Listen to “School Clothing Program Has Cost Morrisey Some Trust” on Spreaker.
Perhaps surprisingly to some, trust is a valuable commodity in politics.
Difficult to earn. Easy to lose. Absolutely essential for success.
Governor Morrisey’s trust account has been heavily debited of late it seems. And why wouldn’t lawmakers begin withdrawing their trust?
The state’s School Clothing Allowance Program opened late, leaving many legislators confused and frustrated. Several appeared on Talkline to air their grievances. The administration offered no substantive explanation, even though lawmakers had appropriated money for the program in a budget the governor agreed to and signed months earlier.
Yes, the governor held a press conference — one devoid of detailed financial figures or forecasts available for public scrutiny — during which he broadly warned of a structural deficit facing TANF-funded programs.
That warning is difficult to take seriously without the data to support it.
By the administration’s own account, however, that deficit is still 13 months away. It is ground that should be plowed, certainly, but during budget hearings next session. If the situation is more urgent, why wasn’t it raised during the previous session as part of the budget process?
Yes, a budget is a roadmap, and the cash must materialize. But Washington has not reduced West Virginia’s TANF block grant. It may well do so later. Again, though, by the administration’s own reckoning, the program has enough money to continue for another 13 months — leaving ample time for appropriate budgeting.
Now, the administration has stopped accepting applications after just seven days, saying the available money was fully allocated.
Yes, the original announcement warned that applications would remain open only until August 15 or until available funds were exhausted. Technically, then, the administration can argue that the program operated as announced.
But that counterargument misses the larger point.
How did a program intended to serve West Virginia families during the back-to-school season exhaust its funding in a single week? Has that happened before? Were more applications approved than in previous years? Did eligibility requirements, participation levels or benefit amounts change? How much money was available? How much was obligated? And how do those figures compare with prior years?
The administration has provided no detailed reconciliation for public examination, making those questions impossible to answer.
Until it does, “the money ran out” is not an adequate explanation. It is merely an assertion — and one lawmakers and the public should not be expected to accept on trust.
Nothing publicly presented so far justifies the situation — particularly while surplus funds remain available and no federal funding reduction has taken effect.
So, what is the governor’s motive?
Unknown.
But absent a credible fiscal explanation, this feels less like necessity and more like an executive disregarding the expressed will of the Legislature. Is it punitive in aim?
Also unknown.
This much is certain: When preparing next year’s budget, the Legislature should consider tighter controls, including placing clearer spending mandates in state law where appropriate to ensure appropriated funds are actually dispensed as intended.
Lawmakers should also once again work judiciously to pass the budget well before the close of the session. Doing so would preserve their ability to override any questionable line-item reductions made by the governor.
If that happens, the governor can thank himself.
Meanwhile, if the situation is so urgent that it merits deviating from the Legislature’s expressed intent, the burden of proof rests with the governor.
Until he meets it, the program should reopen without delay.