On Feb. 4, the West Virginia Legislature sent two important bills to the governor’s desk. The House of Delegates passed ABC-supported right to work legislation, the “Workplace Freedom Act” (SB 1) by a vote of 54-46, while the state Senate approved legislation repealing the state’s prevailing wage law along party lines. The measures were intensely debated in both chambers in the weeks leading up to the votes. West Virginia’s prevailing wage law was mired in controversy following the passage of a reform bill in 2015 and ABC’s West Virginia Chapter has been a vocal supporter of repealing the state’s prevailing wage.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D-W. Va.) is expected to veto both bills; however, the recent swearing in of State Senator Sue Cline (R-Wyoming) to fill the vacancy left by Sen. Daniel Hall’s (R-Wyoming) resignation, gives the Republicans a veto-proof majority in the West Virginia Senate. Senate President Bill Cole (R-Mercer) has promised not to waste time in scheduling override votes following the anticipated gubernatorial vetoes, all but guaranteeing West Virginia becomes the 26th Right to Work state.