Blog

May 27, 2025 by Sara Whitaker
Court Watch: There is Always Money for Jails and Prisons, but Not for Lawyers

At the end of 2024, Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Maryclaire Akers made a notable request to local lawyers. In a message circulated by the West Virginia State Bar, Judge Akers described a “crisis” brewing in Kanawha County courtrooms: there were not enough lawyers willing to accept court appointments. In tens of thousands of cases…

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May 15, 2025 by Rhonda Rogombe
Health Policy, the Social Safety Net, and the 2025 Legislative Session

State lawmakers and Governor Patrick Morrisey touted improving health as a major priority during the 2025 state legislative session. But while several themes emerged that will be highlighted in this piece, legislation that would have significantly moved the needle on health failed to pass. At the same time, many policy proposals are happening at the…

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May 13, 2025 by Kelly Allen
What You Need to Know About Food and Health Provisions in House Reconciliation Package

This week, Congress is marking up their long-awaited committee bills to achieve the $1.5 trillion in spending cuts outlined in April's budget resolution to partially offset the cost of extending expiring tax cuts that primarily benefit the nation's wealthiest households. Many of the provisions would disproportionately harm West Virginia, increasing grocery and health care costs…

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May 6, 2025 by Tamaya Browder
Raleigh County: Setting the Stage for Future Legislation to Benefit Public Education

Following this year’s regular legislative session, the need for sufficient funding and support for public schools remains. Although several bills were introduced this session to modernize the school funding formula, prevent school closures, and provide increased pay and benefits for school employees, none of these bills passed. Meanwhile, the legislature approved continued funding for the…

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April 30, 2025 by Sean O'Leary
FY 2026 Final Budget Recap: A Shrinking Budget Still Reliant on One-time Funds

The final FY 2026 budget passed by the legislature during the 2025 legislative session closely resembled the budget introduced by Governor Morrisey back in February- largely flat from previous years with the impact of tax cuts and the ballooning cost of the Hope Scholarship crowding out many new investments. While the final budget was balanced…

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April 29, 2025 by Tamaya Browder
K-12 Education and the 2025 Legislative Session: Much Talk But Little Meaningful Action

Children in West Virginia are constitutionally guaranteed a thorough and efficient system of free schools provided by the legislature. In recent years, our public education system has faced mounting challenges including declining enrollment, declining state revenues due to tax cuts, increased disinvestment through the Hope Scholarship, and threats to federal funding and support for public…

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April 28, 2025 by WVCBP
Voices Rising: Communities Lead the Charge Against Harmful Federal Budget Proposals

This piece was authored by Alex Gallo, the WVCBP's community engagement coordinator. In recent weeks, West Virginia communities have mobilized to demand that their voices be heard as Congress considers sweeping federal budget changes that could decimate essential programs families rely on. Multiple open town hall events were held around the state during the April…

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