Monday’s
Veterans’ Visibility Day turned out to be a positive in more ways that one for
the veterans who journeyed through the snow to the state capitol when the House
of Delegates approved an amendment to a bill providing funding for construction
projects that benefit veterans.
“It’s about
time we put our money where our mouth is at,” Delegate Isaac Sponaugle
(D-Pendleton) said in proposing the amendment. “We come down here and give out
resolutions, we can say all of these different items on the floor, but at the
end of the day where you put you money is where you put your priorities.”
The amendment
was made to a bill introduced by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin that reduces from $40
million to $30 million the amount of Lottery money that goes to the state
Infrastructure fund. Sponaugle said it was time for projects that benefit
veterans to get some of that construction money. His amendment would take $1.5
million from the remaining $30 million.
Many
delegates joined with Sponaugle including Delegate Nancy Guthrie (D-Kanawha).
“On this day
we should be more about trying to serve those who are coming back and less
about clapping for them,” she said.
The move
would have to survive the Senate and the governor’s review before it would
become law.
