Legislature 2009: Day 43

• Lawmakers have heard from foes of a bill "that would levy a $1 per dose tax on the drug methadone," The Associated Press reports, with most of the people speaking at Tuesday's public hearing on the topic "either employees or patients of clinics owned by Cupertino, Calif.-based CRC Health Group, which owns seven of the nine clinics in West Virginia that use methadone in treating drug addiction." The Charleston Gazette has coverage as well.

• AP also notes the Senate passage of Gov. Joe Manchin's "double-dipping" bill.
  

• The Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has voted down most of a package of bills that aimed to abolish tolls on the West Virginia Turnpike by 2020, Public Broadcasting reports (audio here). Committee members said most of their provisions are already the law, though their lead sponsor disagrees. The Register-Herald of Beckley also has coverage.

• The Herald-Dispatch of Huntington reports on the stalled bill that aims to aid both volunteer firefighters and ailing municipal police and fire pension funds. MetroNews also has an item, with audio, while The Register-Herald reports on a fallback position for supporters.

• MetroNews hosted an on-air debate over the proposal that seeks a constitutional amendment defining marriage in West Virginia. With audio.

• The Charleston Daily Mail reports on the likely demise, thanks to budget woes, of a bid to help state workers with their health insurance rate increase.

• The Gazette updates the status of two gambling-related bills: one, to set the rules for any casino at The Greenbrier; the other, to create a single Gaming Commission to oversee all regulation in this area.

• The Senate has passed a bill that would outlaw gas chambers at animal shelters, MetroNews and The Register-Herald report.

• The State Journal focuses on Manchin's proposal to tax high-voltage, multi-state power lines.