By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — An aide to the Governor since his rise from Senate President and Acting Governor is taking on the responsibilities of another state agency.
Jacqueline Proctor, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin‘s Communications Director, will serve as the Deputy Commissioner of the state Division of Tourism under Commerce Secretary Keith [...]

By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — Lawmakers heard discussion on allowing same-day voter registration in West Virginia, though some questioned the costs and the security of such a plan.
Members of Subcommittee C of the Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary heard from experts and election officials in North Carolina about same-day voter [...]

By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — In our third most read story of 2011, we wrote about the political background of now-Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.
While the Tomblin, formerly a Senate President and acting governor until November, name is a staple in southern West Virginia politics, he was largely unknown to the rest [...]

UPDATE 4:15 p.m. – Added clarification from Governor Tomblin’s office regarding OPEB legislation.
By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — After years of ignoring the issue, 2012 could be the year the state addresses its substantial public employee retiree health care debt.
According to the state Public Employee Insurance Agency, the state’s other post-employment benefit [...]

UPDATE: Added comments from state Sen. Art Kirkendoll and another statement from Senate President Jeff Kessler. Awaiting comments from Sens. Brooks McCabe and Mike Green.
By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — Jeff Kessler, president of the West Virginia Senate, announced the last of his committee chair and co-chair assignments today.
“The team of Senators [...]

By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, so I’ll be taking the rest of the week off. But I’m thankful for a few things and I thought I’d share.

I’m thankful I don’t have to write “Acting Senate President” and “Senate President, acting as governor” anymore. Earl Ray Tomblin was elected [...]

West Virginia Senate President Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall) takes the oath of office. (Photo/Steven Allen Adams)
By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — Just like his predecessor, Jeff Kessler dropped the “acting” from in front of his title.
“The time of acting is over,” Kessler said. “We’re going to get rid of that six-letter word. Yesterday [...]

By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — It’s all over, except for the resignation and swearing-in.
Gov.-elect Earl Ray Tomblin signed an executive order today calling the Legislature into special session Sunday, Nov. 13.
Tomblin will resign as Logan County’s state Senator and as the longest-serving Senate President, then take the oath of office to [...]

By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — Over a month after winning the Oct. 4 special election, Gov.-elect Earl Ray Tomblin will become the real thing in November.
The Logan County Democrat will be sworn in Sunday, Nov. 13. Tomblin will call a special session of the state Legislature Nov. 13 at noon, where [...]

By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — The poll for West Virginia 2011 special election closed 15 minutes ago. Turnout reports varied across the state, from light to very good. Other than a report earlier today by the Secretary of State’s office of phone calls telling voters the wrong precincts to go to, [...]