2019 Pre-legislative Conference...2018/12/11 · The West Virginia Business & Industry Council presents Building Our Future: 2019 Pre-legislative Conference Charleston Coliseum and

The West Virginia Business & Industry Council presents

Building Our Future: 2019 Pre-legislative Conference

Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center #wvbic December 11, 2018

Thank you to our sponsors!

West Virginia Business & Industry Council

Bronze Sponsors

Gold Sponsor Silver Sponsor

Welcome and Introductions


Chris Hamilton

Chairman, WVBIC

Building Our Future: 2019 Pre-Legislative Conference


Chief of Staff

Mike HallGov. Jim Justice


Senate President

Mitch Carmichael



House Speaker

Roger Hanshaw



Senate Finance Chairman

Craig Blair



House Judiciary Chairman

John Shott



Brian DaytonWest Virginia Chamber of Commerce


1992

2000

2008

2016

The 2018 Midterms!

The first midterms in West Virginia since 1930

featuring GOP control of the White House, U.S.

Senate, U.S. House, Governor’s Office, State

Senate and House of Delegates

2018 U.S. Senate Election

Congressional Elections

2014 “Red Wave” vs.

2018 “Blue Wave”

Legislative Elections

2018 WV Senate Elections

WV Senate

Democrats +2

2 GOP Incumbents Defeated

Ryan Ferns - 1st (-2,012 votes)

Ed Gaunch - 8th (-165 votes)

Dems take 10 GOP Seats,

7 GOP Incumbents Defeated

Mark Zatezalo (1st)

Charlotte Lane (35th)

Guy Ward (50th)

Joe Statler (51st)

Cindy Frich (51st)

Jill Upson (65th)

Riley Moore (67th)

GOP takes 5 DEM Seats,

4 DEM Incumbents Defeated

hScott Brewer (13th)

Ricky Moye (29th)

Dana Lynch (44th)

Richard Iaquinta (48th)

WV House Changes

+5 Dems

Other Factors

West Virginia Supreme Court

Unions and IE Spending

Amendment 1

Vs.

Monongalia 38% - 62% (-7,232)

Jefferson 44% - 55% (-2,621)

Kanawha 45% - 55% (-6,597)

Pocahontas 47% - 53% (-187)

Roane 47% - 53% (-224)

Calhoun 48% - 52% (-97)

Greenbrier 48% - 52% (-481)

Cabell 48% - 52% (-1,077)

Marion 49% - 51% (-435)

Randolph 49% - 51% (-198)

Wetzel 49% - 51% (-42)

No Vote Advantage = -19,191

Amendment 1

Voted Down in 11 Counties

Grant 67% - 33% (1,194)

Tyler 63% - 37% (714)

Doddridge 62% - 38% (541)

Ritchie 62% - 38% (725)

Mingo 61% - 39% (1,417)

Wyoming 61% - 39% (1,232)

Raleigh 60% - 40% (4,768)

Mineral 59% - 41% (1,578)

Monroe 58% - 42% (796)

Clay 58% - 42% (360)

Logan 58% - 42% (1,441)

Yes Vote Advantage = 14,766

+60% in only 7 Counties

Amendment 1

11 Strongest Counties

How Did Amendment 1 Effect

Legislative Races?

Conclusions

Questions?



Danielle WaltzUS Chamber of Commerce

Institute for Legal Reform


WV Business & Industry Council

Policy Roundup




Mission: The West Virginia Business & Industry Council works to improve the state’s business

climate. Our members are foot soldiers for change — the eyes, ears, minds and voices fighting as one for a bright West Virginia future.

Policy Priorities: • Job Development: We need effective, accessible education to produce graduates who are

ready for the 21st Century workforce;

• Legal Fairness: We encourage state policy leaders to continue to make changes that will

make West Virginia’s legal system as competitive, or more so, than surrounding states;

• Infrastructure Improvement: State government should make every effort to continue to make

short- and long-term infrastructure improvements through the Roads to Prosperity program

and other financing plans.

• Fiscal Responsibility: West Virginia should continue its prudent management of the state’s

finances while at the same time keeping tax fairness in mind by making changes that make the state a more competitive jurisdiction for business growth and attraction.


American Council of Engineering Companies of WV

Mission: The American Council of Engineering Companies of West Virginia (ACECWV) is

devoted to the advancement of the practice of consulting engineering, to the promotion of

private enterprise, protection of public welfare, and to the improvement of the economic status of the professional engineers engaged in the practice of consulting engineering.

Policy Priorities: • Infrastructure

• Water and sewer development and enhancement

• Transportation


Associated Builders & Contractors of WV

Mission: ABC West Virginia promotes free enterprise and open competition within the

construction industry and creating opportunities for employees, employers, and investors based solely on merit.

Policy Priorities: • Education Reform & Workforce Development: Quality public and private education from

kindergarten through college plus robust vocational/technical training programs;

• Streamline Occupational Licensure Requirements

• Regulatory Reform: Promote a more prosperous, fair economic environment for all industries

including commercial and industrial construction;

• Tax Reform: Overhaul tax system, particularly equipment and inventory tax;

• Paycheck Protection


Contractors Association of West Virginia

Mission: The Contractors Association of West Virginia represents more than 450 businesses and

20,000 employees who are "Hard at Work" building safe roads and bridges, modern schools and hospitals, and water and sewer treatment systems.

Policy Priorities: • Infrastructure Investment: A modern infrastructure is critical when attracting new business and

development to West Virginia and to allow existing businesses to expand and grow.

• Workforce Development: A survey of CAWV members shows that 80 percent of contractors

believe it will continue or become harder to find construction professionals and nearly 60

percent say it will be harder to find skilled craft workers.


Independent Insurance Agents of West Virginia

Mission: It is the mission of the IIAWV to be an unrelenting advocate for independent insurance

agents and to fulfill member’s needs while serving the public’s best interest.

Policy Priorities: • Legal Reform: We would support legislation that bases damage awards on the amount

actually paid with consideration given to other sources of payments received.

• Insurance Choice: The IIAWV believe its mission, operational strategies and legislative priorities

are ultimately good for the consumer by stimulating a competitive insurance marketplace

providing consumers with many insurance choices.


Independent Oil & Gas Association of West Virginia

Mission: The mission of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia (IOGAWV) is

to promote and protect the WV oil and natural gas producing industry.

Policy Priorities: • Tax Relief: Seek tax relief and reform on marginal oil and natural gas wells;

• Industry Growth: Ally with others to promote the increased production of oil and natural gas

and to find new or enhanced downstream markets including chemical, manufacturing and

power generation.


West Virginia Association of Health Plans

Mission: The WVAHP was formed in 2016 with the goal to assist the state of West Virginia in its

transition to managed care Medicaid delivery, reduce costs of administering West Virginia’s Medicaid system and improve the health of West Virginia’s Medicaid recipients.

Policy Priorities: • A full transition of West Virginia’s Medicaid program into managed care;

• Improved quality and oversight of West Virginia’s Medicaid program;

• Continued development of the commercial marketplace and a level playing field for

commercial and Medicaid companies;

• Assist with the transition of the state’s foster care system into a managed care model;

• Grant MCOs access to West Virginia Pharmacy Board data to help combat the state’s opioid

epidemic.


WV Association of Realtors

Mission: Our goal is the promotion of regulatory and legislative action favorable to member’s

business successes. We do this by working closely with the West Virginia Real Estate Commission on the law and rules that impact the real estate industry.

Policy Priorities: • To serve and represent its members in regulatory and legislative matters;

• To keep the REALTOR®. central to the real estate transaction;

• To promote member integrity, competency and responsible citizenship;

• And to advocate and protect private property rights and equal housing opportunity.


WV Automobile & Truck Dealers Association

Mission: The mission of the West Virginia Automobile & Truck Dealers Association is to

encourage sound business policies, facilitate the exchange of ideas among our members, foster

progressive legislation, discourage destructive, retrogressive legislation, cooperate with other

motor vehicle trade associations and promote confidence, respect and good fellowship among

all of those directly or indirectly engaged in the motor vehicle industry.

Policy Priorities: • Reduce burdens on small businesses by streamlining regulatory requirements and bringing

predictability to government oversight;

• Address frivolous litigation trends such as “green letter” threats;

• Alleviate unfair and anti-competitive tax burdens.


West Virginia Beverage Association

Mission: The primary objective of the West Virginia Beverage Association is repealing the West

Virginia soft drinks tax. While the industry is willing to pay its fair share in taxes to support the state's

revenue base, we believe that the total tax liability must be fairly distributed among all corporate

taxpayers.

Policy Priorities: • Soft Drink Tax: The soft drink tax is a discriminatory tax that no other state besides Arkansas

imposes. It should be repealed.

• Bottle Bill: Bottle deposits are a costly and outmoded approach that hinders better, more

efficient environmental solutions, like curbside recycling.


WV Cable Telecommunications Association

Mission: The West Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association represents the state’s major

cable broadband providers in serving West Virginia residents and businesses with advanced

video, telecommunications and broadband data services through its investment of over $3 billion

since 2000 to bring gigabit-level services to approximately 75 percent of the state’s population.

Policy Priorities: • Eliminating impediments to broadband deployment and network upgrades in state

regulation under consideration by the Division of Highways and the Public Service

Commission.

• Supporting the use of state government funds to assist companies in delivering Broadband or

other telecommunications services to unserved areas where governmental funds will not be

used to overbuild and compete with private companies’ investments.

• Creating a business climate more conducive to technology and high-speed Broadband

investments in terms of tax policy.


West Virginia Chamber of Commerce

Mission: West Virginia Chamber members are located in each of our 55 counties and employ

more than half of the state’s workforce. Most are small businesses whose vision for a healthier,

more prosperous Mountain State. The West Virginia Chamber is the state’s largest business

advocacy organization in the state and strives to create an environment where businesses can

grow and create jobs.

Policy Priorities: • Competitive Business Climate: We support competitive, sustainable tax system, market-driven solutions to

rising healthcare costs, streamlined regulatory policies and a modernized, fair legal system;

• Education & the Talent Pipeline: Education and workforce development systems must be effective, agile, accountable and responsive to produce a competitive, drug-free and healthy world-class workforce;

• Infrastructure & Economic Development: Air service, access to high-speed broadband internet, maintenance and construction of roadways and the continuance of the state’s water and sewer

enhancement program are key;

• Good Government, Good Health and Quality of Life: Every West Virginian should have the opportunity for a life that includes a healthy environment, a quality education, a good-paying job and an efficient

government.


West Virginia Coal Association

Mission: Our mission is to provide a unified voice representing the state’s coal industry as well as

increase the emphasis on coal as a reliable energy source to help America achieve energy

independence.

Policy Priorities: • Legislation to reduce costs, improve mine efficiencies and reduce unnecessary regulatory

and tax burdens.

• Take steps to protect our state's coal-powered electric generation fleet, enhance grid

reliability and expand investment in new technologies and new markets for our coal.

• Continue to identify and remove or revise laws that increase the cost of doing business in

West Virginia without adding to human protections, safety or environmental quality.

• Incentives to assist the industry in producing greater volumes of coal and enhance the

marketing of West Virginia coal to domestic and foreign markets.


West Virginia Farm Bureau

Mission: It is our organization’s goal to provide leadership, education, information, training and

economic services to enhance the quality of life of our members.

Policy Priorities: • Promote strategies/activities to confront the ongoing regulatory challenges posed by an

ever-aggressive EPA to ensure strength and continued growth in West Virginia’s agricultural

economy.

• Promote reasonable and responsible legislation regulating oil and gas exploration that will

protect private property/surface owners’ rights and the environment, while encouraging the

development of our resources. Farm Bureau supports the rights of land and mineral owners to

negotiate with other parties to achieve the desired use of resources.

• Support updated farm nuisance lawsuit protection legislation.


West Virginia Forestry Association

Mission: The West Virginia Forestry Association shall encourage and promote the full

development of the forest resources of the state of West Virginia by better forest land

management, improved fire protection and suppression, true conservation and better utilization

of woodland resources in the state.

Policy Priorities: • Public education to increase awareness on the multiple use of forests, the forest industry, land

management and to encourage the wise and economical use of these valuable renewable

resources.

• Encourage and solicit participation by interested landowners, land managers, and persons

having a direct interest in the growth and utilization of this resource.

• Actively promote and assist in forest fire prevention and other forest production programs.

• Promote the use and principles of forest management set forth in the West Virginia Forest

Practice Standards.


West Virginia Health Care Association

Mission: The West Virginia Health Care Association’s mission is to advance the quality and

professionalism of extended-care providers for the benefit of their residents and communities.

We achieve our mission through education, advocacy, and leadership.

Policy Priorities: • Nurse shortage: West Virginia is experiencing a severe shortage of nurses. Specially trained

and tested CNAs are needed to assist nurses in the distribution of certain medications to

stable residents;

• Curb lawsuit abuse: Despite recent reforms, the number of lawsuits filed against West

Virginia’s nursing homes continues to grow;

• Fund Medicaid: Adequate funding for West Virginia’s frail and elderly population is essential.

On average, 75 percent of the people residing in nursing homes are Medicaid recipients.

Without proper funding, these individuals cannot receive the care and services they

desperately need.


West Virginia Hospital Association

Mission: The WVHA supports its members in achieving a strong, healthy West Virginia by

providing leadership in healthcare advocacy, education, information and technical assistance,

and by being a catalyst for effective change through collaboration, consensus building and a

focus on desired outcomes.

Policy Priorities: • Hospital Payment / Medicaid Funding / Access to Care

• Healthcare Regulation

• Prior Authorization and Managed Care

• Healthcare Workforce

• Public Health / Substance Abuse/Behavioral Health


West Virginia Insurance Federation

Mission: To be the recognized voice of the property & casualty insurance industry by

advocating for a vibrant and competitive insurance climate in West Virginia.

Policy Priorities: • Prohibit Third Party Litigation Lending

• Eliminate Need for Cancellation and Reissuance of Policies at Renewal

• Collateral Source / Phantom Damages


West Virginia Manufacturers Association

Mission: The mission of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association is to promote the health

and well-being of manufacturing in West Virginia.

Policy Priorities: • Regulatory Balance: Regulatory over-reach places West Virginia at a disadvantage for economic

growth and job creation;

• Human Capital Development and Retention: The WVMA supports breaking down traditional barriers to allow for new and individualized educational approaches, development of educational efficiencies in West Virginia’s system, and better integration of technology in classrooms.

• Energy Diversity: West Virginia consumers should benefit from our natural resources. We support strategies to lower consumer energy costs for both residential and industrial rate payers and an all-of-the-above energy policy.

• Tax Reform: Reform that eliminates the property tax on manufacturing equipment and machinery would position West Virginia more competitively with states experiencing industry growth.


West Virginia Oil & Natural Gas Association

Mission: Our mission is to promote and advocate for the continued growth of the industry

through policy development, education and outreach services. WVONGA strives to help

maximize the development of the valuable and abundant oil and natural gas in our state for the

betterment of West Virginia and our country.

Policy Priorities: • Updating laws regarding drilling wells in deep formations to allow for common-sense and

practical ways to develop oil and natural gas in the Utica Shale and allow us to take

advantage of the abundant resources below us;

• Approval and construction of pipeline infrastructure;

• Promoting policies that will encourage the growth of infrastructure and downstream sectors

will provide thousands of jobs and economic growth to our state and local communities.


WV Oil Marketers & Grocers Association

Mission: OMEGA is a West Virginia-based membership organization that advocates and

promotes the business interests of the petroleum, grocery and convenience industries to better

serve our customers, employees and communities.

Policy Priorities: • Fair Competition & Border Stability: Differences in excise tax rates across jurisdictions create incentives for

consumers to cross the border and purchase in lower tax jurisdictions. We continue to seek an even

playing field to conduct business.

• Economic and Jobs Development: We need to improve West Virginia’s public education system to provide accessible education, either in a college, business or trade format, so that we may produce

graduates who are prepared for today’s workforce.

• Responsible Government: Our state government needs to maintain prudent budgeting, integrity and transparency. We also want lawmakers to examine state laws and regulations that are more stringent

than their corresponding federal rules to ensure federal parity where appropriate.

• Fiscal Responsibility: State government must maintain prudent budgeting practices and we must operate within our means.

• Legal Reform: While major steps were taken in the previous legislative session, we must continue to reform West Virginia’s legal system.


West Virginia Gaming & Racing Association

Mission: Our mission is also to continue to provide jobs and generate revenue for the 4,000

employees at the four racetracks and the financial benefit to the state of West Virginia and the

other entities that receive dollars from our effort.

Policy Priorities:

We want to provide a genuine customer service atmosphere whether it be in gaming, racing,

sports betting, food and beverage or hotel services and make our customers feel like they are

being treated on an individual basis.


West Virginia Retailers Association

Mission: The West Virginia Retailers Association supports the collective goals of the retail

industry, promoting the highest level of standards and best practices though education and

advocacy before the general public, opinion leaders, and policy makers.

Policy Priorities: • Economic Development: job creation, tax reform, and improvements to our state’s

infrastructure;

• Pharmaceutical Industry Regulation

• Food & Fuel Industry Regulations

• Collections and Debt

• The Spirits Council - a division of WVRA dedicated to address spirits industry standards for the

licensed retail liquor stores while working with distillers and brokers;

• Vapor Industry/E-Cigarette Regulations

• Direct Selling Protections – updating current law to further protect legitimate direct sellers.

Adopting right of return for inventory purchased by individual direct sellers.


Questions?


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Documents

2019 Pre-legislative Conference...2018/12/11 · The West Virginia Business & Industry Council presents Building Our Future: 2019 Pre-legislative Conference Charleston Coliseum and