Sizing Up W.Va.'s Share of the Federal Stimulus

With the Senate debating a federal stimulus package, and the House having passed its own version of the bill, West Virginians have begun eyeing their potential share of the funding.

As The Associated Press reported earlier, West Virginia the House version included an estimated $1.4 billion for the Mountain State. Both The Charleston Gazette and the Charleston Daily Mail consider the funding possible for the state's education needs.

Public Broadcasting, meanwhile, notes the power Gov. Joe Manchin holds for parceling out some of the federal funds. "Some of the proposed stimulus money leaves no room for discussion, such as funding for Medicaid," that article said. "It will be Governor Manchin who decides which infrastructure projects receive funding." (Audio here.)

The Gazette also reports that Charleston city officials are seeking stimulus dollars.

Update: Public Broadcasting spoke to U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-2nd, about her "no" vote against the House version.

"According to the U.S. Votes database on the Washington Post Web site, Capito actually has been more likely to vote with her fellow Republicans than average," that article said. "Since she won election in 2000, Capito has voted about 92 percent of the time with Republicans, compared to an average of 89 percent."

Audio here. The article notes that Public Broadcasting next plans to interview Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., about the stimulus legislation.