Charleston, WV – Chief Circuit Judge Michael Lorenson, 23rd Circuit in Berkeley County, has appointed Senator John Unger II (D-Berkeley) to serve as Magistrate. Senate Democratic leadership applauds this selection.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. —The West Virginia Legislature’s Joint Committee on Redistricting has announced the format for public hearings on redistricting, which are set to begin next week.
CHARLESTON – Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, today congratulated Dr. Rahul Gupta for his nomination to serve as President Joe Biden’s Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Gupta, who formerly served as commissioner and state health officer for the State of West Virginia, would be the first physician to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy should he be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
“This is outstanding news for West Virginia, and for the entire country,” Senate President Blair said. “Dr. Gupta is a world-class advocate for public health. His leadership was critical in West Virginia’s fight against the opioid epidemic, and his guidance was critical as we developed new policies to protect and support our families who experience substance abuse disorder. I look forward to the great things our country will accomplish in this fight under his leadership.”
The Senate unanimously adopted Senate Resolution 24 during the 2021 Regular Session, which urged President Biden to appoint Dr. Gupta to the role. Senate Majority Leader Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, who is a physician, was the lead sponsor.
“I’m ecstatic to learn that Dr. Gupta has been nominated to lead this office,” Senator Takubo said. “Dr. Gupta is truly a bipartisan, nonpolitical person, whose interests are pure. If he’s able to accomplish even a fraction of what he did for West Virginia in his new federal role, the United States will really be headed in a positive direction with handling the opioid epidemic.”
Senator Mike Maroney, R-Marshall, a physician who serves as chairman of the Health Committee, also praised the nomination.
“Dr. Gupta is known for his expertise and approach to tackling this tremendous crisis that’s gripping both our state and our country, and that’s through science and statistics to study the big picture,” Senator Maroney said. “His ability to study substance abuse disorder not as a single-issue problem, but a multi-layer problem with numerous causes, effects, and stages for intervention, will be critical as the United States continues to fight this epidemic into the future.”
Contact: Jacque Bland at (304) 357-7999
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Constitution requires Congressional and Legislative boundary lines to be drawn every 10 years utilizing U.S. Census data to indicate changes in population. Despite Census delays at the federal level, public hearings throughout the state will allow residents to weigh in on the process.
Charleston, WV – Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, and Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, issued the following statements today following the Senate’s adoption of a resolution and the House’s adoption of a motion, respectively, creating Select Committees on Redistricting.
CHARLESTON—Senator Mike Woelfel (D-Cabell) has been appointed to serve as Whip for the Democratic Caucus of the West Virginia Senate, Minority Leader Stephen Baldwin (D-Greenbrier) announced today.
Please see the following statement from Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, regarding the resignation of Senator Paul Hardesty, D-Logan. Senator Hardesty’s resignation became effective December 1.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Delegate Daniel Linville, R-Cabell; Senator Robert Plymale, D-Wayne; and leaders of the West Virginia Broadband Enhancement Council today announced the creation of a new statewide broadband internet availability map.
CHARLESTON – Senate President Mitch Carmichael (R-Jackson), Senate Minority Leader Roman Prezioso (D-Marion), Speaker of the House of Delegates Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay), and House Minority Leader Tim Miley (D-Harrison), today commended Governor Jim Justice for his announcement of an Executive Order that will usher in a major expansion of broadband internet service to rural and underserved areas of West Virginia.
CHARLESTON – Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, Senate Minority Leader Roman Prezioso, D-Marion, Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, and House Minority Leader Tim Miley, D-Harrison, today delivered a letter to Governor Jim Justice to request that he initiate the necessary actions to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.