October 13, 2017
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Newsletter 2017-41 October 13, 2017 VOTERS APPROVE ROAD BOND AMENDMENT IN A LANDSLIDE! Voters approved a constitutional referendum Saturday, October 7, that will allow West Virginia to issue up to $1.6 billion in bonds for highway and bridge construction in the state. The vote on the Roads to Prosperity Amendment of 2017 passed, earning nearly 73 percent of the vote with every precinct reporting late Saturday night, according to unofficial results from the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office. At a news conference after word of the victory circulated, an elated Gov. Jim Justice said the electorate has given its take on the state’s future, loud and clear. “The voters spoke, did they not? They spoke,” he said before the crowd of labor and industry representatives who supported the effort interrupted him with applause. “They spoke and I am so happy for our state in every single way.” Of the 1.2 million West Virginians registered to vote, more than 119,000 cast their ballots Saturday. The amendment won 54 counties. Ritchie is the only county to defeat the amendment. A great coalition was put together under the banner of West Virginians for Better Transportation to educate voters on the Roads to Prosperity amendment. The coalition consisted of statewide industry organizations, American Council of Engineering Companies, organized labor, school teachers, statewide elected officials, higher education leaders, state and local chambers of commerce, newspaper editorial boards, state legislators of both parties and local officials who all banded together for the common goal of improving West Virginia's roads and highways. CAWV members and numerous others contributed to WVBT that allowed for a very effective campaign to promote the amendment, which included TV, radio, and newspaper, plus a heavy concentration on social media. First Lady Cathy Justice appeared in television ads, as did Coach Bob Huggins and Coach Dan D’Antoni. Basketball legend Jerry West recorded a call that went to 150,000 voters urging passage of the amendment. Passage would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of Governor Jim Justice, West Virginia Department of Transportation Secretary Tom Smith, and West Virginia Department of Commerce Secretary Woody Thrasher. All three spent countless hours traveling to communities across the state to build up support for the Roads to Prosperity Amendment. Their efforts were instrumental in the amendment’s success. A CAWV member sent the following after passage of Saturday’s bond referendum: “The road bond passage margin is beyond my imagination. For all that [CAWV] did for this initiative, thank you. This will have a significant effect on my business for the most of the remainder of my career through direct sales of our products and services. Moreover, the plan, if well executed, should positively impact the state for the rest of my life.” Members received an email Wednesday detailing the amendment, along with what is planned to design, advertise and award highway construction and maintenance projects. To view the email, click here. Click the following link to view Hoppy Kercheval’s latest commentary on the passing of the road bond amendment - http://wvmetronews.com/2017/10/10/road-bond-passage-signals-optimism- in-west-virginia/ GOVERNOR CALLS SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION Gov. Jim Justice issued a proclamation today calling for the West Virginia Legislature to convene in special session at 12 p.m. on Monday, October 16, to address legislation. Included in the special call is a bill exempting military retirement from state personal income tax and a bill increasing the amount of credit allowed against personal and corporation net income taxes for qualified historic rehabilitation expenditures. According to Mike Hall, chief of staff for the Justice Administration, additional legislation including a bill that addresses Department of Transportation hiring policies, is currently being worked on and may also be presented next week or at another time in the very near future. Monday’s special call coincides with the Legislature’s regularly interim meetings scheduled to begin Sunday, October 15, and running through Tuesday, October 17. Meetings of importance to CAWV members include the Joint Government Accountability, Transparency and Efficiency Committee which will probably discuss the actions and activities of the School Building Authority Monday at 8:00 a.m. Monday. This is a follow up on the committee’s August and September discussions on the use of construction management on school construction projects The Joint Commission on Economic Development on Tuesday will feature “West Virginia Forward: Strategy for Economic Development and Job Growth.” This is the McKenzie Report detailing measures the state can take to move forward in jobs and development. The Select Committee on Infrastructure will meet Sunday but at press time there is no agenda posted. There is also no agenda for the Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on Department of Transportation Accountability meeting on Sunday. A full report on next week’s legislative interim meetings and how the discussion will affect CAWV members will be in next week’s Newsletter. GOVERNOR JUSTICE APPOINTS D.R. "BUCK" JENNINGS TO HOUSE OF DELEGATES SEAT IN 53RD DISTRICT Governor Jim Justice announced this week that he has appointed D.R. “Buck” Jennings of Thornton to the House of Delegates 53rd District seat filling a vacancy created last month following the passing of the Honorable Tony Lewis. Jennings is president of Jennings Legacy Builders and is married to his wife of 47 years, Evelyn. He is a longtime member of the Fellowsville Fire Department and is a paramedic and EMT instructor with RESA. Governor Justice will also be naming a new Senator to replace Sen. Ron Miller, who resigned to take a position with the Justice administration. Sen. Miller represented the 10th Senatorial District encompassing Greenbrier, Fayette, Summers and Monroe counties. ATTENDANCE GROWING FOR 2018 CAWV MIDYEAR MEETING; EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION CLOSES OCTOBER 27 Registrations for the 2018 for the CAWV Midyear Meeting, which will be held February 1- February 7, 2018 at JW Marriot Marco Island Beach Resort, are off to a great pace. Members haven received a packet on the meeting, and registration and room reservations are available on the CAWV website. The early-bird discount will expire on October 27. A tentative agenda, information on the JW Marriott Resort and a convention registration form are available online at www.cawv.org/events/midyear-meeting.html. We hope you plan to join us for what promises to be a most enjoyable meeting at what many consider to be their favorite CAWV meeting site. But please remember, all unused hotel rooms will be released in November. If you plan to attend, don't delay! If you have any questions, please contact Cheryl Clark at the CAWV office at (304) 342-1166 or email [email protected]. CAWV PROGRAM COMMITTEE SEEKING MIDYEAR MEETING PRESENTATIONS The CAWV Program Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 31, at 10:00 a.m. in the CAWV Headquarters in Charleston. The committee will discuss programs and activities for the CAWV Midyear Meeting which will be held February 1– February 7, 2018 at the JW Marriott in Marco Island, Florida Program Committee Chairman Nate Orders is welcoming ideas for presentations and topics for the Monday and Tuesday morning General Business sessions. One topic under consideration by the committee is what effect West Virginia’s new medical marijuana law will have on contractors’ hiring and drug-free policies. Members with topic suggestions can send them to Chairman Orders or Pat McDonald at [email protected]. IT’S NOT TO LATE TO REGISTER - TOYS FOR TOTS GOLF SCRAMBLE - OCTOBER 20 There is still time to register for the CAWV Young Contractors Forum, fifth annual Toys For Tots Fall Golf Scramble on Friday, October 20, at 10:00 a.m. at Little Creek Country Club, South Charleston. YCF Chairman Chet Rodabaugh would like to invite all members to participate regardless of age. The registration fee of $50 includes a box lunch and beverages. Members are asked to bring an unwrapped toy to benefit Toys For Tots. A registration form is attached to this week’s Newsletter. Tee sponsors are also needed for the event and a sponsorship form is also included. For additional information, contact Pat McDonald at (304) 342-1166 or [email protected]. VOLUME DUES REPORTS MAILED Third Quarter volume dues reports have been mailed. Please make every effort to return the report in a timely manner to the CAWV office at 2114 Kanawha Blvd, East, Charleston, WV 25311 or fax to (304) 342-1074. For questions, please contact Rena Moles at (304) 342-1166 or email [email protected]. GENERAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS IN SEPTEMBER ABOVE ESTIMATE Department of Revenue Secretary Dave Hardy said he is “cautiously optimistic” about September revenue numbers. Revenue exceeded estimates in severance tax and corporate net income tax collections. However, numbers lagged in cumulative collections. According to a news release from the Department of Revenue, severance tax and corporate net income tax revenues put the state’s General Revenue Fund Collections $11.5 million above estimate and 3.5 percent above last year’s receipts. General Revenue Collections totaled $389.2 million for September. Secretary Hardy said in the release that this is positive news for the state. Last month, Hardy said the state was behind estimates two months into the fiscal year but said September was the important month to watch. “It appears that we are gaining some ground in some critical areas,” Hardy said in the release. “This was an important month in terms of revenues and it didn’t disappoint. We are cautiously optimistic as we watch collections to continue to improve.” However, the state still is lagging in cumulative collections at $948.7 million, which is $7.8 million below estimate.