The 78th Legislature, Episode I: Our Story So Far

The Legislature will hit the one-third mark of its 60-day regular session on Monday. Among the highlights to date:

BEHIND-THE-SCENES ARM-TWISTING. Though both the table games bill and Gov. Joe Manchin's teacher pay raise proposal have yet to be introduced, each has dominated the talks featuring lawmakers, the administration and the affected special interest groups. Team Manchin quietly yet successfully pressed the racetracks into doubling the potential tax on the casino games while pledging some of the proceeds for seniors. The administration also stuck to its proposed pay raise levels while launching a counter-offensive to dissuade its critics.

AILING LAWMAKERS. No-show Delegate Ron Thompson, D-Raleigh, has blamed an undisclosed medical condition for a continued absence from the Legislature that began back to early 2006. But two other lawmakers have missed parts of this session because of more apparent health problems. Sen. Bill Sharpe, D-Lewis, is recovering from 10-hour brain surgery performed to treat an aneurysm. Sharpe turned 78 last month. Delegate Joe Talbott, D-Webster, meanwhile spent his 74th birthday in the hospital this week as he continues to deal with complications from a heart attack suffered in November (his family believes the outcome would have been a lot worse, had he not been in Charleston for Manchin's special session on taxes).

GUFFAWS AND CRICKETS. If the Senate has a Shecky Greene, it's Sharpe, and his obvious anxiety over the upcoming operation did not stop him from cracking wise in a floor speech before beginning his leave of absence last week. He told his colleagues he hoped the surgeons did not take too much of his brain, else he feared he would end up a Republican... In the House, newly minted Judiciary Chairwoman Carrie Webster, D-Kanawha, asked her fellow delegates to welcome members of the ACLU and West Virginia Free, an abortion rights coalition, who were in the public galleries during a recent floor session. Lawmakers routinely point out guests during the session, to at least polite applause. The reaction to these two groups suggests they rank right up there with NAMBLA. Yeah, that was awkward...