More Session Topics Emerge from Interims

Interim legislative committees continue to endorse measures for the upcoming 60-day session, with additional draft bills expected during Tuesday's meetings.

The Associated Press reports on recommendations for the chronically ailing State Road Fund. They include combining gasoline taxes at a fixed per-gallon rate, and "creating a new fee for alternative fuel vehicles, as well as "increasing taxes on vehicle titles and indexing registration fees to inflation."

"Several Republicans on the Joint Standing Committee on Finance, which received the draft report, questioned its reliance on tax-related measures," the article also said.

The Charleston Gazette reports on a plea that lawmakers "live up to their commitment to fund the third year of a three-year pay raise package, despite the downturn in the economy."

MetroNews highlights a draft bill (audio here) that "calls for enhanced penalties of those convicted on charges of assault or battery against a worker while performing governmental or health care services." The July 2008 murder of Brenda Yeager in Cabell County helped spur the measure.

The Gazette also reports on a bill rejected by its interim study committee. Those lawmakers shot down a proposal by state Treasurer John Perdue to offer small businesses "voluntary retirement accounts similar to private-sector Individual Retirement Accounts" for their employees.

Update: Public Broadcasting focuses on proposals to hike cigarette taxes and require menus to post calorie counts, and offers audio. The News and Sentinel of Parkersburg queries lawmakers on a draft bill that would increase an insurance policy tax slightly to fund a pension-type benefit for volunteer fire fighters.