IN SEARCH OF BARNEY FIFE

Some years ago, as part of a college English class assignment the class was asked to define late night television and such my assignment meant some self imposed t.v. time. Never one to forgo the extensive hours needed for any research assignment and especially an assignment of such magnitude I quickly found myself engulfed in pop culture to an overwhelming degree. So much so that I could not possibly define television in terms suitable for publication, much less a document suitable for grading.

This being said, and at the prompting of many students the Professor reluctantly allowed a little flexibility within the proposed assignment, allowing many students to narrow their research to an era or even specific genre of television. Pushing the assignment envelope I decided to focus my efforts on the character that best represented the human condition, one character which can be found in each of us . . . so began my unknowing search for Barney Fife.

Whether it is the familiarity with late night television or possibly one who has had the opportunity to experience Andy Griffith and Mayberry in its original time slot, Mayberry is and will always be a household word. Creating a vision of americana which may or may not have existed in reality, but certainly exsisited in the minds and hearts of millions of American’s: offering up a warm familiar feeling with each episode and at times removing us from the uncertainties of daily life. While certainly, the endearing character of each town citizen lent itself well to the daily events within this small rural community; seemingly one well-meaning character with an often square peg personality seemed to perfect a normal fit within a world of circles.

While we accept character as a means to generalize unique personalities, we also seem to identify with personalities that are similar in nature to our own and perhaps a side of our own personality that we would prefer to hide from watchful eyes. Perhaps, a part of our personalities that on the surface appears to be quirky, but to family and friends is often perceived as endearing. Whether it is the fumbling of general daily tasks, or an overzealous mind set to rules and procedures, or just an extreme emotional behavior during heighten times of anxiety, we all to often see a little of ourselves in Barney Fife.

Barney Fife as a character was the all familiar modern day Charlie Chaplin, delivering a clown like performance of apprehensiveness, pathetical, and sincerity all within a multilayered yarn ball of humility. Certainly these character traits cannot go unnoticed when we begin to explore our own multi layered personalities, although abrasive in singularity; yet as a whole, these traits define who we are and just maybe, who we want to be. Episode after episode, Barney, Mr. Knotts, made acceptance of our own human frailties more palatable while allowing us to accept our neighbor’s shortcomings a little easier. In short, just as Barney the character struggled within his own shell of emotions and virtues; so goes the human condition.

TEACHER PAY RAISE PASSES FIRST HURDLE

House Education Committee passes a teacher pay raise bill, effective July 1, 2006 the purpose of this bill is to increase beginning teachers’ salaries. The bill as it leaves the committee provides that no teacher would receive a salary less than the amount prescribed on the applicable state minimum salary schedule for a teacher with three years experience and will progress one step on the experience every year thereafter. Every year thereafter each teacher will advance one step on the experience scale regardless of his or her actual years of experience.

The original intent of the legislation is to aid in recruitment of teachers here in West Virginia and provide up to an additional $2600 for new teaching positions.

Sponsors of the bill include both Delegate Bob Beach-D Monongalia County, Delegate Charlene Marshall-D Monongalia County, and Delegate Mary Poling-D Barbour County.

HALF WAY POINT

As the legislature approaches the 30-day mark, numerous issues have been addressed and referred to the other House for consideration, including priority issues such as personal property tax exemption for farm equipment and livestock, eminent domain legislation limiting the use of eminent domain to obtain private property for private use and economic development activities.

Other issues of interest include a table game referendum. Bottle bill permitting the return of plastic bottles for a 10-cent refund, and the "Metro Government" bill. The later will addressed in further detail in this blog location once it reaches the House. The bill in its current form does not allow for a separate vote for unincorporated and rural areas and must be watched closely. The bottle bill has been a long time in the making. Several versions have been introduced over past six years, having met opposition by both bottlers and various municipalities.

BEHIND THE SCENE

Although members of the House of Delegates have access to computers and can stay current with changes to legislation, the general public and lobbyist visiting the Capitol must still rely on updated hard copies as they become available.

Pictured here, staff replenishes various pieces of legislation on a regular basis. Visitors to the Capitol can get copies of legislation of interest by stopping by the Bill Journal room located off the rotunda in the lower level of the Capitol.

RULE 138 (a)


News Correspondents and Reporters: Any person accorded the privilege of the press gallery or press table must be a news correspondent or reporter for a newspaper, a radio or television station, or of a recognized press association . . . no more than one representative of each shall be admitted to the press table or press gallery at one time.

Members of the media have limited privileges of the floor as seen here, Mannix Porterfield a reporter with the Herald Standard newspaper in Beckley interviews Delegate Ron Thompson-D Raleigh County prior to the floor session, but members of the media may not visit members in their seats during a session of the House. Those members of the media who fail to abide by the rules of the House are subject to revocation of their press credentials and privileges of the floor.

WHAT IS A RESOLUTION?

Resolutions primarily deal with the recognition of an individual, organization, or region of the state, and are typically introduced by the representative(s) of the particular region.

Resolutions of the past have often dealt with recognizing a previous member of the House that has passed and sometimes resolutions are introduced in recognition of an individual or organization that has made a contribution to the community.

Presently, in today’s House, resolutions go well beyond the honorary bridge or highway dedication. In fact, today’s legislature gives more attention to resolutions that are focused on potential economic benefits. Currently introduced, but yet to be considered by the full House is a resolution that deals with dedicating a section of old Rt.19 in Oak Hill WV as the "Hank Williams, Sr. Byway," which will correlate with the opening of the Hank Williams, Sr. museum located in Oak Hill. Local Fayette County officials feel that this may spur destination travel to Oak Hill, especially by fans of the late country music entertainer. ( F.Y.I., the famed musician died in Oak Hill)

My favorite resolution thus far this session is a resolution that recognizes "Bluegrass as the States Official Music." Marketing our states heritage has become the norm in West Virginia rather than the exception, as seen in Gassaway, West Virginia. Whereas, this sleepy little town as begun to promote itself as the bluegrass center of the world establishing the Bluegrass Preservation Society, a 501-c-(3) organization, dedicated to the preservation of bluegrass music. As an extension of the Bluegrass Society one can hear bluegrass music from across the state via radio or pod cast, featuring only West Virginia talent every Sunday morning and Sunday evening.

Also up for consideration is a resolution that recognizes the second Tuesday of May and the second Tuesday of November; election days as "Blood Donor Days" in an attempt to increase blood donor awareness on a very civic minded day as well.

Resolutions can be difficult for constituents to follow, not to mention understanding the process. To learn more about the resolution process and to get a complete copy of the resolutions mentioned here log into the West Virginia Legislative link found on this page.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

When was the last the last time a Speaker was elected from a non leadership position? Never.

THE RACE TO THE PODIUM

Yes, it is true. The Speaker of the House Bob Kiss will step down after nineteen years in the House of Delegates: catching many off guard with his announcement this past weekend.
Long speculated by various groups outside the "beltway" that the Speaker would indeed seek one more term, this oversight on the part of many lobbyists has left many scattering for cover as the race for the next Speaker heats up.

Although considered too early to speculate, there already appears to be an odd on favorite as rumors begin to circulate and as polls begin to populate the web. The outcome will certainly be determined by a long laundry list of scenarios; including whom gets reelected, who steps down to seek other offices in their home communities, and the role lobbyist will play. The later(lobbyist) will certainly play a key role in the outcome, as they have in the past; prompting numerous trades, economic, and environmental organizations to begin polling legislative members in order to predetermine the outcome of this race.

One or two organizations around the State as part of the endorsement process has even added the following to their survey questions. "As candidate for office are you willing to endorse a candidate for Speaker as recommended by this committee?" Please note, that this line of questioning is common, the language has in fact appeared as the last question on most labor surveys for many years.

I would be remised if I failed to mention the importance of the next Speaker of the House.
Hinging on this race is the continued economic growth here in West Virginia, with more than 8100 new jobs created in the past year. Not to mention improved mine safety measures, debt reduction, fresh water through infrastructure legislation, and future pay equity for all state employees; these issues among numerous other issues should not be taken lightly nor can we allow ourselves to reverse the successes of the past.

Above all, the next Speaker must be one of vision, with limited ties to special interest groups, certainly a candidate can be endorsed by numerous organizations, but in the final analysis the Speaker must have strong understanding of all special interest groups with bias toward none

MEMBER PROFILE

Ray Canterbury, Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, 28th District. An internet entrepreneur from Ronceverte, Greenbrier County, Delegate Ray Canterbury has served as a Member of the House of Delegates since first being elected in 2000. The delegate is a member of the West Virginia Farm Bureau, West Virginia Forestry Association, the NRA, the Eastern Greenbrier Jaycees and has recently obtained his real estate license. Delegate Canterbury serves as the Banking Minority Vice-Chair. He currently serves as a member on the Committee on Education, the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Committee on Banking and Insurance.