Well it is official. Governor Joe Manchin became U.S. Senator Joe Manchin yesterday morning when he took the oath of office. I have put up a link to his placeholder site on the Senate website. Once the regular site is up, I will update the link.
If you need to get in touch with his office, you will have to do it by phone for now. Hopefully that will change in the next day or two.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Et Tu, State Senate?
The political machinations have started. Senator Joe Manchin left the Governor's mansion and is headed for DC. Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin is putting the finishing touches on his cabinet. All is well in West Virginia. A nice smooth transition of power. But wait...
What is that? The democrats in the State Senate are caucusing. And according to Phil Kabler, are discussing possible leadership changes. What fun will this bring? Who knows. Stay tuned this just may get interesting.
What is that? The democrats in the State Senate are caucusing. And according to Phil Kabler, are discussing possible leadership changes. What fun will this bring? Who knows. Stay tuned this just may get interesting.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Election Aftermath
The political landscape will be very strange for the next two years. Our current Governor, Joe Manchin won the special election to fill the last two years of the Late Senator Byrd's seat in the US Senate. This creates a void in the Governor's Mansion. According to the West Virginia Constitution, the vacancy is filled by the State Senate President, but only in the capacity of Acting Governor. Let the political backstabbing begin.
The wording is such that the Acting Governor position may not permanently confer on the current Senate President, Earl Ray Tomblin. The Acting Governor may be whoever holds the title of Senate President. So conceivably, we could have a new Acting Governor anytime someone got enough votes to become Senate President. This means a fragile, weak government for the next two years. As the Acting Governor will be trying to keep his majority in the Senate together and fulfill the duties of Governor at the same time.
As long as Sen. Tomblin keeps his fellow Democrats in the Senate happy he should be able to push things through. It will be interesting so see what the House of Delegates does. This tips the legislative power heavily towards the Senate.
Like I said. It should be interesting to watch.
The wording is such that the Acting Governor position may not permanently confer on the current Senate President, Earl Ray Tomblin. The Acting Governor may be whoever holds the title of Senate President. So conceivably, we could have a new Acting Governor anytime someone got enough votes to become Senate President. This means a fragile, weak government for the next two years. As the Acting Governor will be trying to keep his majority in the Senate together and fulfill the duties of Governor at the same time.
As long as Sen. Tomblin keeps his fellow Democrats in the Senate happy he should be able to push things through. It will be interesting so see what the House of Delegates does. This tips the legislative power heavily towards the Senate.
Like I said. It should be interesting to watch.
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