Legislature 2009: Final Week

• The Associated Press examines the quest for a marriage amendment to the West Virginia Constitution, in the wake of last week's ruling by Iowa's Supreme Court on the issue.

• The 2009 session was touted at its onset as one that would improve health care access and affordability in West Virginia. But as AP's Tom Breen reports, "it took fewer than 60 days for an ambitious agenda of health-care legislation to wind up on life support."

• Counties have fought with the state's regional jail system for years over the daily fees they must pay to keep their inmates locked up. AP reports that a pending bill would return millions of dollars to the counties, but likely trigger a hefty fee increase as a consequence.

• AP also weighs the prospects for the back-from-the-dead calorie count bill, as does The Charleston Gazette.

• Following up on a State of the State address pledge, Gov. Joe Manchin has issued the order commissioning a study of West Virginia's judiciary, AP and MetroNews report.

• The House Judiciary Committee could hold a public hearing as early as today on the proposed revenue boost for the state's jobless benefits fund, AP reports. House Republicans requested the hearing, and explain to the Charleston Daily Mail their concerns with Senate amendments to Manchin's bill.

• The Daily Mail also reports on disagreements between the House and Senate education committees over the governor's proposed School Innovations Zones Act.

• The News and Sentinel of Parkersburg sees House opposition to "a state Senate bill that would give the governor power to create a mandatory-furlough program."

• The Inter-Mountain of Elkins checks in with local lawmakers on the session's final days.

• Public Broadcasting highlights some of the session's notable failures, including a measure that "would have required insurers provide full autism spectrum disorder coverage." With audio.

• The Register-Herald of Beckley focuses on the demise of a measure that offered seniors a one-time fee for their hunting and fishing licenses.