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West Virginians have read numerous stories about the constitutional amendments awaiting us on the ballot this general election, and our heads are spinning. In fact, for the most part, three of the four amendments are simply efforts to clean up oversights and aberrations in our state Constitution -- and should be approved by Mountain State voters.
Amendment 1, for example, is a judiciary matter that would clarify that no courts have authority over impeachment proceedings and that an impeachment judgment by the state Senate cannot be reviewed by a state court. As Delegate Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, put it, this one is a restoration of the separation of powers that should have been in place all along.
Amendment 3 would bring West Virginia in line with every other state in the nation by allowing the incorporation of religious denominations and churches. Even the ACLU agrees this is necessary. West Virginia's current prohibition of the incorporation of churches or religious denominations "violates the U.S. Constitution. The state must never give preference to any particular religion, and it must never give preference to religion over non-religion. By the same token, it should not be favoring non-religious entities over similar religious entities," the ACLU said.
Again, then, a necessary tidying-up more than anything else.
When it comes to Amendment 4, perhaps you have heard or read the concerns -- but the reality is far tamer. It would require the State Board of Education to submit its rules or policies to the Legislature for approval, amendment or repeal. Our state BOE is now the only state-level body that does not have legislative oversight. This amendment would merely correct that.
Vote for Amendments 1, 3 and 4 -- and plan to hold the Legislature accountable for fair and thoughtful oversight of these additional powers.