The WV Legislator meets for two winter months to decide on new legislation which (with the governor’s signing) will make its way into law. John Doyle gives a wrap of the 2026 session and tells the sad tale that Jefferson County came away with just about nothing of consequence. And worse, the chaotic close of the session meant that even the good bills which made it to the final votes, failed to even get those votes. The clock ran out.
John Doyle injects a bit of personal history in describing the actions of four United States district judges and our present Secretary of State. These individuals have separately acted to affirm the rights of immigrants and citizens to the full protection of the guarantees spelled out in the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.
Data Centers may be coming to Jefferson County thanks to Republican Governor Morrisey and our legislature. Not only are they coming, but we the citizens of the county have no say into deciding whether we want them or not.
Furthermore, .we get only 30% of the tax revenue, but 100% of the noise, water table depletion, and higher electricity bills. And there aren’t so very many jobs. John Doyle hopes that the law will be amended.