CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Kanawha County delegate sees only one priority issue heading into the 2016 Regular Legislative Session.
“I think everybody’s priority needs to be addressing the budget issues the state is having right now,” Del. Mike Pushkin (D-Kanawha, 37) told 580-WCHS.
The 60-day session opens at 12 p.m. Wednesday with West Virginia facing a projected $353 million budget shortfall this year that has the potential to get larger.
As for possible ways to address that shortfall, “I am open to all options as long as we’re not going to balance the budget on the backs of those who can least afford it, the most vulnerable members of our society — children, seniors, people with disabilities, retirees,” Pushkin said.
A taxi driver and musician, Pushkin was first elected to the House in 2014. He won, he said, by knocking on doors in the 37th District and told 580-WCHS he planned to do the same for the 2016 elections.
He officially filed for re-election earlier this week.
“The best part of running is going out there and talking to the people I wish to represent,” Pushkin said.
First, though, Pushkin will be focused on the issues the Legislature takes up between now and March. “I appreciate the vote of confidence I got last time. I want to get back to work as soon as possible and do what we have to do to fix some of the problems the state has right now,” he said.
As of Tuesday morning, Pushkin was the only candidate who had filed to run in the 37th District which includes a large section of the Capital City.
The candidate filing period continues through Jan. 30.