Democrats Should Back Speaker in Fight Against GOP- Lots at Stake for Thompson and State

by: BadChiWV

Fri Mar 11, 2011 at 00:17:17 AM EST

I recently posted a diary critical of Speaker Thompson on health reform.  But it is all hands on deck as the Democratic Speaker battles Republicans in the last days of the session.  As everyone probably knows by now, Republican Ron Walters has requested that all bills be read in full on third reading slowing work in the House down to a crawl.  I heard about it on the radio today and knew I had to write something supporting Thompson tonight.

So what is at stake?  Apparently the health care bills have been passed out of committees.  According to the Daily Mail Ron Walters tried to filibuster in Committee on those bills and was called to the carpet for it first by Democratic Delegate Virginia Mahan and then Democratic Chairman Harry Keith White.  Other bills still at play are the Marcellus Shale; legislation allowing coal producing counties to keep more of the severance tax dollars; an education bill aimed at curbing dropout rates; and the school bullying bill are caught up in this circus created by Republicans as well as dozens of other bills.  

Thompson did the right thing and removed Walters from the powerful House Finance Committee and if the Speaker can hold his own against these GOP games then he will greatly improve his standing amongst Democrats across the State.  If Thompson fails at this critical juncture then it will come at a bad time for his gubenatorial race.  For Thompson, but more importantly the State, let's hope Thompson wins in his battle against the GOP.  All Democrats should line up behind him regardless of whom they are going to support in the election.