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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The U.S. House is expected to vote on a sweeping budget package this week that would enact the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in program history—even before potential changes that could increase cuts and accelerate the implementation of provisions that will result in health coverage losses. This legislation breaks key promises made by President…
With the latest jobs report from Workforce West Virginia showing the state added only 100 jobs in April, West Virginia's job growth is lagging behind the country's in 2025 and over the past 12 months. For 2025, West Virginia has experienced two months of nonfarm employment growth, and two months of losses, which have essentially…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Congress is quickly advancing a legislative package known as ‘budget reconciliation” that seeks to extend 2017’s expiring tax cuts, paid for in part by cutting more than $1 trillion from safety net programs that hundreds of thousands of West Virginians and millions of Americans rely on, including Medicaid and SNAP food assistance. The largest of…