If you’ve watched a 24-hour news channel in the last…24 hours…chances are you’ve seen a certain junior senator from West Virginia.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., is grabbing lots of headlines and air time after crafting a gun control bill meant to close several loopholes in the current background check system. Dave talked to Manchin yesterday, and has this story on today’s front page. Here’s an excerpt:
Current law requires a gun buyer to undergo a background check if he or she is buying from a licensed dealer. Many non-licensed dealers attend gun shows, and purchases from these dealers do not require checks. Manchin’s proposed change calls for all sales at gun shows to require a background check.
“You’ll be treated the same at a gun show as you would at a gun store,” Manchin said.
In other news:
- Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin‘s prison reform bill is up for second reading in the House today, and Republican delegates are proposing four amendments to the legislation. Dave is covering this breaking story, follow him on Twitter for live updates.
- The state Senate passed House Bill 2108 yesterday, making failure to wear a seat belt a primary offense in West Virginia. I’m told Tomblin plans to sign the bill which means as early as this summer, drivers in the state could be pulled over for not buckling up.
- Senate President Jeff Kessler said some House members are engaging in “old-school horse trading” to get the Senate to pass its magistrate pay bill. Delegate Tim Miley, D-Harrison, said the House would hold up a Senate bill to create a special tax district in Monongalia County in an attempt to get the upper chamber to pass the pay raise bill. House and Senate Finance chairmen met yesterday, but Kessler said there would be no “quid pro quo” deals on the bills.
- Senators engaged in a rare floor debate Wednesday over amendments to a bill meant to boost the state’s broadband speed standards. The amendment would require the state to direct future grants for broadband expansion to areas without the service before upgrading areas that already have speedy Internet connections. The amendment passed, but received a non-unanimous vote.
- This morning, Tomblin announced he would establish a study commission looking at ways to speed up the process for military spouses who need to obtain necessary certifications or licenses for their chosen professions.
- The state Board of Education yesterday defended the size of its department, despite the high administrator-to-student ratio identified by last year’s education audit. Daily Mail education writer Shay Maunz has the story.