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W.Va. lawmakers OK gas tax relief, other measures

June 28, 2008 @ 10:40 PM

CHARLESTON -- Although an election bill dominated the five-day special session, West Virginia lawmakers didn't spend all their time on that measure as gas tax relief and a host of funding issues came before the legislature.

Prior to the three-day debate on the election bill, the Legislature sent 18 other bills to Governor Manchin for his signature.

Among the most far-reaching was a bill designed to give motorists some relief at the pump. The bill is designed to freeze for one year the state's gas tax at its current rate, postponing a 6 cent-per-gallon increase that was to have taken effect Jan. 1.

Lawmakers also approved $25 million to subsidize optional benefit boost payments for the thousands transferring from the state's 401(k)-style Teachers' Defined Contribution plan to a traditional pension program.

Other bills that passed with little debate set aside funds for everything from school bus fuel costs to greyhound training tracks.