A lot of thoughts occurred to me while watching Governor Patrick Morrisey’s initial State of the State address Wednesday night.
First, it was actually a speech. That is a return to the normal way of doing business after eight years of Jim Justice’s annual musings. Justice’s addresses were more like folksy story telling by someone’s uncle… full of hyperbole with the occasional awkward phrase and butchering of the names of invited guests.
Still, Justice’s musings could be reassuring and motivational.
Morrisey’s speech was tightly scripted with anticipated applause lines. It was not unlike his inaugural address just a few weeks ago where he laid out his vision for the state, and that vision was the strongest part of the speech.
Morrisey wants to play to West Virginia’s strength as a state with an abundance of energy that should be vital to the country and the world as the demand for electricity increases. He said, “Let me emphasize, West Virginia has power, and by God, we’re going to use it. We’re going to use every last ounce to fuel our Mountain State comeback.”
But that segues into an issue that Morrisey continues to raise, perhaps at his own political peril. He consistently talks about problems he found when he took office. He used the word “inherited” several times again Wednesday night. He talks often about a projected budget shortfall of $400 million next fiscal year.
He said he will propose a “comeback budget” and will institute fiscal responsibility, while eliminating waste in government and cutting red tape. He and his budget team have said the tax cuts have not been paid for with spending reductions. Just yesterday, Mike McKown from his budget office painted a stark picture about structural problems with the budget over the next six years.
Contrast that with the “rocket ship ride” analysis from former Governor, now U.S. Senator, Jim Justice. But more importantly now, remember the audience Wednesday night—every member of the West Virginia Legislature. They are the ones who approved the tax cuts. They allocate the state’s revenue. Morrisey said he’s not pointing the finger at anyone, but some lawmakers, especially those who have been directly responsible for formulating the budget, can’t be happy with Morrisey’s language.
Being the state’s chief executive is a powerful position, but keep in mind that in West Virginia the governor proposes and the legislature disposes. Morrisey needs the legislature.
Morrisey did get big applause when he talked about conservative social issues and fighting back against what he has called the “woke virus.” West Virginia is hardly a center of ultra liberal ideology or policy, but no doubt we will see this legislature roll out a socially conservative agenda affecting everything from education to health care.
On those issues, Morrisey and the majority of the Republican-controlled legislature will agree.
Morrisey is going to be a very different kind of leader than Justice. The former governor was more of a big picture guy who rarely had the time or the inclination to get into the weeds on issues. Morrisey is detail oriented. That was evident during his time as Attorney General, when he immersed himself in the specifics of his multiple lawsuits.
He is also doggedly determined. How else could a once unknown lawyer from New Jersey come to West Virginia and have the kind of political success that he has enjoyed. He should not be underestimated.
Elections are often about change and a different way of doing things, and Morrisey clearly has very specific ideas of his own that differ from the previous administration. How will it all work out? We will find out together, starting with this session of the legislature.