As teachers roar, GOP fails to expedite education plan

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Senate Republicans have failed at their bid to fast-track a broad-based education proposal that would allow the state’s first charter schools.

Senators reconvened Saturday for their special legislative session on education.

Lawmakers quickly voted down efforts to let the sweeping GOP plan pass, as well as a separate bill to create education vouchers.

Republican Senate President Mitch Carmichael has been pushing for the measures to circumvent a state Constitutional rule requiring bills to be read over three days. His wide-ranging education bill also includes a teacher pay raise and mental health services for students.

Democrats say the GOP proposals are a repeat of a bill that spurred a two-day teacher strike in the state in February.

Dozens of teachers protested outside the Senate chamber as lawmakers met.