Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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February 21, 2007

House introduces bill to partner Senate’s Turnpike proposal

By BARBARA HAWKINS

CHARLESTON — Lawmakers representing Mercer County in the House of Delegates introduced a turnpike bill Wednesday that partners with one submitted to the Senate late last week.

Mercer Delegates Mike Porter, R-Princeton; Dr. Marshall Long, D-Princeton and Eustace Frederick, D-Bluefield, submitted a bill that calls for action by the Legislature which would prevent the West Virginia Parkways, Economic Development and Tourism Authority from raising tolls on the turnpike without going to the Legislature first.

The bill would also prevent any approved toll increase from taking affect until 12 months after the original petition is placed with the Legislature.

A similar bill was crafted by Senate Minority Leader Don Caruth, R-Mercer, and Senate Majority Leader H. Truman Chafin, D-Mingo and co-sponsored by Senator Jesse Guills, R-Greenbrier and Senator John Pat Fanning, D-McDowell and introduced on Friday.

The bill is designed to prevent any large tolls from being added during the coming year while legislators expect to have some studies on the turnpike operation and an analysis of finances done during the remainder of 2007.

Porter reported Wednesday, which was the final day for House bills to be introduced, that the two bills were introduced in order to get them moving quickly through the Legislature due to the late time in the current session.

Another bill, submitted by Porter and several Republicans in the House of Delegates earlier in the session, would eliminate the Parkways Authority and place the turnpike under the Division of Highways.

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