Del. Mike Porter, R-Mercer was among the six GOP representatives who made the presentation from the Republican caucus. He called for the authority to be abolished and putting the Turnpike in the state highways system with the Division of Highways.
He said, “We would be eliminating a redundant bureaucracy.”
Republicans also addressed the elimination of the Budget Digest and endorsed a proposed new process that will be a part of the budget process; the elimination of the entire Food Sales Tax; the right of eminent domain as a protection of individual property rights for West Virginia citizens, endorsed marriage as a union between a man and a woman and called for strengthening of child predator penalties, notification to residents and protection of children.
Besides Porter, Republicans Linda Sumner of Beckley, Cindy Frich of Monongalia, Mike Hall of Putnam County and Tim Armstead of Kanawha County presented topics.
Minority Leader Charles Trump, R-Morgan, presided over the press conference for the Republicans.
About the Turnpike, Porter said the people of the state, particularly those in Southern counties, are frustrated with the parkways authority and its decision to increase tolls by 60 percent.
He said travelers on the turnpike are paying for a system that is broken.
He said the tolls are a deterrent to businesses in West Virginia and unfair to those who have to pay them.