WVCBP in the News

September 2, 2013 by Ted Boettner
Organizer of Economic Discussion Hopes Event Sparks Dialogue

Charleston Daily Mail - There's precious little optimism in most discussions about West Virginia's economic future. Read Jeremy Richardson, a fellow at the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, D.C., hopes to change that with his event "A Bright Economic Future for the Mountain State," coming to the Clay Center this week. Richardson, who grew…

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September 1, 2013 by Sean O'Leary
West Virginia’s Middle Class Erosion Due to Loss of Manufacturing Jobs

Beckley Register-Herald - A steady decline of manufacturing jobs, from the steel mills of Wheeling to the blackened skies of once coal-rich southern counties, has fueled an erosion of the middle class in West Virginia, an exhaustive study shows. Read In the sixth edition of a special report, this one titled "From Wheeling Steel to…

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September 1, 2013 by Ted Boettner
Economic Forum To Be Held This Week

Parkersburg News and Sentinel - The Union of Concerned Scientists will hold a forum on West Virginia's economic future Tuesday and Wednesday at the Clay Center in Charleston. Read Called "A Bright Economic Future for the Mountain State," the form will include state leaders who will discuss their visions for West Virginia in 30 years…

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September 1, 2013 by Sean O'Leary
Lost Manufacturing Jobs Lead to Lower Wages, Report Says

Charleston Gazette - The collapse of the steel industry in the 1980s and the resulting losses in manufacturing and mining have left West Virginians with fewer good-paying jobs and wages lagging behind the national average, according to a new report from the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. Read The sixth annual The State…

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August 31, 2013 by Ted Boettner
Can Child Poverty Movement Maintain Support While Narrowing Focus?

Parkersburg News and Sentinel - The 229 activists who attended the "Our Children, Our Future" workshops in Beckley and Bridgeport in late August were taking the first steps in what they hope will be a statewide movement to battle child poverty in West Virginia; however, they have big challenges ahead. Read Organizers of this grassroots…

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August 28, 2013 by Ted Boettner
Meeting to Focus on West Virginia Economic Diversity

Charleston Gazette - West Virginia political leaders don't want to talk much about coal's contributions to global warming, so a trio of organizations is changing the subject, with a forum next week aimed at discussing ways to successfully diversify the state's economy. Read Promotional materials for the forum, called "A Bright Economic Future for the…

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August 27, 2013 by Ted Boettner
State Lawmakers Weigh Natural Gas Trust Fund

Senate President Jeff Kessler hopes the Legislature's recent trip to North Dakota will build support for his plans to create a natural gas trust fund in West Virginia. Read West Virginia lawmakers, along with representatives of the state's business, industry and labor communities, flew to North Dakota last week for a day of meetings with…

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August 27, 2013 by Ted Boettner
Industry Reps Caution Raising Severance Taxes to Support Future Fund

West Virginia Public Broadcasting - Representatives of the oil and gas industries joined West Virginia legislators as they made their trip to North Dakota last week, focusing on that state's Legacy Fund. They say creating a savings account based on tax revenues may be a good idea for the future of West Virginia, but are…

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August 26, 2013 by WVCBP
Community Workshops Target Eliminating Poverty

Describing the 116 activists and community members gathered Friday to discuss eliminating poverty in West Virginia, Senate Majority Leader John Unger, D-Berkeley, noted the group's "energy and inspiration." Read ". . . All throughout West Virginia, a lot of people have given up," he said. "That's not what's in this room. There's a lot of…

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August 25, 2013 by WVCBP
Editorial: Expanding Children’s Health Program Eligibility is Fair Step

 A plan announced last week by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin could mean significant savings for state government and local government agencies, plus provide thousands of West Virginia children with better health insurance coverage, according to backers of the proposal. Read Whether the plan comes to fruition is dependent on the federal government approving Tomblin's request…

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