Monday October 02,2006
Some Republican lawmakers are criticizing Gov. Joe Manchin for withholding details about proposed reforms to the state's tax system and for planning a special session to deal with the reforms before new legislators take office in January.
Manchin's office has hinted that he will schedule a special session soon after the Nov. 7 election so lawmakers can begin a lengthy overhaul in the way state residents and businesses are taxed.
The GOP, which has been lobbying for several years for a repeal of West Virginia's food tax, has been publicly criticizing the way the session might be handled.
Ruling Democrats have said they do not intend to talk about any further repeal of the remaining 5 percent food tax, but instead want to focus on restructuring business, franchise and possibly the state's property taxes.
Some GOP legislators like Senate Minority Leader Vie Sprouse have said they don't even want to participate in the special session.
Delegate Cindy Frich, R-Monongalia, wrote Manchin a letter last week asking for an outline of the tax proposals he wants legislators to consider during the upcoming special session.
Frich said this is the second time she has formally requested information about what tax changes are under consideration by the governor and his staff, and she has not yet received a response.
"We could be voting on significant tax code changes in less than seven weeks," Frich wrote. "I find it difficult to discuss the future of West Virginia with my constituents without even having an outline of what you propose for your highly publicized tax reform."
Frich said many of her Republican colleagues feel the special session is little more than a "farce" for Democrats to talk about big goals without making any significant changes in how West Virginians are taxed.
She said the timing of the special session is such that voters should know how candidates feel about some of the tax reform proposals so they can choose accordingly at the polls next month.
"It's really sending up red flags when legislators and potential legislators are out on the campaign trail and we can't get information on what his plans are," Frich said. "How can you talk about this when no one knows what the ideas might be?"
Delegate Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, said during recent interim legislative meetings that tax reform wouldn't be worthwhile unless Democrats are willing to consider slashing the state's food and gas taxes, the two taxes Republicans say are among the most oppressive for working-class families.
Lawmakers from both parties have complained in the past about the lack of information about proposed bills before a special session, when Manchin has full control over the legislative agenda.
This time around, the biggest concern from many legislators has been that the timing of the special session, after an election but before any new lawmakers are inaugurated, could exclude people who have just been voted into office. It also could allow incumbents who will be out of their posts come January to make decisions about the long-term future of the state's tax system.
Tom Hunter, spokesman for Manchin's office, said last week that the upcoming special session would be necessary before the end of the year so legislators will have plenty of time to consider proposals and take action during the regular session that starts in January.
"I think what the intent is, we wanted to get some work done during the special session so we can come back during the regular session and be ready to work," Hunter said.
Hunter would not immediately comment on if or how soon Manchin might get lawmakers an outline of his tax agenda or his proposals for the special session.
Some lawmakers have said they've been told the information might not come until the end of October.
Sprouse, meanwhile, is calling on GOP lawmakers to boycott the session if it's held before any new legislators might take office next year.
"We as a party and as Republican legislators need to be bold and strong," Sprouse wrote in his Web log chronicling state politics. "This is not a special session on bridge naming or some other sundry issue. To allow it to pass by without digging in and demanding significant changes would be a missed opportunity that will not come around for another 20 years."
Sprouse said today that some of his colleagues want to see if there are steps they could take in court to stop Manchin from holding a special session before new legislators are inducted into office.
"It's too big and too important to leave this to a lame duck Legislature," Sprouse said.
He said he thinks he'll get some support from Democrats who also don't want the administration to rush lawmakers in tackling tax reform.
"There is going to be debate, and I think that's the difficulty the Manchin administration doesn't understand," Sprouse said. "I don't think Democrats are going to be willing to rubber stamp anything either. No one wants to just sign on to a Manchin tax package without really, really studying these things."
Contact writer Kris Wise at h-iswise@dailymail.com or 348-1244.