WVCBP in the News

January 8, 2020 by WVCBP
Nathan Brown: Optimism Abound for Upcoming Legislative Session

Logan Banner - As the new year begins, optimism seems to abound regarding the upcoming regular session for West Virginia’s 84th Legislature. The regular session begins Jan. 8, with the governor’s State of the State address at 7 p.m. that night at the State’s Capitol. With 2020 being an election year, it will be interesting to…

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January 7, 2020 by Kelly Allen
Supporters, Opponents Fill Room for PSC Hearing on Two Proposed Longview Power Plants

Morgantown Dominion-Post - More than 75 people jammed the Monongalia County Commission chamber Monday evening for a public comment hearing on the proposed new Longview Power plants – one gas-fired, one solar. Read article. The vast majority were members of the North Central West Virginia Building and Construction Trades Council who turned out in force…

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January 3, 2020 by WVCBP
GOP Leaders Preview Legislative Agendas Ahead of Session

WV News -  Business tax cuts, changing the bail system and creating a new court are some of the top priorities for West Virginia's Republican leaders in the upcoming legislative session, lawmakers said Friday. Read. Senate President Mitch Carmichael and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw gave reporters a broad preview of their 2020 agendas at an…

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December 18, 2019 by Kelly Allen
Federal Appeals Court Agrees Individual Mandate Unconstitutional, Leaves Rest of ‘Obamacare’ to Lower Court

West Virginia Metro News - A federal appeals court on Wednesday struck down the individual mandate of former President Barack Obama’s health care law. Read/listen. Judges, however, also punted questions about the rest of the law to a district judge who previously ruled “Obamacare” as unconstitutional. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ 2-1 ruling prolongs…

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December 12, 2019 by Seth DiStefano
Tax Cuts and Tax Increases Will be Debated in West Virginia Legislative Session

WOWK-TV - One of the biggest fights this year will be the ongoing battle to repeal the state’s Business Inventory Tax. Only 14 states levy this tax, and critics say it discourages out-of-state businesses from moving here. Read/watch full story. “I think it’s definitely a tax that needs to be reformed. I think It needs to…

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December 5, 2019 by Seth DiStefano
New SNAP Rule Could Hit Ohio Valley Hardest

Ohio Valley Resource, WFPL, WV Public Broadcasting - The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates almost 700,000 people across the country will lose food stamps in a new Trump Administration rule announced Wednesday. Regional anti-hunger advocates and policy analysts say the Ohio Valley — and Appalachia in particular — could be disproportionately affected by this rule.…

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November 26, 2019 by Sean O'Leary
Mark Sadd: Taking the Long View on Employment Figures

Charleston Gazette-Mail - Reporters dug into the details of Gov. Jim Justice’s announcement on Monday that the “number of West Virginians who have jobs is now the highest it’s been in more than a decade.” Justice claimed that 19,000 more people were working in the state than a year ago. Read full op-ed. Joining Justice…

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November 25, 2019 by Sean O'Leary
West Virginia Employment Numbers are Promising but Don’t Tell Full Story

West Virginia Metro News - Gov. Jim Justice is touting impressive West Virginia employment figures, although those numbers likely don’t tell the whole story. Read full article. Justice put the spotlight on federal labor statistics showing West Virginia gained 19,000 jobs over the past year. Moreover, the governor said, these are the best employment numbers for…

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