Blog

April 6, 2022 by Sean O'Leary
Tax Policy and the 2022 Legislative Session

When it comes to tax policy during the 2022 West Virginia legislative session, what is most notable is arguably what didn't become law rather than what did, as once again a bill seeking to eliminate the state's personal income tax failed to pass. However, a number of other tax bills did make it through the…

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March 28, 2022 by Sean O'Leary
Fiscal Year 2023 West Virginia Budget Recap

Earlier this month, Governor Justice approved the budget passed by the West Virginia Legislature at the end of the 2022 legislative session. Very little in the budget was changed from the flat budget proposed by the governor at the beginning of the legislative session. While appropriations from the base budget (which includes the General Revenue…

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March 23, 2022 by Rhonda Rogombe
Health Policy, the Social Safety Net, and the 2022 Legislative Session

The COVID-19 pandemic has now been ongoing for two years. Opioid overdose deaths are rising. Maternal and infant mortality rates are alarming. The number of children in the foster care system across our state continues to outpace the rest of the nation. Despite these realities, the West Virginia Legislature did very little to pass proactive health-…

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February 15, 2022 by Kelly Allen, Sean O'Leary
Artificially Low Revenue Estimates Will Accelerate Proposed Tax Cuts for the Wealthy Even as State Programs are Denied Needed Resources

West Virginia is one of very few states where revenue estimates are made by the governor alone. Official revenue estimates determine the total size of the state budget, and lawmakers cannot exceed the official estimates when funding state agencies and programs. Governor Justice’s administration seems to be exploiting that power by setting flat budgets year…

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January 26, 2022 by Sean O'Leary
Low Revenue Estimates Are Not a Reason to Pursue Tax Cuts

Earlier this month, Governor Justice released his FY 2023 budget proposal. Once again, the governor is proposing a relatively "flat" budget with few changes from the previous year. However, like with the FY 2022 budget, low revenue estimates and a lack of a six-year plan are complicating the budget picture, preventing investments in the state's…

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