Railway Safety Act Must Gather Steam

More than three years after a disastrous derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, Congress has continued to sit on its hands rather than upset its friends in the railroad industry by implementing desperately needed rail safety reform. Well, most of Congress, anyway. A few have repeatedly tried to push change. Most recently, a bipartisan group that includes U.S. Sens. Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno, both, R-Ohio, has introduced the Railway Safety Act of 2026. Buckeye State residents are more concerned about whether he and Moreno can help this bill finally gain the momentum the effort ...

Praying for Change In Steubenville

Editor, News-Register: Steubenville is on the threshold of a historic transformation. Having completed our Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant, our city is now eligible for a $26 million federal Implementation grant. While $26 million is a massive sum, its true power is its ability to act as a magnet. By securing this grant, we unlock a capital stack of state and federal loans and tax credits totaling over $76 million for the North End. With careful stewardship, this investment will turn our vision into reality: 256 new or modernized dwellings. We already possess one of the finest ...

Governor’s Tax Cut Won’t Move Needle

It’s a story common for regions of West Virginia that border Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky. A recent college graduate of West Virginia University lands their first job in Pennsylvania. When it comes to deciding which state is more appealing on the income tax front, the choice is clear: Pennsylvania. The same goes for Ohio and Kentucky. How many professionals work in Wheeling, Parkersburg or Huntington, yet live in Ohio or Kentucky because of a lower personal income tax burden? And now, instead of proposing a meaningful plan to make West Virginia more competitive with its ...

State of the Union: God Bless America

Editor, News-Register: The State of the Union delivered a clear and unmistakable message: America First. When we put our country first, we are at our strongest. President Donald Trump outlined key priorities of the America First agenda — priorities I have been working to advance for years. One of the most important issues raised was the crushing cost of healthcare. As the President said, he is confronting “one of the biggest ripoffs of our times.” I couldn’t agree more. That is why I spent more than two years fighting the healthcare cartel to pass the Hospital Price ...

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 ...

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 ...