CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jim Justice wants to see more treatment facilities as a key step to solving the Mountain State’s drug epidemic, but admitted he has no specific idea to fund them if he becomes West Virginia’s next governor.
Justice suggested the use of federal or state money, and offered the possibility that treatment facilities could be self-sustaining. Regardless of the source of the funding, he said there had to be a way to add more treatment options.
“I mean, if there is no money, we have to find the money, because this situation is absolutely cannibalizing” The Greenbrier owner said speaking at a roundtable in Charleston Tuesday attended by social workers. “Can I tell you specifically today where the pot of gold is that we can get to build these facilities? I can’t. I can’t do that. But we’ve got to find it.”
Justice picked up an endorsement from the West Virginia branch of the National Association of Social Workers, and answered questions at Tuesday’s event at the Holiday Inn. He said there’s many different possibilities to fund more rehab centers and facilities that he would explore.
“There’s the possibility of some form of temporary bridging. There’s the possibility of out-of-state investors,” he said. “You’ve never had a Jim Justice that can go and talk to out-of-state investors and really bring in real dollars. That’s what I do guys–I’m a marketer.”
Giving up because of West Virginia’s economic hardship, Justice said, was not an option.
“The worst answer in the world for the state of West Virginia is real simple; it’s just this: ‘we don’t have any money, there’s nothing we can do, turn of the lights.’ I mean, I don’t quit with that.”
Justice criticized his gubernatorial opponent, GOP nominee and Sen. President Bill Cole for what he saw as a lack of leadership in his tenure, and for sponsoring cuts to drug treatment.
“Think about if I was the president of the Senate, in Bill Cole’s capacity, and had the House and the Senate and couldn’t even pass a budget. And then ended up throwing away $600,000 of your money. It’s totally ridiculous. It’s no leadership and no vision.”
Cole responded in a statement to Justice’s accusation, contending that he had done his job during the Special Budget Session and had a more detailed plan on the drug crisis.
“Bill Cole voted for a responsible and balanced budget in the midst of a $250 million budget deficit. That is why he outlined a plan to combat the state’s drug epidemic that would better utilize existing federal dollars and seek new untapped SAMSHA grants to help West Virginia address its drug problem,” his campaign spokesman Kent Gates said in a release. “Jim Justice today proposed even more state spending with no real plan to pay for it other than his risky plan to borrow money from Wall Street and create Washington-style budget deficits.”
Justice maintained that while his policies may not be specific, his actions speak louder than his words.
“Look at my deeds. Look at what I have done. And when have I told you that I would do something that I didn’t do,” said Justice. “Please somebody come up and tell me what Jim Justice has ever said he would do that he didn’t pull off.”
Three weeks ago, Cole released a seven-point drug addiction action plan aiming to ensure treatment and to crack down on drug dealers.