Kelly Allen, the WVCBP’s executive director, issued the following statement in response to Governor Justice’s 2024 State of the State address. Kelly can be reached for further comment at kallen@wvpolicy.org
“Unfortunately, the rosy picture Governor Justice painted tonight is not the reality for many West Virginians in counties all over the state who’ve seen too little public investment while policymakers prioritized taxpayer-funded corporate subsidies and tax cuts that primarily benefited the state’s wealthiest people.
After five years of flat state budgets that drove multiple crises across the state, tonight presented an opportunity for the governor to lead by calling for much-needed investments for children and families to counter years of austerity. Instead, he promised more tax cuts and relied primarily on one-time bandaids to address hunger and other major needs.
We call on lawmakers to reject another austerity budget and oppose more tax cuts tilted towards the state’s wealthiest. Instead they must enact a budget that meets the need Governor Justice acknowledged in our schools, health care system, and for our children.”
