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    WV Senate proposes 15% cut in personal income tax

    Innovative construction method results in historic bridge build in Beckley

    McDonald’s employee stabs customer in neck during restroom robbery

    Pedestrian struck and killed by vehicle in Oak Hill

    Coal Fact for the Day: Rolling Coal on the River

    West Virginia Wesleyan College MBA Class Visits Mister Bee Potato Chips, Focuses on Challenges

    Capito, Miller respond to President Biden’s State of the Union address

    Character writing workshop scheduled at New River CTC

    Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and catch and release turkeys

    • Breaking
    • Crime
    • Local
    • National
      Members of the Navy work on a device on a vessel along the InterCoastal Waterway in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. Using underwater drones, warships and inflatable vessels, the Navy is carrying out an extensive operation to gather all of the pieces of the massive Chinese spy balloon a U.S. fighter jet shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

      Navy divers begin pulling up Chinese spy balloon debris

      Biden aims to deliver reassurance in State of Union address

      A man carries the body of an earthquake victim in the Besnia village near the Turkish border, Idlib province, Syria, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. A powerful earthquake has caused significant damage in southeast Turkey and Syria and many casualties are feared. Damage was reported across several Turkish provinces, and rescue teams were being sent from around the country. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

      Rescuers scramble in Turkey, Syria after quake kills 3,400

      Photo Credit: Shutterstock

      Willie Nelson bests Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, others for ‘Best Country Album’ award

      Today is National Weatherperson’s Day

      China says US shooting down balloon a ‘serious violation of international practice,’ threatens repercussions

      US downs Chinese balloon over ocean, moves to recover debris

      House passes immigration enforcement bill

      David William McConnell, 38, of Charlotte, NC

      Charlotte man sentenced to 10 years in prison for traveling to Beckley to have sex with minors

    • Politics

      WV Senate proposes 15% cut in personal income tax

      Capito, Miller respond to President Biden’s State of the Union address

      Senate Transportation advances bill requiring learner’s permit holders display “Student Driver” on vehicle

      West Virginia House OKs bill to encourage more birth centers

      UPDATE: Restructured math class for trade students bill passes unanimously through House

      Biden aims to deliver reassurance in State of Union address

      Biden 2024? Most Democrats say no thank you: AP-NORC poll

      House Gov Org Bill to Create WV Coalfields Energy Research and Economic Development Authority

      Judiciary Advances Electrically Distracted Driving Act

    • State

      WV Senate proposes 15% cut in personal income tax

      McDonald’s employee stabs customer in neck during restroom robbery

      Coal Fact for the Day: Rolling Coal on the River

      West Virginia Wesleyan College MBA Class Visits Mister Bee Potato Chips, Focuses on Challenges

      Senate Transportation advances bill requiring learner’s permit holders display “Student Driver” on vehicle

      House HHR Committee Advances Five Bills and Rejects One

      House approves bill to create vocational math class

      West Virginia House OKs bill to encourage more birth centers

      Summersville officers honored for lifesaving Narcan administration

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New bill would put local officials in charge of health decisions

Gailyn Markham by Gailyn Markham
Thursday, March 4, 2021 1:19 pm

CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Calling it the “Ban on Public Health Bill,” Boone County Democrat Senator Ron Stollings and others spoke out today in opposition to Senate Bill 12.

Despite Republicans retaining a supermajority in both houses of the legislature, Stollings said he felt the bill would have been defeated in committee if “the chairman had not had a Republican caucus” that swayed all GOP member’s votes. For the bill.” Democrats on the committee unanimously opposed it.

At the heart of the bill is a decades-long debate about the power of county and state boards of health. Republicans generally argue that boards of health are not elected and are not accountable to the public.

Essentially, SB12 would put local elected officials, such as county commissioners, ultimately in charge of health decisions.

Democrats, like Stollings, argue that boards of health are uniquely qualified to deal with health issues, unlike county commissioners who may have no particular expertise in that regard.

The Boone Senator said he and his fellow Democrats fear that “public health issues will be politicized. That should never happen.”

Stollings, a practicing physician in Madison, said smoking in restaurants and other public places would not have been banned without health boards.

“They (Boards of Health) studied the available data and did the right thing for public health. Some elected officials would never have done that for fear of losing a vote.”

Stollings said, “the fear is that if this bill passes, we’ll go right back to all the unhealthy practices of the past.”

The Senator said many county commissioners and city council members oppose local political control.

“They know the present system works better than any we’ve ever had before. Why take a step back?”

Mercer County Commissioner Greg Puckett said the bill would be detrimental to public health in an interview with WVNS-TV.

“Local boards of health are protected under the statute to implement good, strong health policies. If you put that ownership back on county commissions, then that same protections and those policies don’t exist anymore,” Puckett said.

“Basically whatever the county board of health says is the way that the policy is going to be written in that particular county. If this goes through, this will allow additional oversight by county commissions that could override that,” said Puckett.

“This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. This is a human rights issue. This is something that we should be doing to protect everyone, no matter what party you’re from. No matter anything that you do, you should be protecting your public,” said Puckett.

Republican Senator Mike Maroney of Marshall County is the lead sponsor of the bill. Maroney is also a radiologist.

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Gailyn Markham

Gailyn Markham

Gailyn Markham is a multimedia journalist for Lootpress. She joined the Lootpress staff in November of 2020. Gailyn graduated from Concord University in May of 2019 with a BA in English Journalism and a minor in Sociology. During her time there, she was a staff writer for the school’s newspaper, “The Concordian,” and received the 2019 Outstanding Journalist Award for her work. Before joining the Lootpress team, Gailyn interned for The Register-Herald and, upon completing her internship, was asked to continue working as a freelance writer. She freelanced for the newspaper for two years. A West Virginia native, Gailyn has always been devoted to telling the stories of the Mountain State. When she isn’t working, she enjoys taking advantage of West Virginia’s many outdoor adventures, reading, and renovating her home with her husband, Chris. For news tips or story ideas, email Gailyn at gailynmarkham@lootpress.com. You can also follow her on Facebook.

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