WVCBP in the News

January 15, 2015 by Ted Boettner
Governor Touts Business Improvements in Speech

Charleston Gazette - Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin touted changes in the state's business climate, new business investments and workforce training initiatives in his State of the State address Wednesday night. Read"We've created a business climate where companies are encouraged to innovate, expand and create new jobs," Tomblin said. "Companies across the country and around the…

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January 7, 2015 by Ted Boettner
State Retains Strong Bond Rating, Despite Budget Issues

Charleston Gazette - West Virginia has retained a strong AA+ bond rating, despite financial issues that could require the state to take another $85 million out of its Rainy Day Funds this year, according to a bond rating report issued by Fitch Ratings. Read Fitch cited West Virginia's sizable reserve funds as a financial strength,…

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January 1, 2015 by Ted Boettner
Dropping Business Tax Among New Laws

Associated Press, Martins Ferry Times Leader, Hagerstown Herald-Mail - Starting Thursday, West Virginia's lowest-paid workers will get a raise and businesses will have one less state tax to pay. ReadWest Virginia is increasing its minimum wage and nixing its business franchise tax, two of the laws effective New Year's Day.For operators of aboveground storage tanks,…

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December 31, 2014 by WVCBP
W.Va. ACA rolls: Of 12,000, More Than Half Newly Insured

Charleston Gazette - Of the more than 12,000 West Virginians who have enrolled in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act between Nov. 15 and Dec. 15, more than half are newly insured, according to an announcement Tuesday from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ReadAccording to the DHHS, 12,283 people enrolled in…

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December 17, 2014 by Ted Boettner
W.Va. Congressional Delegates Get Powerful Committee Assignments

Beckley Register-Herald - Political payback is a wonderful thing, at times. ReadTwo of West Virginia's newly-elected Congressional members were appointed to their chambers' Appropriations committees, a much sought after appointment usually reserved for politicians with years of political capital.Congressman-elect Evan Jenkins and Senator-elect Shelley Moore Capito were named to the powerful Appropriations committees, where members…

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December 16, 2014 by Ted Boettner
Our Children, Our Future Campaign Reveals 2015 Legislative Agenda

West Virginia Public Broadcasting - According the 2013 American Community Survey, one in three children in West Virginia under the age of 5 lives in poverty. It's something the Our Children, Our Future Campaign to End Child Poverty in West Virginia is focused on. The group met at the state capitol yesterday to reveal the…

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December 15, 2014 by WVCBP
WV Medicaid to Provide More Behavioral Healthcare

West Virginia Public News Service, Hampshire Review - Along with expanding Medicaid to the working poor, West Virginia will change billing rules to provide more behavioral health services though the program. Read The Department of Health and Human Resources is preparing to accept Medicaid billing from independent, licensed, masters-level clinical social workers. The West Virginia…

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December 14, 2014 by Ted Boettner
When Less is More: Even as Wages Rise, Earning Power Drops

Charleston Gazette - When people think about their wages, annual salaries and expenses it's not always easy to compare current costs to past costs and figure out just what has changed financially. ReadThe minimum wage, created in 1938, has gone up over the years. But if wage increases are calculated using inflation rates, those increases…

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November 23, 2014 by Ted Boettner
Global Climate Deal Could Give Coal Another Chance

The State Journal - President Barack Obama announced a landmark agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping Nov. 11 that aims to cut back carbon dioxide emissions on a global level. ReadTo some, this comes off as a deal that would destroy the coal industry, as China accounts for almost half of the world's coal consumption;…

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November 12, 2014 by Ted Boettner
Four Ways West Virginia Can Reduce CO2 Emissions

West Virginia Public Broadcasting - The report is called Carbon Dioxide Emission Reduction Opportunities for the West Virginia Power Sector. It was spun out of an annual conference on anticipated rules to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, the EPA's Clean Power Plan, Rule 111(d). An environmental consulting firm based in Morgantown, Downstream Strategies,…

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