@WVGovernor 's press briefing just started. Follow this thread for live updates on key points.

Justice begins by laying out the schedule for the meeting, starting with comments and questions about the personal income tax repeal and later moving on to COVID-19 information.

This is certainly a departure from the established norm of the past year of briefings, which have prioritized and focused primarily on public health information related to COVID-19.

Gov. Justice begins by decrying the behavior of some state representatives and senators during the personal income tax debate, singles out delegate Joe Jeffries (R-Putnam).

Calls on Speaker Roger Hanshaw to require delegate Jeffries to make a public apology to three senators and the legislature at large.
"This man should be kicked out of the House, period, or should be told he has to make a public apology," Justice says.

"It is a shame," Justice says about debates getting out of control, alludes to the January 6 Capitol riot.
Justice now moves on to discussing the process of legislating the personal income tax repeal.
"One of these great bodies kept their word &commitment in what we were doing"

Justice congratulates the Senate for their work on the issue of the personal income tax repeal.
Says the Senate and governor are in agreement, but the House will table, "the most important thing the state has ever had in front of it."

Justice relays Speaker Hanshaw's concerns about economic growth numbers presented in the bill, expresses frustration that action has not been taken given how good the projections are.

Reminder to anyone just joining us: We have been told that COVID-19 will be discussed after personal income tax issues.

Context: The regular legislative session ends Saturday at midnight. If the House fails to approve a personal income tax repeal bill by then, any change to personal income taxes will require a special session in the fall or wait until the 2022 session.

"I'm not going to quit," Justice says.
"We have two-thirds of the government saying, 'This is what we ought to do,' and the other third says, 'We won't even vote.'"
Justice vows to go on the road to campaign for personal income tax repeal.

Justice continues to make the case for his personal income tax repeal plan.
We encourage all interested to view his comments directly.
This thread will resume either when reporters' questions are taken or commentary moves on to public health