Local Columns

West Virginia Now Finds Itself at a Real Crossroads

The legislative session is nearly over and very little has been accomplished by the state Senate that would help move the state forward. The House of Delegates has been working through a package of economic development bills that would help to attract new job creators to our state. Gov. Morrisey has proposed a state budget with a 5% income tax cut. Meanwhile, the state Senate continues to focus on legislation that is not likely to help our state prosper. West Virginia continues to have the lowest workforce participation rate in the country. There have been no significant job ...

Protecting America: Threat of Foreign Influence and Regulatory Barriers

Despite the clear benefits, opposition — often influenced by foreign interests — continues to threaten progress even in our small, rural West Virginia communities. Burdensome regulations and meritless lawsuits are being weaponized to delay development and investment, undermining our state’s future and risking America’s national security. These tactics stall responsible projects, discourage investors, and leave our communities exposed to economic instability and lost tax revenue to support for schools, first responders and other community needs. It’s time we recognize ...

Gambling on Hope

Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but on first glance it sure seems like both the Senate and House Finance Committees are sending messages to Gov. Patrick Morrisey. Perhaps the message is this: You can have a 10% personal income tax cut, or you can have the Hope Scholarship educational voucher program, but to have one, you’re going to have to accept changes to the other. Morrisey’s general revenue budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 beginning July 1 is $5.493 billion, which is roughly 3.2% more than he proposed last year and the Legislature passed for the current fiscal ...

Remembering the Words of the Late Rev. Jesse Jackson

The month of February is known as Black History Month. We believe that all cultures should be celebrated. Red, yellow, black and white, we are all precious in God’s sight. We once had a speaker come to the Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Day Celebration in Wheeling, WV. and said, “America is considered the great melting pot, and that is a problem!” We were shocked to hear him say it. We waited for the explanation, which I was surprised to hear. “If we are the great melting pot, that means we lose our original flavor, looks, etc., and melted into something totally new, with all our ...

Democrats Turn Backs on DHS, ICE When We Need Them Most

As the debate over the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill continues, one truth is becoming increasingly clear: Democrats are refusing to stand with the very law enforcement officers tasked with protecting our communities. Instead of supporting DHS and ICE in carrying out their mission, they are pursuing a dangerous crusade to weaken enforcement and undermine the rule of law. My Democratic colleagues are attempting to strip DHS enforcement authority, diminish operational capacity, and restrict cooperation with state and local law enforcement. At a time when border ...

It’s All Downhill From Here

Thursday marked day 30, the halfway mark of the 60-day annual legislative session. It’s all downhill from now to midnight on Saturday, March 14, when the regular session adjourns sine die. At the beginning of the session, I had a hard time predicting whether this session would be a flurry of action or be slow, but it appears slow and steady wins the race. That’s not terribly surprising given that this is a midterm election year. Lawmakers want to do enough to look like they’re doing something, while also not doing things to avoid rocking the boat. The House of Delegates has ...