-in filings have increased the unofficial roster of West Virginias 2012 candidates. The filing deadline was midnight on Jan. 28. State election officials say the additional filings were postmarked by then. A...

Deem certified to run for Senate, setting up possible challenge

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:27:49 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Former state Sen. Frank Deem, R-Wood, has been notified by the secretary of states office that he will be certified as a Senate candidate on the 2012 primary ballot, setting up a possible constitutional showdown. Deem said...

Senate OKs texting ban bill

ericeyre@wvgazette.com (Eric Eyre) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:33:01 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A proposed ban on sending text messages and using a cellphone while driving in West Virginia moved a step closer to becoming the law on Monday.The Senate unanimously approved a texting ban bill. The legislation now goes to the Hous...

Broadband oversight proposed

ericeyre@wvgazette.com (Eric Eyre) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:45:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The state Public Service Commission already has a say in what West Virginians pay for water, sewer and electric service. Could high-speed Internet join the list. State legislators have introduced a bill (SB491) that would allo...

Obama step-grandmother hurt in Kenya

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:06:27 -0500

MJ Lee
Politico ContributorPresident Barack Obama’s step-grandmother was injured when a car she was traveling in rolled over in western Kenya Saturday night, reports say. According to a relative of Sarah Ob...

Obama step-grandmother injured

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:06:27 -0500

Obama worries over super PACs

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:14:16 -0500

Jennifer Epstein
Politico ContributorPresident Barack Obama didn’t disavow his big-money fundraising machine, but did voice dismay about the presence of super PACs and negative campaigning in an interview th...

New parliamentarian knows way around

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:35:15 -0500

David Rogers
Politico ContributorThere was no Carly Simon breaking into song, but when Elizabeth MacDonough became the Senate’s first-ever woman parliamentarian last week, it had more than a little of Melani...

Bigger U.S. role against companies cyberthreats.

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:03:04 -0500

WASHINGTON - A developing Senate plan that would bolster the governments ability to regulate the computer security of companies that run critical industries is drawing strong opposition from businesses that say it goes too far...

GOP lawmakers seek vote on Pa. drilling bill

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:03:37 -0500

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A final framework is at hand on sweeping legislation to impose an impact fee and update safety regulations on Pennsylvanias booming natural gas industry, top Republican state lawmakers say.

After Mayor Thomas Taylor was returned to his position last week, he fired Police Chief James Hylton....

GOP torn again over tax extension

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:06:43 -0500

Jake Sherman,Manu Raju
Politico ContributorRepublicans, once again, face a defining choice less than a month before the payroll tax holiday expires. Should they extend the tax break for workers and blunt Presiden...

Legislature holding mine safety hearings

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:20:11 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia lawmakers plan to keep the deadly Upper Big Branch coal mine disaster in focus as they consider pending safety legislation.The House and Senate Judiciary committees have scheduled information hearings for Monday and Tu...

Proposal would expand W.Va. House public hearings

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:24:41 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginias House of Delegates is considering a proposal that would change the way it holds public hearings on pending legislation.The House now allows anyone to request a hearing for a bill if its on the agenda of a committe...

W.Va.s U.S. House incumbents outraise opponents

pjnyden@wvgazette.com (Paul J. Nyden) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:26:47 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginias three incumbent members of Congress all raised significant amounts of money by the end of 2011, much more than their opponents, according to reports they filed with the Federal Election Commission by Jan. 31. Each o...

Jay asks Obama for more natural gas support

pjnyden@wvgazette.com (Paul J. Nyden) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:26:56 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., wrote to President Obama earlier this week, asking him to continue the support of natural gas development that the president mentioned during his State of the Union address.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Democrat running for West Virginias Supreme Court is pledging $1 million from her personal wealth toward her primary campaign.

Candidate Tish Chafin i...

Human trafficking bill takes shape

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:51:29 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Taking a passport or other identifying documents to coerce a person to work would be illegal under a human trafficking bill being considered by the House of Delegates.

LEWISBURG, W.Va. -- Thomas Taylor has been reinstated as mayor of White Sulphur Springs, capping off a months-long ordeal.

Media outlets report that Greenbrier Chief Cir...

Cracker tax break could cost locality $300 million

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:07:50 -0500

Read the report CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A tax break that Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin rushed through the Legislature to try to lure a natural gas "cracker" plant to West Vir...

OPEB liability bill still on Legislature fast track

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:32:02 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Legislation to pay down a $5 billion unfunded liability for cost of future retiree health-care benefits for state and public school employees could be headed to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin for his signature by Thursday. In an afternoon ...

Firefighter wage dispute freezes Charleston budget

Zachary.Taylor@wvgazette.com (Zac Taylor) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:33:39 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Charleston officials say they cannot move ahead with their next budget until a dispute involving a new firefighter wage formula -- one that eliminates an old policy that has forced the city to unnecessarily pay more than $4.5 milli...

Hiring surges in January; jobless rate is 8.3%

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:36:28 -0500

WASHINGTON -- In a long-awaited surge of hiring, companies added 243,000 jobs in January -- across the economy, up and down the pay scale and far more than just about anyone expected. Unemployment slid to 8.3 percent, the lowest in three years. The jo...

W.Va. National Guard dodges big DOD cuts

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:40:40 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Changes announced by the Pentagon on Friday left West Virginia Army and Air National Guard units relatively unscathed, according to Maj. Gen. James A. Hoyer, West Virginias adjutant general. "In the broader sense of whats...

Obama proposes $6B in aid for vets

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:18 -0500

Jennifer Epstein
Politico ContributorPresident Barack Obama on Friday will ramp up his efforts to help unemployed veterans find jobs by calling for $6 billion in spending aimed at service members returning home fr...

Low-income GOP: Do more for poor

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:55:34 -0500

MJ Lee
Politico ContributorA significant portion of low-income Republicans might not embrace Mitt Romney’s comment this week that he is “not concerned about the very poor” because they have gover...

Who lobbies on Keystone pipeline.

webmaster@politico.com (Politico Writer) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:53:57 -0500

Bob King
Politico ContributorIt’s no surprise that oil companies, labor unions, environmental groups and an association of pipe manufacturers would want to lobby Congress about the Keystone XL pipeline. But...

State election fraud guilty pleas set for March

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:22:56 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. --A West Virginia county clerk and sheriff will plead guilty next month to federal charges arising from a fraud investigation into the 2010 Democratic primary.

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House of Delegates targets sex crimes vs. inmates by staff

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:25:24 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Consent could not be a defense under legislation addressing sexual contact with inmates by guards or other staff.

The House of Delegates unanimously...

Federal incumbents raise cash for 2012

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:31:24 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginias congressional incumbents head into the election year after six-figure fundraising periods.

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin led the delegation in fu...

House votes to keep sole-sponsor rule

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:33:07 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. --Any member of West Virginias House of Delegates can introduce a bill without any co-sponsors. Some lawmakers are urging an end to that practice.

The Hous...

Richwood mayor arrested

(Travis Crum) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:48:30 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Nicholas County mayor was arrested Wednesday after the West Virginia Ethics Commission alleged that he took money from a city account. Richwood Mayor John D. McClung, 65, was charged with fraudulent schemes and obtaining money b...