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Call the Legislature TODAY about SB 600 --- UPDATED #3

by: WV26003

Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 11:17:07 AM EST


(Bumped again: see updates from Wed. 3/5. Thank you WV26003 for keeping us informed on this important piece of legislature. - promoted by Clem Guttata)

UPDATE #3 --- Must keep this one very brief, but I received an email this morning informing me that some of SB 600's opponents are trying to get the bill killed in the Rules Committee. The writer assured me that he and others are working to get the bill to the floor as soon as possible. But as I said in my comments, the opposition fight is just beginning. Delegate Sobonya was only one person to defeat; now there will be others. CONTACT SPEAKER THOMPSON AND MAJORITY LEADER DeLONG!

UPDATE #2 --- SB 600 was approved by the House Judiciary Committee 14-7 today recommending the full House PASS the bill! Here is a Metro News story on the Committee's action.

UPDATE --- It appears that some people are joining the bandwagon because the House Judiciary scheduled mark-up of the bill for this afternoon's meeting. It started at 1:30, and I will update as needed. Thanks to all of those who joined and contacted the House of Delegates on this most important matter. But, this could be the time when the real fight begins --- if the bill makes it to the floor. Read below in the comments certain words from the West Virginia Family Foundation. Also, a brief audio recording of yesterday's public hearing is available at WV Metro.

The next two people to get on board would be the Majority Leader and Speaker of the House. Here is their information:

Speaker Richard Thompson; (304) 340-3210; Speaker.Thompson@verizon.net
Majority Leader Joe DeLong; (304) 340-3220; jdelong@mail.wvnet.edu
WV26003 :: Call the Legislature TODAY about SB 600 --- UPDATED #3
I must keep this entry short due to personal time constraints, but it seems that the Legislature may actually accomplish something of value in this session.

SB 600 is a bill to add sexual orientation and age to the West Virginia Fair Housing Act and the employment non-discrimination act. It passed the WV Senate last week and miraculously received a public hearing by the House Judiciary Committee this morning. After 10 years of trying, it looks like this bill might finally pass. But I need your help.

First, call Delegate Carrie Webster at (304) 340-3252; cwebste1@mail.wvnet.edu. She is the chair of the House Judiciary Commitee. Urge her to get the bill out of committee and onto the House floor as soon as possible. The legislative session ends this week.

I emailed Delegates Hutchins, Klempa, Yost, and Ennis earlier this week. Only Delegate Hutchins responded, but his words were encouraging. That same evening, the Judiciary Committee announced it would take up the bill. Now it's your turn. Here are the names of the members of House Judiciary whom you need to contact and get on board:

Delegate Proudfoot -      (304) 340-3248; bproud@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Brown -          (304) 340-3106; bbrown1@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Burdiss -        (304) 340-3111; mburdiss@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Fleischauser -   (304) 340-3169; barbaraf@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Guthrie -        (304) 340-3156; nguthrie@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Hrutkay -        (304) 340-3134; lhrutkay@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Kessler -        (304) 340-3163; mkessler@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Long -           (304) 340-3120; mclong@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Longstreth -     (304) 340-3124; llongstr@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Mahan -          (304) 340-3102; vmahan@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Miley -          (304) 340-3145; timmiley@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Moore -          (304) 340-3189; cmoore@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Pino -           (304) 340-3170; jpino@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Shook -          (304) 340-3173; ashook@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Stemple -        (304) 340-3112; wlstempl@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Tabb -           (304) 340-3274; rtabb@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Varner -         (304) 340-3187; svarner@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Azinger -        (304) 340-3202; tazinger@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Hamilton -       (304) 340-3167; bhamilt@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Lane -           (304) 340-3275; patlane@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Schadler -       (304) 340-3191; rschadler@comcast.net

Delegate Sobonya -        (304) 340-3175; ksobonya@mail.wvnet.edu

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Call the Legislature TODAY about SB 600 --- UPDATED #3 | 11 comments
Disappointed by WVaBlue (4.00 / 2)
With the exception of my friend Carnacki, I must admit that I am disappointed with the response to my blog entry. This is the first chance in ten years that this legislation has the opportunity of passing. I spent every free minute during my workday lobbying for this bill --- putting my name in the public arena and bringing possible wrath my family to see to its passage. Unfortunately, only two people have even voted on this entry's poll. THESE ARE THE TIMES WHEN THE CITIZENS CAN ACT!, yet there is such little response. You better know that the Fundamentalist opposition to this legislation will be out in full force. I can only pray that SB600 miraculously appears on the Judiciary Committee's agenda for Wednesday. WHERE ARE YOU?
WV26003 (4.00 / 1)
My thought yesterday was everyone was focused on the presidential primaries.

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.
[ Parent ]
please don't be discouraged (4.00 / 1)
I really appreciate your activism, as I'm sure many, many other readers do as well.

For every person who comments or fills in a poll there are another 100+ who read the quietly. (Also, one of the annoying "features" of SoapBlox is only registered users can vote in polls... it may keep people from "stuffing" polls, but it doesn't help generate many responses.)

Creating change is like filling up a pitcher of water one drop at a time. We each do what we can, when we can. Speaking from past experience, it is difficult to generate activism with any single appeal. It's takes lots of interactions, lots of calls for action.

Please, keep at it, don't be discouraged.

[ Parent ]
West Virginia Family Foundation (4.00 / 2)
Well, folks, here's all the reason you need to contact Delegate Webster and urge her on the necessity of this bill:

"You are subject to homosexual acts in prison today, whatever the reason, but as soon as people go out of prison, many of them never return to that lifestyle," said Ray Lambert of the West Virginia Family Foundation.

That's from today's Charleston Gazette.

What could be more hurtful to me, however, is that while legislators were quick to adopt a pay raise for themselves, they are slow to take action to simply secure my job.  

Passed out of Judiciary tonight (4.00 / 4)
Spoke to a delegate who said it had passed out of Judiciary this evening.
On House Calendar (4.00 / 1)
With the bill being on House Calendar vs. the Special Calendar, they may be trying to get a Whip Count as to whether the bill will pass.  

They might caucus or just count votes on the floor.

This would help them avoid a roll call vote on passage of the bill that would be used against them in the election.

If it's not read a First Time today (Thursday) then they'll have to suspend the constitutional rules to have bill considered on less than 3 days.  That takes 4 /5ths majority, and probably would kill the bill this session.


In a good conversation everyone speaks.  In a great conversation some even listen.

And if such is the case... (4.00 / 1)
Then I must take drastic action. I work as an independent contractor with the majority of my jobs being out of state. I retain my residency in West Virginia because of my heritage and history. However, why should I be proud to be a West Virginian if West Virginia is not proud enough to have me? I encounter enough disdain from my colleagues and others when I say where I am from. Why should I pay taxes to a state that does not believe I have a right to work or live in West Virginia? I will call and express these sentiments tomorrow to the Speaker, the Majority Leader, my delegates, and Governor Manchin. If this bill fails, then West Virginia has failed me. And, I will change my residency.  
[ Parent ]
Scott Finn Reports the Bill Appears to Be Dead (4.00 / 1)
Link to WV Public Broadcasting Story

Despite the bill's disappointing demise, ACLU Field Organizer Seth DiStefano deserves a lot of credit for getting the bill this far.  That was no small accomplishment given the conservative ideology of the members of the WV Senate and House of Delegates.

P.S.  Don't leave WV just yet.  A few years ago this bill would never have seen the light of day - much less pass the Senate unanimously.

In a good conversation everyone speaks.  In a great conversation some even listen.

No... this was the last straw (4.00 / 1)
And I made that very clear to the Majority Leader's office as well as the Speaker's office. West Virginia refuses to ensure my right to work and live, so they are no longer entitled to my income and property taxes. And, I will no longer claim my West Virginia heritage. It will certainly save me some ridicule.
[ Parent ]
WV26003 (4.00 / 1)
I can sympathize with your frustration. We have to keep pushing politically and in society. I've done it at my Sunday school classes. And I was at an event in January where a woman introduced her partner to Gov. Manchin. We can't give up.

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.
[ Parent ]
Too many years... too many setbacks (4.00 / 1)
West Virginia is no longer worth my time, treasure, and talent. The next time someone running for office asks why the greatest exodus of WV population is those from 18-27, blame Rick Thompson and the other Democrats in name only who have made West Virginia "the last place you want to live."  
Call the Legislature TODAY about SB 600 --- UPDATED #3 | 11 comments
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