State
Delegate
David
A. Walker
for
House
of Delegates
33rd
District
2010
Thank you for the honor of serving
as your State Delegate as we start the new election year. I still pledge
my support to all Veterans, Seniors, children, and all groups working to
better our District. And, as always, to the working people: You are
number ONE!
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West Virginia is known for some of the most loyal, hardworking and trustworthy Americans around. We are a state built on labor, neighborly families, and mutual understanding. Throughout the legislative session, I think about the great families of West Virginia and different ways in which I can help their everyday lives. This past week, I had the great honor of watching three of my sponsored bills get passed and feel a step closer to ensuring the future success of this great state.
One such bill is House Bill 4397. This bill would require an increase to a minimum of 800 state troopers by July 1, 2014. This will not only add more jobs to this state, but will make us all more safe in our everyday lives. The state troopers perform a priceless service for our families - we know this. But what we don’t know, or think about, is how hard their work is. These extra men and women will increase the troopers’ efficiency and effectiveness throughout West Virginia.
I also was thrilled to see House Bill 4669 pass the house. This bill would greatly help our teachers and education system by allowing certain exceptions from particular state statutes for those schools who fall under the innovation zone. Our children’s future is too precious for this bill not to pass. Anything that encourages educational innovation is a winner in my book.
No part of the educational process should be overlooked but I feel as if that is often done. This past week, I helped pass House Bill 4512 in order to help School Bus Operators in this fine state. This bill updates laws about certification testing, wages of those training school bus operators, and the definition of a “supervisor of transportation.” With this bill, we can help a group of hard working employed persons as well as the overall system of school transportation, and I sincerely hope it passes the Senate.
We now have few days left in our legislative session. They will be full of debate, deliberation and hard work as us legislators iron out the details for new and changed state laws. I can make only one guarantee: anything I pass will help this state achieve its fullest potential. Together we can make West Virginia continue to prosper and continue to grow.
Feb. 19, 2010
Aristotle once said “if
you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development.”
In other words, if you want to know about something, you need to know about
where it started and how it proceeded. This, my friends, is the importance
of history: without the history, you can never really understand something.
History is essential.
West Virginia should know
this more than any other state. We emerged in 1863 from Virginia, brandishing
our banners of freedom and loyalty to the true government of the United
States. We expanded our great state’s ability to succeed as settlers found
a home in the wild terrain of our mountain state.
We are a diverse state of
multiple resources. Our history is sprinkled with brave miners who battled
the hazardous conditions of the inner mountain. It is sprinkled with heroes,
as our neighbors were drafted or voluntarily went to battle in World Wars.
And it is sprinkled with an ever-loving group of citizens, who work together
to educate our children, create communities and enjoy this state.
We would not be able to
appreciate our luscious history if it were not for the men and women who
honor this state by researching and collecting histories. Among those distinguished
persons lie Teresa Harris and Maricia Mlynek of Grantsville, who were recognized
at the History Hero award ceremony held in the Culture Center on February
18. These two women were nominated by the Calhoun County Historical Society,
and have worked tirelessly at preserving West Virginia’s history.
The first step in preserving
history lies with the free press, and the Gilmer County Historical Society
recognized this with their nomination of David Corcoran, Sr., publisher
of the Glenville Democrat and Pathfinder. He was another honorable recipient
of the History Hero award.
I was happy to meet with
these historians and know they will continue to make both me and their
state proud. Due to their impressive dedication, I know that West
Virginia history will never be erased.
Although preserving
history is essential, there would be nothing to preserve if brave men and
women didn’t make it. I was proud to partake in Veteran’s Visibility Day
at the capitol, and even more proud to meet many of the history changing
servicemen who made up that group. Their hard work has made our country
as great as it is, and it is through servicemen like them that our country
will continue to expand.
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My fellow citizens, another wonderful week has passed and I cannot be more
happy. As I watch the legislative process take shape, I know that the gears
we are putting in motion will improve the great state of West Virginia
and have a positive impact on all its citizens.
This week marks the half way point of this legislative session, and although
we have accomplished a lot so far, we still have more work to do. Right
now, I am advocating several bills, most important of which is House Bill
2119.
House Bill 2119 would increase the mandatory age of attendance in school
from 16 to 17. While some think this is a “radical” change, I think it
is the only age that makes sense: kids are more like adults when they are
17, and are therefore more capable of making such a life altering decision
as dropping out of school.
Education is the reason that our country and state is as great as it is,
and it is only by education that it will improve. If we allow children
to stop going to school, we not only hurt their futures, we hurt ourselves.
We shouldn’t shoot ourselves in the foot by destroying our future and limiting
and children’s education.
Furthermore, this bill is important because it takes into account one of
the most popular reasons that children dropout: because they can. Whether
it is from boredom or just a lack of motivation, the opportunity to dropout
invites children to do just that. While many of them could make the necessary
grades, the easier path attracts many and deters them from completing their
education.
While completely advocating this bill, I still think that further measures
need to be made. It is a parent’s responsibility to get their child to
school and therefore, liability for truancy should ultimately fall on the
parents.
Parents have many responsibilities when it comes to children including
feeding them, housing them, and clothing them. If a parent fails in one
of these aspects, it is considered child neglect. If a parent fails to
ensure a child receives an education, that is simply another instance of
neglect, and should be punishable. It is time for parents to stand up for
what’s right.
I was happy to welcome Gilmer County Superintendent John Bennett into my
office this week to discuss this issue. Inherent in Mr. Bennett’s job is
the belief that all children should receive an adequate education, as it
says in the Gilmer County Schools’ mission statement: “Gilmer County Public
Schools will develop lifelong learners who respect themselves and others,
contribute to their community, and succeed in a changing world.”
My door is open to any visitors who want to discuss this or any issue,
and I hope my constituents will take advantage of this ability.
Speaking of visitors, I was happy to meet with West Virginia Farmer’s Bureau
State Vice President Denzel Huff and his wife Rita this week. The Farmer’s
Bureau is an essential organization that never fails in its consistent
and dedicated advocacy to farmers throughout this state. It is through
their hard work that farmers have a strong voice in the capitol, and I
look forward to continuing a relationship with this respectable organization.
I hope that constituents will continue to visit me in the following weeks.
The legislative process, while complicated, is meant to incorporate voters
opinions, and I am more than willing to do just that. Until next time,
stay warm and God bless. 2/12/2010
Paid For By The Candidate
2-11-10