West Virginia Watch, Huntington Herald Dispatch - West Virginia lawmakers across the political spectrum tend to agree on the importance of prioritizing state policies that will expand our economy, increase incomes for families, and boost jobs. And understandably so, as the economy and cost of living are generally the top issues for their constituents and…
Tax and Budget
Charleston Gazette-Mail, GovTech - Public outcry over West Virginia political leaders’ pursuit of data center development has reached a fever pitch in recent months, with residents protesting and filing legal challenges against expected data center projects in Mason, Mingo and Tucker counties. Read the full article. But state lawmakers are ramping up their data center…
Mountain State Spotlight, My Buckhannon - Just days before the West Virginia Department of Education took over another school district, lawmakers were told they should cap private education scholarships based on need and better fund public schools. Read the full article. Clicking through a PowerPoint presentation, RAND Corporation policy analysts Benjamin Master and Brian Phillips told…
Infant and maternal mortality rates are often considered an indicator for the overall health and well-being of a community. West Virginia's rate of infant deaths is higher than the national average and Black babies are twice as likely to die in the prenatal period of their first year of life as white babies. Similarly, Black…
Times West Virginian, Yahoo News - After 15 months of unproductive efforts to speak to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, six protesters led by clergy in Morgantown decided a firmer statement was needed. Read the full article. Following the tradition of Martin Luther King Jr. on his holiday, they put real stakes on the line to…
Charleston Gazette-Mail - West Virginia has a people problem. From its counties to its cities and towns, and particularly its school systems, the state simply doesn’t have sufficient population for many of these institutions to operate effectively. Read the full article. Consider that the largest high school in West Virginia, Morgantown High School, has about…
West Virginia News - The West Virginia Senate on Friday passed a bill increasing criminal penalties and extending parole eligibility timelines for some of the state’s most serious violent crimes, including second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. Read the full article. Senate Bill 137 passed on a 30-2 vote, with one member absent and not voting.…
After promises last legislative session that HB 2014, the so-called Power Generation and Consumption Act, would make West Virginia "the most attractive state in the country for data centers", lawmakers are back with a new package of tax incentives for data centers (along with manufacturers and other big corporations). HB 4013 would give major tax…
Exponent-Telegram - The Office of Governor Patrick Morrisey recently released its six-year financial plan through fiscal year 2031. Starting in fiscal year 2028, the financial plan anticipates shortfalls of between $200 million and $400 million for four years totaling more than $1.2 billion in uncovered expenses. Read the full article. These shortfalls are the result…
West Virginia MetroNews, Charleston Gazette-Mail - Governor Morrisey started the 2026 legislative session with a bait-and-switch. Read the full article. During his State of the State address last Wednesday night, he proposed cutting income taxes by ten percent. His language to lawmakers and the public was specific: “I am asking the legislature to pass a ten…