West Virginia MetroNews - A first bill aimed at refining the governor’s emergency powers is headed for a vote in the House of Delegates. Read the full article. For months, lawmakers have been watching Gov. Jim Justice’s use of CARES Act relief funding. West Virginia received $1.25 billion in federal relief, and Gov. Jim Justice…
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Charleston Gazette-Mail - When Republicans announce their faith in a plan to stimulate the economy, it is wise to tighten the grip on one’s wallet. Read the full op-ed. Presently, West Virginia’s GOP governor and the party’s legislative supermajority tell us that eliminating our personal income tax will cause 400,000 people in other states to…
Mountain State Spotlight, Times West Virginian - When Fairmont resident Nicole Turner found out that Gov. Jim Justice was still sitting on hundreds of millions of dollars of federal relief funds meant to help West Virginians who were struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic, she said she didn’t know whether to cry or throw up. Read…
Mountain State Spotlight - This week, state lawmakers return to the Capitol for the first legislative session since the beginning of a pandemic that has so far claimed the lives of 2,150 West Virginians. Read the full article. The Republican majority’s priorities include tax cuts that would favor richer West Virginians and charter schools. Less clear:…
West Virginia Public Broadcasting - Over the last few years, members of the West Virginia Legislature have passed a handful of laws aimed at reforming the state’s criminal justice system. Read the full article. But no one could’ve anticipated the toll that the coronavirus pandemic would have until lawmakers were just adjourning in March 2020.…
Public News Service - Some of West Virginia's lawmakers are proposing abolishing the state's personal income tax during this year's legislative session, and social-services advocates say the move would be devastating for children and families. Read the full article. Jim McKay, state coordinator for Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia, said the lost income would total…
Charleston Gazette-Mail - I have some questions for the West Virginia Legislature regarding its plans to get rid of the state income tax. Read the full op-ed. Have our roads or Public Employee Insurance Agency been fixed? I’ve not heard any rationale for terminating our income tax. What is it and who really benefits? We…
West Virginia Public Broadcasting - On this West Virginia Morning, the West Virginia Legislature will convene for its 2021 regular session this week. We hear from a few lawmakers about their priorities this session for criminal justice reform. Also, in this show, we hear the second part in a series from the Ohio Valley ReSource on…
The New York Times - The wisecrack about West Virginia is that it can now have whatever it wants: fancy new highways, a federal installation or two, maybe a few extra grand per capita in stimulus checks. Read the full article. Joe Manchin, the state’s senior senator and a centrist Democrat, has swiftly become one…
West Virginia MetroNews - West Virginia political leaders agree they’re interested in phasing out the state’s personal income tax, but just a few days before the annual legislative session begins no one is saying how. Read the full article. “As for the absolute details on the personal income tax, not yet,” said Senate President Craig…