Jan Vineyard, standing, chairwoman of the West Virginia Business and Industry Council talks with Karen Price, a lobbyist for the West Virginia Manufacturer's Association, prior to presentation of BIC's 2009 legislative agenda during a town meeting at the Charleston Marriott on Jan. 22. Del. Carrie Webster (D-Kanawha), chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee, left, was among six legislators attending the meeting. (Photo by Lawrence Smith)

CHARLESTON - Lawmakers attending a luncheon hosted by a business trade group suggested that the softened economy may be good news for their legislative agenda in the short-term and the economic health of the state in the long-run.

The West Virginia Business and Industry Council hosted a "town meeting" during lunch hour at the Charleston Marriott on Thursday, Jan. 22 to discuss its 2009 legislative agenda. The meeting was the third of nine BIC was holding across the state prior to the convening of the 79th Legislature on Feb. 11.

Among the 35 people in attendance at the meeting were Sens. Brooks McCabe, Erik Wells and Corey Palumbo (D-Kanawha) and Dels. Carrie Webster and Doug Skaff (D-Kanawha) and Patti Eagloski Schoen (R-Putnam).

BIC Chairwoman Jan Vineyard, who is also executive director for the West Virginia Motor Truck and Oil Marketers and Grocers associations said she was delighted to speak to business people and the media on something other than gasoline prices.
"I can smile," Vineyard jokingly said.

Though BIC has several areas of concern, Vineyard said its top three items are the state's unemployment compensation fund, medical malpractice reform and mandatory paid sick leave. Specifically, BIC opposes an increase in the fund and passage of the sick leave bill while supporting continued reforms in medical malpractice.

Increasing the fund and passing the sick leave bill, named the West Virginia Healthy Families Act (HB 4447) would place a costly burden on employers in the midst of a recession. An employer could see its costs raised 25 to 50 percent if the Legislature raises the existing employer tax wage base from $8,000 to $10,000 or $12,000, Vineyard said.

Though no figures were provided for the potential impact HB 4447 may have on an employer, Vineyard said it could prove very costly due to the civil and criminal penalties in place for non-compliance. HB 4447 also creates a new discrimination lawsuit.
Many of provisions in HB 4447 are already covered in the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, Vineyard said.

In regard to medical malpractice, Vineyard said BIC is hopeful the Legislature will continue to look at ways to keep liability insurance for medical professionals low by maintaining a level of certainty and fairness in damage awards.

When given an opportunity to talk, many of the legislators in attendance didn't address BIC's concerns directly, but hinted that, because of the recession, the Legislature may be extra cautious what it considers this year.

McCabe did not mince words when he forecasted that the economy will worsen in the next six to nine months.

"We're in a crisis," McCabe said, "and it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better."
However, McCabe said the recession could be a blessing in disguise for the state. Over the next three years West Virginia could reposition itself to grow by redefining what state government does.

Mirroring the sentiments of his colleague, Palumbo said West Virginia can become more attractive to business expansion provided it continues its course of fiscal prudence. In the meantime, he said the Legislature should not saddle existing businesses with unfair burdens.

"We need to be careful not to make things difficult on employers during these tough times," Palumbo said.

BIC has two remaining town meetings scheduled. They will be held on Monday, Feb. 3 at Chief Logan State Park's Tomblin Center in Logan and Tuesday, Feb. 4 at the Mountaineer Conference Center in Beckley.