Staff writer
CHARLESTON The West Virginia House of Delegates passed its version of Gov. Jim Justice’s budget bill Friday with members asking leadership to defend the bill from changes by the Senate.
House Bill 2022 passed in an 83-14 vote Friday afternoon after a lengthy debate on amendments and the bill itself.
The bill, originally introduced on behalf of and presented by Justice during his Feb. 10 State of the State address, is the version of the general revenue budget as amended by the House Finance Committee earlier last week.
The only Republican to vote against the bill Friday was Del. Shannon Kimes, R-Wood, while nine out of 22 Democratic members present voted with the Republican majority. One of those votes was House Finance Committee Minority Chairman Brent Boggs, D-Braxton, who once chaired the same committee when Democrats held the majority.