Latest news with #Bill737
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
West Virginia EMS Coalition letter calling for restoration of salary fund gets 1,500 signatures
FAIRMONT, (WBOY) — The West Virginia EMS Coalition is calling for support for the EMS Salary Enhancement Fund, which they say is key to retaining EMS workers throughout the state. In a letter addressed to Governor Morrissey and the legislature with 1,500 signatures from paramedics, EMTs, county officials and other members of the community, the Coalition says EMS agencies face stiff competition in keeping EMS workers when workers can find better wages in other states or other medical professions. The Salary Enhancement Fund, the Coalition argues, mitigates this problem. The letter, which details these issues and was sent to the Governor as well as 12 News, says while $10 million of funding has been authorized for this year, no money in the state budget has been set aside for it. Gov. Morrisey signs bill to ban certain food dyes in West Virginia Assistant Chief at the Marion County Rescue Squad Donna Wade told 12 News that the finances of EMS workers are typically strained with workers often working two jobs. Without the Salary Enhancement EMS fund, she said, 'There's a real reality that some places in West Virginia, when you call 911, there may not be an ambulance or staffing to come help you.' The EMS Salary Enhancement Fund was started by Senate Bill 737 in 2023. The Coalition says the Fund was initially supported with $10 million, and a further $10 million appeared to be allocated in Governor Justice's FY 2025 budget. However, when this legislative session came around, the EMS Coalition found that while $10 million of spending had been authorized for the EMS Salary Enhancement Fund for both FY 2025 and FY 2026, there was no corresponding funding source. Wade told 12 News that EMS agencies generally face monetary challenges, and that EMS agencies generally receive little funding from the state or county and reimbursements from Medicaid or Medicare for 911 are low. Many EMS agencies already put access to the EMS Salary Enhancement Fund into their planning. With the money falling through, Wade said West Virginia could see a situation in which EMS agencies close. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Covenant marriages exclude LGBT people and that's what Tennessee lawmakers want
Editor's note: Letters to the editor reflect the views of individual readers. Scroll to the bottom to see how you can add your voice, whether you agree or disagree. We welcome diverse viewpoints. Re: "Covenant marriages will make Tennessee families stronger especially for children," by Noah Jenkins, Feb. 22. Noah Jenkins has written a thoughtful and coherent guest opinion column in support of the Covenant Marriage Act. However, his description omits a key element of the bill which is clearly one of its main points. The first condition of House Bill 315/Senate Bill 737 states "a covenant marriage is a marriage entered into by one male and one female." In creating a different category that excludes the LGBT community, our legislators are designating a class of citizenry unavailable to all. The Senate sponsor of the bill, Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, has been very clear about his disdain for gay marriage. After the U.S. Supreme Court's Obergefell vs. Hodges decision in 2015, then state Representative Pody declared that same sex marriage is "wicked" and stated that,"I believe God told me this" before reading a passage from the book of Ezekiel in which he warns that "they shall surely die." I am very cautious about people who declare that a supernatural deity speaks to them, and their actions are sanctioned by a god. To declare this as an elected American state representative is misguided at best and dangerous. Opinion: Contradictions between faith, politics and racism still haunt the South It is with sincere hope that I say please, please do not allow this or other biblical passages to influence our laws. Surely, our state will not command a virgin who has been raped to marry her rapist (Deuteronomy 22:28-29). This is a prime example of why our founders established a wall of separation between church and state. This wall should keep all religions from pushing any bigoted laws through a secular legislature. Wesley H. Roberts, Pegram 37143 Agree or disagree? Or have a view on another topic entirely? Send a letter of 250 words or fewer to letters@ Include your full name, city/town, ZIP and contact information for verification. Thanks for adding to the public conversation. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: LGBT couples would be excluded from Tennessee's Covenant Marriage Act
