Legislature 2010: Crunch Time

With the 60-day session ending at midnight Saturday, The Associated Press highlights some of the higher-profile measures that West Virginia's Legislature might pass to Gov. Joe Manchin.

Just over 300 bills remain in play following last week's crossover deadline, out of nearly 2,080 introduced. Another dozen have already completed their legislative travels.

(By comparison, 377 crossed over last year, out of 2,110 bills. In 2008, 345 bills made the deadline out of 2,131 introduced.)

"Given the still-fragile economy, few if any of these propose major changes to taxes, spending or public policy," the article said. "Senate Finance Chairman Walt Helmick said he and his committee intend to keep it that way as they sift through House-passed bills this week."

Helmick's committee is taking the lead on the new budget this session. Manchin is expected to keep lawmakers in town an additional week or so to complete action on that bill. As proposed by the governor, it would reduce all state spending by around 2 percent during the budget year that begins July 1.