Published: June 30, 2008 08:32 pm      

Parties squabble about special legislative session

CHARLESTON — Passage of a controversial election-reform bill has left Democrats and Republicans pointing fingers of blame for keeping lawmakers at their Capitol desks through Saturday.

Gov. Joe Manchin called the session to consider two main items — a freeze on the escalator in the gas tax so it won’t climb another 6 cents, and a $25 million appropriation to finance a transfer of teachers from a new retirement system into the old one.

At the behest of some fellow Democrats, he added the election reform, and it was like setting the fuse for a Fourth of July fireworks display.

Democrats viewed it simply as a device to compel well-heeled special interest groups to pony up and clearly identify themselves and say exactly what they were spending on media to influence an election.

On the other hand, Republicans warned of a chilling effect on the First Amendment guarantees of free speech, suggesting it was crafted to silence conservative groups.

“This is a very simple bill,” state Democratic Chairman Nick Casey declared in chastising Republican opposition that blocked efforts to suspend Senate rules and speed up a vote.

“It merely requires that corporations that spend money trying to influence an election have to report where the money comes from. Who could possibly be against that.”

Republican Chairman Doug McKinney, in a statement Monday, said the measure was unneeded and blamed Democrats for keeping the meter running in the session, which costs taxpayers more than $37,000 a day.

For the most part, he said, the GOP members were prepared to adjourn and go home Tuesday or Wednesday, but Democrats insisted on passing a “badly written” bill that likely won’t hold up to constitutional muster when challenged.

“Since when did Republicans have the power to call a special session and keep it going day after day?” McKinney asked.

“Democrats refuse to adjourn until they pass this bill and then they point their fingers at Republicans for refusing to roll over and suspend the rules. Let’s be very clear — a Democrat governor called this special session, and Democrat leaders in the Legislature are the ones who refuse to end it until they get their way.”

Republicans charged the bill was rushed through for the sole purpose of enhancing the chances of Democrats seeking statewide offices in November.

Casey, however, maintained the bill was critical to safeguarding free elections from the influence of huge corporations.

“If corporations are allowed to spend unlimited amounts to make anonymous attacks on candidates they don’t like, the integrity of our election system will be destroyed,” the Democratic chairman said.

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com