Tax Cutters Urge WV to ‘Go Big’

Governor Jim Justice’s tax reform roundtable Monday was an enthusiastic pep rally for tax cuts. Justice brought in two of the country’s leading tax cut advocates—Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist and Heritage Foundation distinguished fellow in economics Stephen Moore—as the big names on the panel. Norquist and Moore want West Virginia to join

Chaos in the Classroom

The problem of students misbehaving in the classroom is as old as school itself.  However, disruptive student behavior has gotten worse. A national survey by the American Psychological Association released last year found that one in three teachers reported at least one incident of verbal harassment or threatening behavior from a student, while one in

Why is Congress Cheering?

During the State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Biden said, “some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to sunset.” That prompted cries of “no” from GOP members of the Senate and House. Biden then responded, “As we all apparently agree, Social Security, Medicare is (sic) off the books now.” That comment triggered a

Senate Plan Means Tax Cut Talks Can Begin in Earnest

Last week I wrote that Governor Justice, Senate and House leaders needed to get together to begin serious negotiations on a tax reduction plan. In fairness, at that time the only plan was the one proposed by the Governor and passed by the House, so there wasn’t much to negotiate without the Senate’s proposal. But

West Virginia as a Risk Capital Investor

For years, we have heard the question asked in West Virginia: What is the state doing to improve and diversify its economy? The question is rooted in the complaint that the state’s economy is tied too tightly to extraction industries. State leaders have heard that question as well. However, when they see what they believe

Short Break

I’m off for a few days.  Dave Wilson is filling in on Talkline.  I’ll return to the show Tuesday.  The commentary returns on Wednesday. Best, Hop

How Justice and Senate Republicans Get to Yes

Governor Jim Justice wants to negotiate. The West Virginia Governor said on Talkline Wednesday that he is ready and willing to try to get a deal with Senate Republicans on a tax cut plan, and that willingness includes giving ground. “We’d absolutely compromise,” Justice said. Justice wants to cut the state income tax by 50

WV Republicans and the Peril of One-Party Rule

For generations, West Virginia Republicans complained about the one-party rule of the Democrats. The tables have turned now and power in Charleston rests with the GOP. Their super-majorities in the West Virginia Legislature have empowered Republicans to do pretty much whatever they want. And that “to do” list has grown long on cultural issues. For example:

Bill Would Open High School Sports Transfer Portal

The West Virginia State Senate has approved and sent to the House of Delegates a bill that would significantly expand the ability of high school athletes to transfer between schools. SB 262 would allow an athlete to transfer to a new school one time without losing any eligibility. “I think it’s very important that we provide

Correctional Officers are Prisoners to Poor Pay

The shortage of correctional officers for West Virginia’s prisons, regional jails, juvenile centers and work-release locations has reached historic levels. About one-third of the positions at the facilities are unfilled, with vacancy rates much higher in the eastern panhandle. Newly appointed Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation Commissioner Billy Marshall told lawmakers last week, “Those numbers

Abortion Issue Returns in WV

Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling, struck down the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion and sent the issue back to the states. Just three months later, the West Virginia Legislature passed a law prohibiting abortions, except in very limited circumstances. But that was not the end of the story. The Court’s decision

Can Steve Williams Give WV Democrats Hope?

Steve Williams talks like a man who is running for Governor. The Huntington Mayor told me in a text recently, “It’s on the table for active consideration.”  That is cautious, but later in an interview with me he sounded like he is running, citing the fact that after three terms he is prohibited from running

The Jim Justice Traveling Tax Cut Show is Coming to a City Near You

The Jim Justice Road Show is back. The Governor will be traveling across the state starting today pushing his proposed 50 percent reduction in the state personal income tax rates. The first stop is in Parkersburg today, followed by Beckley on Thursday and Wheeling on Friday. The plan passed the House of Delegates last week

WV Legislators Making Unemployment Benefit Changes

West Virginia legislators are trying once again to make long overdue improvements to the state’s unemployment benefits program. The Senate on Monday passed and sent to the House SB 59 that makes significant changes at Workforce West Virginia, which administers the program. The bill mirrors legislation that passed the Senate last year, but then failed

Sex, Gender, Surgery and the West Virginia Legislature

The West Virginia House of Delegates Health and Human Resources Committee has approved a bill  (HB 2007) that would prohibit physicians from performing “gender reassignment surgery” on anyone under 18. Those are medical procedures that help individuals physically transition (or affirm) to their self-identified gender. The Associated Press reported the bill passed “after little discussion.”

Legislators Tackle the Basics in Public Ed

One of the reasons why West Virginia public school test scores are so dismal is that too many children do not read well. Reading with understanding is critical to achievement in all subjects, and if children are not able to read to learn by the 4th grade, they will fall behind.  The National Assessment of

Campus Gun Bill Advances in Senate

Campus carry is back. The Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced SB 10, the Campus Self-Defense Act with only minimal opposition, and now it goes to the full Senate.  The bill would allow individuals who possess a concealed carry permit to have a pistol or handgun on college campuses in the state.  Individuals must be at

Midweek Musings

Some Midweek Musings: Tax Tussle: The House of Delegates has Governor Justice’s bill proposing a 50 percent reduction in the state income tax rates over three years up for third reading with the right to amend today.  Expect Democrats to try to modify the bill, but with only 12 members, the chances are slim there

Justice’s Tax Plan Faces Senate Challenge

Governor Justice likes to make a big splash. That is evident yet again with his proposal to cut the state income tax in half. Specifically, Justice wants to reduce each of the rates by 30 percent the first year and then ten percent each of the next two years to reach a 50 percent reduction

Who Fired Larry Harrison and Why?

  The announcement last Thursday from the WVU Athletic Department that it was “parting ways” with long-time basketball associate head coach Larry Harrison was a shocker. Harrison and head coach Bob Huggins had been together since the Cincinnati days, 24 seasons in all. Harrison had become integral to the Huggins’ staff. He made key decisions