West Virginia Lawmakers to Discuss Taxes, New Court

Lawmakers are looking forward to doing work that doesn't involve trying to dig West Virginia out of a deep financial hole, although they're not ready to declare the state's dilemma over.

House Speaker Tim Armstead and Senate President Mitch Carmichael, both Republicans, were upbeat during the annual Legislative Lookahead forum Friday about the potential progress that can be made in the coming months under Gov. Jim Justice. Justice took office last January as a Democrat. He switched to the Republican party in August.

"We're not saying we're out of the woods and we don't have economic challenges," said Armstead, from Kanawha County. However, "that is an incredible advantage from where we were last year."

"I do anticipate we will end this fiscal year without having to go back in and fill gaps and fill holes," he said. "As we go into our new budget, then we'll be able to do so without looking at any type of tax increase."

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