Legislature 2009: Day 30

The West Virginia Legislature is halfway through its regular session (not counting the extended session routinely required to finish the budget, which lengthens lawmakers' stay in Charleston by about a week).

As The Associated Press reports, "the unprecedented federal stimulus package and the recession that prompted it" has framed the work of legislator so far.

"The first bill to pass underscores the situation," the article said. "Legislation allowing highways projects to spend $40 million from the stimulus this fiscal year was sent to Gov. Joe Manchin on Wednesday."

With 1,632 bills introduced so far, the House and Senate have exchanged about 50. AP also offers a glance of several bills of note, mostly from Manchin's agenda.