Manchin's Agenda Rolls On

Gov. Joe Manchin has given the Legislature more than two-dozen proposals this session. The latest items from his agenda include a proposed tax on the sort of high-voltage power line that's slated to cross six West Virginia counties between Pennsylvania and Virginia, The Associated Press reports.

The Charleston Daily Mail examines another of the governor's newer bills, one "that would give county school boards and superintendents greater leeway in hiring teachers." But "union officials say if it passes the legislation would return West Virginia schools to an era of cronyism and nepotism," the article said. (Update: The Associated Press also has a report.)

AP earlier previewed a recent addition to Manchin's roster, a proposed change to bidding rules for engineering and design work on state-funded projects. "But lawmakers have already started hearing from opponents," AP reports. "The group that represents consulting engineers wants West Virginia to stick with the current method for selecting firms."