Following days of speculation and criticism from state Democrats, officials announced Friday that Gov. Jim Justice will not call on the West Virginia State Legislature to convene for a special session allow an “economic opportunity” for southern West Virginia. According to a statement released from the Office of the Governor, the special session was initially planned to change the West Virginia State Code for a company that could have boosted the economic standing of the coalfield region.
There was a stipulation that Justice put forth that the business must have a positive impact on the thermal coal industry in the area. Eyewitness News said, due to this stipulation, the special session was not called with the governor’s office stating it would wait until the regular session and new legislature convened. The exact details of the “economic opportunity” and the businesses and corporations involved have not been released. More information will likely come when the new legislature meets when the regular session kicks off on Feb. 12.