BLUEFIELD — Richard Thompson, speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates, visited the Mercer County Health Department Thursday to get a first-hand look at the facility so he would be able to report the conditions to U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., Gov. Joe Manchin as well as to be prepared to discuss the issue with delegates when they reconvene in special session at noon on May 26.
“I’m in a better position to talk about the state of disrepair,” Thompson said during an editorial board visit Thursday at the Bluefield Daily Telegraph. “They have mold growing through the bricks.
“Almost all local health departments are having serious problems with funding,” Thompson said. “There was never enough money to keep them up.”
Thompson and his wife, Beth, visited several Mercer County locations with Delegate John Frazier, D-Mercer, serving as his host. State Senator Don Caruth, R-Mercer, Delegates Mike Porter, R-Mercer, John Shott, R-Mercer, Joe Coburn, president of the Mercer County Commission and Commissioner Jay Mills met with Thompson and Frazier at the Health Department. Thompson also met with the Mercer County Bar Association Thursday evening at the Bluefield Elks Lodge. “It’s a working session,” Thompson said.
Thompson, who practices law in Wayne County, said he grew up in humble circumstances and drank well water through his youth. As a result, he has a special interest in supporting initiatives that will bring water and sewer infrastructure services to areas that do not have public services. He said the House infrastructure committee is working to expedite cost-effective programs in under-served communities.
Thompson said he wants “to see how the public hearings go,” and hear from state delegates before taking a stance on a proposed toll increase on the West Virginia Turnpike. “I like to hear what my members have to say about this and all issues,” he said. He expressed great confidence in the legislative process and pride in the way “a citizen legislature,” serves the citizens of the state.
Thompson said he has been working closely with Manchin and Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin on the budget and predicted that it should move quickly through the special session. “Right now, West Virginia is in pretty good shape,” Thompson said. He also predicted that three of Manchin’s four education bills would likely pass during the special session.
– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com
Local News
May 21, 2009
House speaker gets up-close look at health department disrepair
- Local News
-
- AFTERNOON UPDATE: Bluefield man wins $50,000 in ‘Jokermania’ from the West Virginia Lottery
- MORNING UPDATE: Route 635 partially blocked in McDowell County
- Facing a ‘perfect storm’ - Lobbyist predicts coal industry headed for troubled times
-
Area youths get upclose look at local media
-
One injured in Princeton fire; structure a total loss
- W.Va. GOP pushes drug testing for welfare recipients
- Senate approves bill limiting tattoos for minors
-
AFTERNOON UPDATE: Youth leadership tour underway at the Daily Telegraph, other media outlets
-
AFTERNOON UPDATE: Wintry blast causes vehicle to strike tree in Bluefield
- MORNING UPDATE: Firefighters battle blaze on North Third Street in Princeton
- More Local News Headlines
