The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Today's Front Page

June 18, 2011

Kessler selects senators for Marcellus shale panel

By Mannix Porterfield Register-Herald Reporter

CHARLESTON — Half of a select, 10-member panel eyeing a compromise on the controversial Marcellus shale regulatory legislation was identified Friday, and acting Senate President Jeffrey Kessler says the panel can get started once the other five are appointed.

There was no word from House Speaker Rick Thompson, D-Wayne, on just when he intends to pick his five members.

But Kessler suggested one likely candidate is Judiciary Chairman Tim Miley, D-Harrison, since the failed legislation in the Legislature’s last regular session passed through his committee.

“His committee was working on it pretty feverishly at the end,” Kessler, D-Marshall, said.

Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said he would devote a special session this summer to getting the fledgling industry regulated, provided the two chambers can come to terms on a bill.

Kessler named Sen. Doug Facemire, D-Braxton, since he handled natural gas measures for the Senate Industry, Energy and Mining Committee last winter, and Sen. Orphy Klempa, D-Ohio, because much of the Marcellus exploration is anticipated in his district.

Sen. Mike Green, D-Raleigh, chairs the Senate IEM committee, but Kessler emphasized he has worked almost exclusively on coal matters.

A third selection was Sen. Herb Snyder, D-Jefferson, given his work on the Senate version of the bill, and Kessler said he chose Sen. Karen Facemyer, R-Jackson, for her work in the chemical alliance zone and stated desire to be on the select committee.

Rounding out the Senate membership is Sen. Corey Palumbo, D-Kanawha, in consideration of his role as judiciary chairman, Kessler said.

Thompson and Kessler decided to set up the committee in this week’s interims after the two chambers couldn’t produce a bill for the governor to consider before the end of the regular session.

“I think we put out a pretty good product the last time,” Kessler said.

“Perfect? Perhaps not, but it certainly was a significant start. I’m open to any suggestions that may come out of the House.”

Since the House failed to send out a bill, there was no opportunity in the final hours of the session to get one into a conference committee, Kessler noted.

“Hopefully, the select committee can fulfill the role of perhaps a conference committee where they almost look at versions of the bill,” he said.

“They know what we passed and were capable of passing and see what the House was working on at least up through the last minute. Hopefully, they will have a pretty good headstart. Hopefully, they’ll put some folks on it who are familiar with the product they were working on.”

Kessler said the committee could get to work right away, using a telephone conference call without the need to actually sit down at a table at the Capitol.

The Senate leader said he thinks the panel can produce an agreed-to bill so that Tomblin can put it on the agenda in a session, since one is needed to deal with redistricting.

“I remain optimistic that (compromise) will happen,” he added.

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com

Text Only
Today's Front Page
  • Importance of cardiac unit at RGH, concern over temporary closure expressed

    Dorothy Wright-Reynolds will remember Nov. 13, 2009, for the rest of her life.

    May 18, 2013

  • Fayette County Office of Emergency Services takes planning seriously

    Improving the county’s communications during a disaster is a top priority of the Fayette County Office of Emergency Services, says the agency’s new director.

    May 18, 2013

  • New trail in works for Hatfield-McCoy system

    Another addition to the Hatfield-McCoy Trail system in southern West Virginia is in the works.

    May 18, 2013

  • Students suspected in vandalism at Wayne High

    Wayne County’s Board of Education will meet to consider disciplining students suspected of vandalizing a high school.
     

    May 18, 2013

  • powerball Drawing tonight

    With an estimated Powerball Jackpot of $600 million, the largest prize in the game’s history and the world’s second largest lottery prize, many local residents are dreaming of how they would spend their fortune if they were to strike it rich.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Details still ‘sketchy’ concerning shutdown of cardiac stent procedures at RGH

     The four-day suspension of heart stent procedures at Raleigh General Hospital due to an “unexpected availability of physician coverage” and without further explanation has left more questions than answers, answers that, according to hospital spokesman and Director of Marketing Kevin McGraw, will not be available until at least Monday.

    May 18, 2013

  • ticket 2013 Click-it Or Ticket campaign starts today

    Beckley Police Lt. Paul Blume wants to let motorists know that if they get pulled over in the Beckley area today, they’re getting a ticket.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • grad An Eye Toward the Future

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • RGH suspends heart stent procedures until Monday

     Officials at Raleigh General Hospital issued a statement late Thursday afternoon indicating that “due to the unexpected unavailability of physician coverage,” cardiac stent procedures won’t be available to area residents at the Beckley facility until Monday, May 20.
     No other details were provided by hospital officials.
     Interventional cardiac care procedures were launched at RGH in November 2009 to serve a growing need for angioplasty lab services in Southern West Virginia.
     

    May 16, 2013

  • Thompson to depart house speaker post

    Rick Thompson is abandoning his post as speaker of the House of Delegates to accept a cabinet-level job in the Tomblin administration as head of the Department of Veterans Assistance.
    Thompson’s departure is likely to trigger a scramble to succeed him as speaker, with a number of Democrats expected to jockey for the post.

    May 16, 2013