COMMENTARY
Over the past half year, I’ve taken approximately 4.225 billion steps walking to and from West Virginia’s Capitol to watch negotiations over the state budget.
And over the past few weeks, during my walks, I’ve listened to an audiobook called “Grit.”
The subtitle is “the power of passion and perseverance.” In short, it’s about the mindsets and habits of those who continue to try.
So that leads me to our governor. The saga of the budget finally reached its conclusion yesterday when Jim Justice said he can’t stand it but also can’t stand in its way. The new fiscal year was just too near.
Justice objects to cuts to state programs, particularly higher education. “I really hate this,” the governor said.
It’s hard to fault the governor’s effort to get his way. He offered variation after variation, he led negotiation sessions himself, and he wasn’t bashful about calling out those who disagreed.
But if anything, the governor might need more practice in the finer points of grit.
I don’t just mean trying hard. I don’t just mean doubling down on efforts that get the same result over and over. I mean being self-reflective, assessing what has gone wrong and thinking through how to do better.
Over the past months, Democrats and House Republicans repeatedly demonstrated through their words and their votes that they had genuine concerns about the income tax reductions the governor favored.
They were worried about making those cuts up against current fiscal problems, about how accompanying sales tax increases might affect lower wage earners, and about the potential of blowing holes in future budgets.
I don’t think their concerns were disingenuous, but the governor acted as if they were.
On Wednesday, instead of being introspective about how to achieve a better budget result next year, the governor doubled down on blame of Democrats and House Republicans. He said voters should hold them accountable.
The result was the anger of lawmakers who might normally be the governor’s allies.
The next budget battle is right up around the bend. The 2018 regular session starts in just a little more than six months.
Right now everyone is frustrated. Everyone needs a break.
What will be will be with the 2018 budget. But anyone who wants a different result for the 2019 budget needs to be willing to try a different approach. I have doubts about whether alienating allies is wise.
May Governor Justice have the grit to adjust.