State legislature special session begins
CHARLESTON (AP) – West Virginia lawmakers are tackling the once-a-decade revisiting of legislative and congressional districts.
The Senate and House of Delegates convened Monday for the special session called by acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.
The 2010 Census shows the state must redraw House and Senate districts to ensure equal representation. At least two of the three congressional districts also require changes.
Tomblin’s agenda also proposes a slight cut of the food tax, budget supplements and redistributed coal tax revenues.
The Senate’s redistricting committee endorsed a plan Monday to create 17 districts. These split 14 of the state’s 55 counties including McDowell, Mingo, Monongalia and Wayne.
The House is hosting a 5 p.m. public hearing, requested by advocates of single-member districts for all its 100 House seats. The House’s redistricting committee meets Tuesday.