The possible next majority leader
in the state Senate calls it a new day for West Virginia
“I’m just thrilled that the people of West Virginia , and America
He was a guest on Friday’s
MetroNews “Talkline” to talk about what’s next now that Republicans have the
edge over Democrats in the state Senate, 18-16, for the first time since 1933.
Carmicheal said he expects Sen.
Bill Cole (R-Mercer, 06) to be chosen to serve as Senate President when the
Senate Republicans meet in caucus in December ahead of the start of the 2015
Regular Legislative Session on Jan. 14.
According to Carmichael ,
Sen. Mike Hall (R-Putnam, 04) would likely be appointed to serve as chair of
the powerful Senate Finance Committee, while he – Carmichael – would take the
majority leader’s position.
As for the Senate Judiciary
Committee and the Senate Education Committee, Carmichael
said possible chairs included Sen. Clark Barnes (R-Randolph, 11) and
Senator-Elect Charles Trump who will represent a portion of the Eastern
Panhandle.
Trump, who was elected on Nov. 4,
served in the state House of Delegates from 1992-2006 and was House Minority
Leader for eight of those years.
After the results came in on
Tuesday night, Republicans had won enough state Senate seats to bring the
Senate to a tie 17-17.
On Wednesday, Sen. Dan Hall
(R-Wyoming, 09) switched his registration from the Democrat Party to the
Republican Party bringing the number to 18.
