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New West Virginia House of Delegates member Charles Sheedy aims to help fellow seniors and veterans as the 2023 legislative session gets underway today.
He admits to being excited to get started.
"I think we will get a lot of good things this year," he said.
Sheedy, R-Marshall, spent 37½ years as a member of the Army National Guard and Reserve, and he has realized a benefit in West Virginia veterans once received. He plans to introduce legislation that would make the first $5,000 a veteran earns tax-exempt.
"It was a bonus we had in the '80s and '90s, and we need to get that back," Sheedy said.
As West Virginia continues to experience a budget surplus, he added he has been reviewing the state budget so far as what is received and what is about to be spent.
"I believe we are (in good shape)," he said.
Sheedy said the rest of the House wants to work on tax reform.
He indicated he will push to give senior citizens a tax exemption on the first $50,000 they receive each year through pensions or Social Security.
"Senior citizens... would not be taxed until they hit that $50,000 benchmark," Sheedy said. "That would be a substantial tax cut as far as senior citizens go."
Sheedy has indicated to House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, that he wants to serve on the following committees: military affairs, veterans affairs, transportation and infrastructure.
"I definitely want our roads fixed," he added. "It's a big issue. I'm looking at a few things we can do.
"Cameron and Hundred need help. The smaller communities are having a harder time. They're just getting by, and there are some things we could do that would help them."
Sheedy is also retired from the West Virginia Department of Highways, where he worked for 30 years. He started there as an equipment operator, then retired as Marshall County administrator for the DOH.