Congresswoman Capito Holds Hearing on Reform Efforts Today in Washington, DC

Charleston, WV (February 17, 2011) – The West Virginia Oil Marketers and Grocers Association (OMEGA), representing the state’s petroleum marketers, convenience stores and independent grocers, urges Congress to ensure the implementation of credit card swipe fee reform by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

The House Financial Services, Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee, chaired by Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, held a congressional hearing today in Washington, DC to review the reforms passed by Congress last May.  The hearing is the result of an aggressive campaign waged by Visa, MasterCard and the big banks to reopen this issue and undermine the reforms.

The committee substitute for SB  362 - Increasing excise tax on all tobacco products passed in Senate Health today.  The committee substitute did not change the tax rate but changed where the revenue goes.  It has $50 million going to OPEB, $40 million to Medicaid, and the balance into tobacco programs, oral health, substance abuse, home health and other areas. The fiscal note on the bill states the revenue from the tax is $130 million.  It will now go to the Finance Committee.

It could be taken up as early as Monday.  Please call your Senators regarding your opposition to this tax.

Members of this committee are:

SB 362 - Increasing excise tax on all tobacco products is on the Senate Health & Human Resources Committee agenda tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.

The purpose of the bill is to increase the excise tax on cigarettes by $1.00 per pack; The bill increases the excise tax on all other tobacco products from seven percent of their wholesale prices to fifty percent.

If you do business in a border county and have a senator on this committee, you need to call them and let them know what this tax will do to your business.

Members of this committee are:

Senator Ron Stollings, Chairman         (304) 357-7939

Senator Dan Foster, Vice Chairman      (304) 357-7866

Senator TrumanChafin                        (304) 357-7808

Senator Evan Jenkins                          (304) 357-7956

Senator William Laird                          (304) 357-7849

Senator Ron Miller                               (304) 357-7959

Senator Corey Palumbo                        (304) 357-7880

Senator Roman Prezioso                       (304) 357-7961

Senator Greg Tucker                             (304) 357-7906

Senator Mark Wills                               (304) 357-7843

Senator Jack Yost                                (304) 357-7984

Senator Donna Boley                            (304) 357-7905

U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) announced that West Virginia will be the first location in a series of national field hearings and public forums on pending major federal surface transportation legislation.

The event will begin Monday, February 14, at 8:00 a.m. at The Theater at Tamarack, located at One Tamarack Place in Beckley, WV.

Following the hearing in Beckley, a listening session will begin at 11:00 am at Yeager Airport in Charleston.  The hearing will be in the airport’s Conference Room on the 2nd floor. There will be 7 people on the panel as well as W.Va. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito and Rep. Mica. The session will go until noon when they will have to get on a plane and go back to DC.

The discussions will focus on the future of the highway trust fund, and improving ways in which our nation finances roads. There will be a chance to submit reports for the record, and - if there is enough time - a question and answer session with the public.