Senator Kessler (Mr. President) assumed the Chair and addressed the Senate as follows:

I’ll keep these remarks very short and sweet. I want to thank you, first of all, each and every one of you, for the confidence shown in me in electing me to this position.

I recognize that we’re in unchartered waters and historical times and areas and places as a body that we haven’t faced for 150 years. But, as I look above me and I see that clock, I’m reminded that it is always moving forward. If the clock doesn’t work right, we start working backwards.

A lot of things have happened over the past few months–some of them have been boisterous and cantankerous but those are all behind us. The good Lord had the wisdom to put the eyes in front of our heads rather than the back. He wanted us to look forward, not behind us. As we move forward in this Senate, we have an opportunity to do big things and good things–perhaps, even great things. You know the time now for elections is over–the time to govern is now. I suggest that we have an opportunity before us to not only do good things but to do great things.

As a young man going away to college, I remember putting a little motto on my desk of my room in my dorm that I looked at from time to time and it had a quote from Thomas Jefferson. It stuck with me and stayed with me. Thomas Jefferson said, “With slight efforts, to expect great results is not only foolish it is impossible”.

We have the ability and we have the opportunity, ladies and gentlemen of this Senate, to not only do good things but to do great things. But it will require a great effort by each of us to reach out to each other across the aisle, to each of our colleagues, to put the bickering and the fighting, and the differences that may have divided us behind us.

We have an opportunity to move this state forward and we will. And while I may be the Acting President, my tenure here, and yours, won’t be governed by the title upon this podium it will be by the acts of the Legislature that we adopt and pass. That’s what the people of this state will remember–the good work, perhaps, even the great work that we do.

That is our challenge. That is our opportunity. Clearly, we have change. There is change around us with the death of Senator Byrd but we have capable, competent and excellent leaders in this Senate and each and every one of you can seize the moment to do great things. I’m tired of being last and I know you are as well.

The challenge I have to you, and I extend to you, is the commitment that we will make jointly to do great things for West Virginia to start us on a chart and start us on a path to working with our Governor and working with our colleagues across the hall.

These days will be remembered not by the debate that occurred here between noon and 2:00 but by the wonderful work that we do in this Senate and in this Legislature to take this state to places it’s never dreamed of going before. That’s our vision. That’s our challenge. That’s our destination. I need your help and with it we will get there because I think you will agree with me there is no other acceptable destination.

So with that, I’m prepared to lead the Eightieth Senate in the State of West Virginia to the best of my abilities working with each and everyone of you to do great things.

The Senate passed a resolution and introduced 18 bills during a brief late morning floor session.

They passed Senate Resolution 5,which recognizes the accomplishments of Henry Gassaway Davis.

Following that the senate introduced 18 bills. A sampling of those include Senate Bill 74, which would provide a one-time supplement to certain retired teachers, Senate Bill 77, which would create medication therapy management services program for Medicaid recipients and Senate Bill 83, which would limit landowner’s liability for injuries occurring on property while hunting.

The Senate also dealt with House Bill 2001, which the House passed yesterday. The bill would provide that inmates serving life sentences shall be considered for parole only once every three years. The measure will now head to the Senate Judiciary Committee for further consideration.

The following Senate committees will meet today:
Judiciary – 3:00 p.m. – 208W
Education – 1:00 p.m. – 451M
Finance – 3:00 p.m. – 451M
Gov. Organization – 1:30 p.m. – 208W
Energy, Industry & Mining – 2:00 p.m. – 208W
Health & Human Resources – 1:40 p.m. – 451M
Economic Development – 2:00 p.m. – 451M
Banking & Insurance – 1:00 p.m. – 208W
Military – 2:40 p.m. – 208W
Pensions -1:00 p.m. – President’s Conference Room
Labor – 2:20 p.m. -208W
Agriculture -2:20 p.m. – 451M
Interstate Cooperation – 2:40 p.m. -451M
Natural Resources – 1:40 p.m. – 208W
Transportation & Infrastructure – 2:20 p.m – 451M

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.

Following the Governor’s State of the State address in the House Chamber, both the House and Senate reconvened briefly in their respective chambers to receive and introduce the Budget Bill.

Both will reconvene tomorrow, January 13, at 11 a.m.

The West Virginia Senate convened the First Regular Session of the 80th Legislature today at Noon.

The first order of business was to establish the rules by which the Senate operates. After much debate, the Senate passed Senate Resolution 1, which contained a provision for electing an Acting Senate President.

After electing Earl Ray Tomblin Senate President (he will continue to act as Governor) the Senate then elected Jeffrey V. Kessler to serve as Acting Senate President for the 2011 Regular Session.

The Senate then re-elected Darrell Holmes as Senate Clerk, Howard Wellman as Sergeant at Arms and Tony Gallo as Doorkeeper.

The afternoon floor session concluded with the introduction of 69 bills that were then referred to various committees.

The Senate will reconvene at 6:45 p.m. tonight.

Senate Finance will meet Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 3 p.m. in Room 451M.