Regular observers of the West Virginia legislature are seldom surprised when opposition to a proposed bill arises.
In most cases, no matter the bill's subject matter, a constituency of voters exists who legislators feel would not want them to pass the bill. Thus, when most bills are introduced, it is not difficult to predict they will draw some opposition. It is usually not too tough to figure where the opposition will come from.
If a legislator introduces a bill to cut the weight limit permitted on coal trucks, for example, coalfield legislators will be expected to oppose that bill. If a senator offers a bill that would harm unions, legislators from union-dominated areas will fight it.
As noted, that's how things normally work.
But for two consecutive years, opposition has a arisen to a bill that, as far as we can see, should have no organized opponents.
The bill that has become known as Haven's Bill would do just one thing: make the punishment tougher for those who pass stopped school buses and injure children.
The bill is named in honor of Haven McCarthy, the Lincoln County elementary school student who died after being hit by a car while she was exiting her bus. The bus had lights on and stop signs out, yet the youngster was struck and killed.
Upon attempting to prosecute the driver who killed the little girl, family members and prosecutors learned that West Virginia law provides little by way of penalty for such. In this case, the driver was given one year of probation.
So, Haven's family members worked with legislators to draft a bill making the penalties more severe. Most assumed it would be approved last year.
But a powerful state senator -- Robert Plymale of Wayne County -- is opposed to the bill. With no organized opposition from outside the legislature, Plymale kept the bill bottled up in his education committee. This year, he has thrown up more roadblocks.
Who is Plymale representing? Drivers who ignore school bus safety? We doubt if that is a majority of the voters in his district.
Rumors fly that Plymale opposes the bill because one of its sponsors might run against him for state senate in the future. If so, how illogical and petty is that?
All of Lincoln County's legislators support the bill. So, we think, do a majority of fair-minded people. We urge Plymale to drop his opposition and help this bill become law.
