New legislature commences on Wednesday
This is my last column as “Delegate” Doyle, but as I mentioned last month, The Shepherdstown Chronicle has graciously permitted me to continue writing this column on a monthly basis.
My last duty as your delegate will be to attend the state legislature’s January Interim Meetings, to be held this coming Sunday through Tuesday (Jan. 8-10) in Charleston. This will be the final act of the 85th Legislature, elected two years ago. The new, 86th Legislature (elected this past November) will begin on Jan. 11.
The new legislature will be even more overwhelmingly Republican than the outgoing one. The House of Delegates, now 78-22 Republican, will soon be 88-12. The Senate, now 23-11, will become 31-3 Republican. Contrast this with the 84th Legislature, elected in 2018. Both had Republican majorities, but the House of Delegates was 59-41 and the Senate 20-14.
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In last month’s column, I mentioned that Delegate Brandon Steele (R-Raleigh) was challenging House Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay) for the speakership. In early December, Hanshaw was re-elected Speaker in the Republican caucus, by about 20 votes. The vote was informal but, barring an unusual circumstance, the winner of the vote in the majority caucus is usually certain to be elected Speaker of the House of Delegates. Hanshaw will be formally elected on Jan. 11, when the entire House will vote. Senator Craig Blair (R-Berkeley) was re-elected Senate President.
The House Democrats, also in early December, re-elected Delegate Doug Skaff (D-Kanawha) as Minority Leader. The three Democrats in the Senate elected Senator Mike Woelfel (D-Cabell) as Minority Leader in that body.
Today is the second anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob. Not since the attack on Fort Sumter in 1861 has such a large number of American citizens committed an act so blatantly unpatriotic.
Our country’s success is critical, in supporting the idea of democracy.
For 250 years we have stood for the idea that, in Lincoln’s words, “government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.” No nation this large has been this free for this long, not ever. That is our contribution to history, and it’s what makes us special. The peaceful transfer of power to those chosen by the people to lead, is the keystone of democratic governance. We must never again permit our democracy to be threatened like it was two years ago today.
I was an infantry officer in the Army in Vietnam. I led a rifle platoon (20-30 soldiers) in combat. Having willingly risked my life to preserve democracy, I was deeply saddened to watch the violent attempted coup of Jan. 6, 2021, intended to keep a president in office beyond the constitutionally specified end of his term.
I think many of the people who participated in the attack on our Capitol were duped into their action. Their punishment should reflect that lack of understanding, and that has often been the case. I believe that the punishment of those who planned, masterminded and commanded that mob — those who did the duping — should be much more severe.
John Doyle is a delegate for the West Virginia District 67. He can be reached at johndoyle@wvhouse.gov.