The formal changing of the guard in West Virginia’s Congressional delegation took place this week in Washington with the “swearing-in” of U.S. Senator Shelley Capito (R-WV), incumbent Congressman David McKinley (R-1st District) and freshmen Congressmen Evan Jenkins (R-3rd District) and Alex Mooney (R-2nd District). Capito is the first woman ever to be elected to the U.S. Senate from West Virginia and the first Republican in more than 50 years.
Senator Capito says energy is her number one priority in the upcoming Senate session, with a new health care bill coming in at a close second. She is already on the job, quickly being named to the elite leadership team of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as being one of his four counsel members. The other Republican senators appointed as counsel are Rob Portman of Ohio, Deb Fischer of Nebraska and Mike Lee of Utah. The release says the four senators will offer input, guidance and advice to the Republican leadership, placing them in key positions to influence policy.
Here in Charleston, the week also marked major change at the Legislature, with the new GOP leadership team settling into their new roles as we approach the start of the 2015 Session next Wednesday. Senate President-elect Bill Cole and House Speaker-elect Tim Armstead firmed up their leadership teams and committee assignments. Look for the full list of House Committee assignments at the end of this email.