Wheeling Intelligencer, News Register - The U.S. Tax Foundation ranks West Virginia 18th in its State Business Tax Climate Index. Read.
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Yesterday, the Tax Foundation released its 2017 State Business Tax Climate Index (SBTCI) that purports to show that West Virginia now has the 18th-best state business tax climate in the country, ranking better than any of our surrounding states. Policymakers and others should exercise caution in drawing any positive conclusions from the report since the…
In 2012, SB 532/HB 4387 was introduced requiring all West Virginia voters to present official government-issued photo identification in order to vote. The Voter ID law was reintroduced for the 2013 legislative session (SB 13/HB 2215). Based on national data and the experiences of other states, it is estimated that the implementation costs of a…
Beckley Register-Herald - State officials, grappling with a budget deficit for the third year in a row and foreseeing at least two more years of lagging revenues, are looking for answers. Depending on which side of the political aisle is promoting the solution, those answers vary. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's 2017 budget has a mixture…
Poor oral health is widespread in West Virginia. It significantly affects the employability of our workforce, contributes to higher emergency room utilization, and is often both an indicator of and a contributor to other chronic health conditions. According to a 2014 report, only 40 percent of West Virginians have dental insurance.[1] While Medicaid expansion has…
Charleston Daily Mail - The headlines and misinformation about Obamacare have left many people confused about the law and what they have to do it comply with it. Read To help clear the air, let's review some of the most common questions people have about Obamacare. Do I have to sign up for Obamacare? No.…
Beckley Register-Herald - On November 8, voters will have several constitutional amendments on the ballot spanning a wide range of issues. Most of them are controversial, but Amendment 2 is particularly concerning to many groups and organizations. Read the full article. Amendment 2, dubbed the Property Tax Modernization Amendment, gives the Legislature power to eliminate…
Today the Governor officially ordered Workforce WV to begin drug testing those enrolled in job training programs (see below press release). What was not mentioned was that these programs are completely funded by federal dollars and that they mostly go to the "disadvantaged and at-risk youth, adults, and dislocated workers." However, the big question is…
West Virginia Press Association - West Virginia lawmakers and economic researchers discussed the state's revenue crisis and possible plans to balance the budget during the Friday, Feb. 3 2017 AP Legislative Lookahead. Read.
The Martinsburg Journal recently ran a letter to the editor titled "Systemic racism does not exist." A member of our team, Quenton, responded, and his words struck a chord with one of the outlet's staff writers as he grappled with the recent murder of Jacob Blake. He reached out to Quenton to discuss both his…