CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — The State of West Virginia will definitely have a special session of the legislature next month, according to Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV).

The governor says the state does not have to give more than $300 million back to the federal government in a so-called, “clawback.”

The U.S. Department of Education says the expenditure of federal dollars for schools in West Virginia was indeed appropriate.

Now, the governor says that focus will turn to eleven million dollars that were cut from the IDD waivers, to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Those cuts led to protests.

“Where we need to concentrate right off the get-go, is to restore the dollars that we pulled out of the budget to DHHR. You know, for the most needy of our people and everything. I don’t have a clue in the world, we didn’t need to do that and everything,” said Gov. Jim Justice, (R) West Virginia.

The IDD waivers are used to help families pay for “in-home care” for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so they don’t have to be institutionalized. The special session is likely to coincide with the May legislative interim committee meetings, which are scheduled for May 19 through 21.

So far, the governor has not said if any other issues will be on the call for the special session.
Key Democrats want the state to focus on some other financial issues.