Session Shorts, Day 56

ATVs: A leading advocate of banning the vehicles from paved roads expresses concerns to The Register-Herald of Beckley about the House relegating the pending bill to a subcommittee with five days left in the session.

CELL PHONE BAN: The Register-Herald also reports that the Senate is proceeding with the House-passed, exception-packed measure that would ban drivers from wielding cell phones while driving.

LANDFILL: Foes outnumbered supporters among speakers 6-to-1 at a public hearing for a bill that would reduce tipping fees at state landfills. Amid arguments to the contrary, opponents say the Senate-passed measure actually benefits a McDowell County landfill at the expense of solid waste authority budgets statewide. AP, MetroNews (with audio), The Gazette and The Journal of Martinsburg report.

MUNICIPAL PENSIONS: Demanding a piece of the action, dozens of volunteer firefighters showed up at the House Chamber on Monday to oppose the pending bill that offers insurance surcharge revenues and other provisions to aid badly funded local police and fire pension plans. AP has details along with the Herald-Dispatch of Huntington, MetroNews (audio here) and The Gazette.

TAX CUTS I: Several groups, including unions and the state Council of Churches has come out against the array of business-related tax cuts on tap for passage this session. They warn MetroNews of a $121 million impact on state agencies and services. With audio.

TAX CUTS II: As for consumer taxes, seniors tell The Journal they want more relief from property taxes.

TEACHER PAY: MetroNews gives Gov. Joe Manchin's recruiting bonus bill for teachers little chance of passage, after talking to Senate Education Chairman Bob Plymale, D-Wayne.

TEACHER PENSIONS I: The Senate Finance Committee has embraced the version of the "bailout" merger proposal for Teacher Defined Contribution system enrollees advanced by that chamber's Pensions Committee. The Gazette and The Register-Herald highlight the differences between the Senate and House versions.

TEACHER PENSIONS II: Manchin tells Public Broadcasting that the latter version does not leave enough of the burden on transferring enrollees. With audio.

ZONING: A Senate committee has amended and advanced a House-passed bill that aims to revise how zoning ordinances can be enacted and amended in West Virginia, The Journal reports.