WEIRTON, W. Va. -- In basketball parlance, it was a buzzer-beater.

In the final seconds of this year's West Virginia legislative session, State Senator Ed Bowman convinced lawmakers to offer a one-time tax break to steelworkers who took advantage of Mittal Steel's voluntary buyout offer.

Governor Joe Manchin will sign the bill into law at a ceremony scheduled for Tuesday evening at the Independent Steelworkers' Union hall in Weirton.

The bill would give those steelworkers who agreed to the voluntary termination package a state income tax break of $30,000.

However, the bill offers no relief to Mittal employees who live in neighboring Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Bowman says the union has suggested lawmakers in neighboring states consider passing a similar law.

Bowman says he expects the tax break to have a minimal effect on West Virginia's overall tax revenue.

Eric Minor, NEWS9