[Nfbwv-talk] WV STATE SENATE CONSIDERS CUTTING LIBRARY COMMISSION BUDGET; URGENT ACTION NEEDEED

[Ed McDonald]

As you probably know, the West Virginia Legislature is currently in special 
session to work on the state budget and several other items on the 
governor's agenda.  Word from NFBWV legislative chairman Roland Payne is 
that the State Senate is considering a significant cut in the budget of the 
WV Library Commission that could have a major impact on  both Talking Book 
and Newsline services to blind West Virginians.  Urgent response is needed 
from as many of us as possible to let our senators know the importance of 
these services.  We might also want to point out that the staff of the 
Library Commission's Services for the Blind has a long history of making 
efficient and appropriate use of its annual allotment of state funds.  Below 
are additional details in Roland's message:

URGENT ACTION NEEDED



The budget for the West Virginia Library Commission is currently under 
consideration in the West Virginia Senate.  The West Virginia House of 
Delegates has already passed their version of the bill giving full funding 
for library services which is the same as last year.  The Senate, however, 
wants to reduce the budget by $56,747 which could have an impact on Newsline 
for the Blind and the talking book program.  All of you are encouraged to 
call your members of the Senate to request that they keep the budget for 
library services for the blind at the same level  as  last year's budget, as 
provided in the House version of the budget bill.  You can do this by 
calling the Senate Clerks Office at 304-357-7800, and they can tell you who 
your senators are as well as their phone numbers.



Also, it is recommended that you contact the members of the Senate Finance 
Committee to seek their support for keeping the budget for library services 
for the blind the same as it was for last year, as stated in the House 
version of the bill.  Their contact information is as follows:



Walt Helmick

304-357-7980

Walt.helmick at wvsenate.gov



Brooks McCabe

304-357-7990

Brooks.mccabe at wvsenate.gov



Edwin Bowman

304-357-7918

Jason.wazelle at wvsenate.gov



Truman Chafin

304-357-7808

Truman.chafin at wvsenate.gov



Douglas Facemire

304-357-7845

Douglas.facemire at wvsenate.gov



John Fanning

304-357-7867



Mike Green

304-357-7831

Mike.green at wvsenate.gov



Robert Plymale

304-357-7937

plybob at aol.com



Roman Prezioso

304-357-7961

Roman.prezioso at wvsenate.gov



John Unger

304-357-7933

John.unger at wvsenate.gov



Erick Wells

304-357-7841

Erick.wells at wvsenate.gov



Randy White

304-357-7906

Randy.white at wvsenate.gov



Donna J. Boley

304-357-7905

Donnaboley at suddenlink.net



Karen Facemyer

304-357-7855

Karen.facemyer at wvsenate.gov



Jesse Guills

304-357-7959



Dave Sypolt

304-357-7914

davesypolt at wvsenate.com



It is also recommended that you call your House of Delegates members to 
thank them for their continued support.