Pay raise clash may set tone for WV House - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

Pay raise clash may set tone for WV House

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - At least some House Republicans hope their failure to block proposed magistrate court pay raises will pay off in the next election.

The party-line vote tested the GOP's newfound strength in the House. The bill passed 53-45 after more than 90 minutes of debate. Just one Republican delegate supported the measure.

Its passage followed an earlier GOP-led effort to derail it. Democrats accused Republicans during both debates of hypocrisy and grandstanding. But GOP delegates believe that voters will take note of these and other party-line clashes as the session continues.

One Republican freshman says that allied groups contacted more than 40,000 voters in advance of the bill's passage Wednesday. The contacts are part of a plan focused on the 2014 elections, to build on November's 11-seat GOP House gain.

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