Troop 1
FEBRUARY UPDATE
By Jeff Andreas
Feb 21, 2007, 10:56

On Monday, February 19^th, I attended the monthly WVTA Board of Directors meeting then spent Tuesday at the Legislature.  The primary focus of this meeting was the status of our bills that are before the legislature during this current session. 

The Plan B 55 t0 50 Bill was introduced on 02/19 and was sent to the Senate finance committee.  We were informed that once it leaves there it will be sent directly to the House finance committee and possibly by pass the House pension committee.  We have some momentum on this bill and are closer to having this change made then ever before.

The On Call Bill has passed the House judiciary without problems.  It is now in the House finance committee.  We do not anticipate any problems with this bill at this time and have a lot of momentum on it as well.

The Locality Pay Increase Bill has had no movement.

The Governor had proposed a 2.5% bonus to all state employees.  Thanks to the work of our CWA representative, Elaine Harris and President James Merrill that 2.5% was turned into a base salary increase instead of a one time bonus.  This was an extremely important step toward increasing the salary of all state police employees.  There is talk that this increase could reach to 3.5% base salary increase.  Remember we will still get the increase that was passed during the last legislature for the next two years.

The WVTA has taken a few steps toward working on the Table Gaming Bill before the legislature.  The WVTA is in talks with all sides involved in the table gaming bill to insure that the State Police have a say in the possible future of table games and the enforcement of crime surrounding the establishment of the casinos. 

We will not have a PEIA increase this year.

So far it looks like we may have a VERY SUCCESSFUL Legislative year with our proposed legislation.  While nothing is guaranteed at this point, we have a lot of support in the legislature and energy behind our Bills.  This is primarily due to the work of Elaine Harris of the CWA, James Merrill and Joe Adams.  They have been working the legislature daily and have made important strides toward our goals.  We could not have gotten this far without our Union support.

The 2007 WVTA Conference is set for June 22^nd -23^rd at the Charleston Marriott.  Please make plans on attending.

If anyone has a spouse interested in becoming involved with the WVTA Auxillary please contact me.