For Immediate Release: February 26, 2026
Contact: Kelly Allen, (304)-612-4180
CHARLESTON, WV — On Monday, March 2 at 10:30am, a coalition of education, health care, faith-based, and child-focused organizations will gather at the state Capitol to deliver a clear and urgent message: West Virginians deserve investment in people, care, and public infrastructure, not reckless tax cuts that favor the wealthiest few.
The coalition will stand united in opposition to the latest budget proposals advanced by state lawmakers, which prioritize tax cuts for the wealthy while failing to address critical needs in public services. Despite three versions of the budget being presented, none of them adequately fund public education, expand child care assistance, or address the pressing infrastructure needs across the state—especially in the southern coalfields.
Most notably, the House version of the budget underfunds Medicaid by a staggering $94 million, which includes a $10 million cut to the I/DD waiver program, directly impacting our most vulnerable populations. Instead of meeting the needs of children, families, and working West Virginians, these budget proposals deliver tax breaks that disproportionately benefit the state’s wealthiest individuals, leaving the rest of us tax cut crumbs while we bear the brunt of underfunded essential services.
Speakers at the event will highlight the critical importance of reinvesting taxpayer dollars into programs that support all West Virginians, from robust public education to affordable health care and infrastructure. They will call for lawmakers to prioritize investments that promote long-term prosperity rather than short-term tax cuts that jeopardize the state’s fiscal future. In addition, they will demand greater transparency in the budget negotiation process, urging lawmakers to make discussions and decisions more accessible to the public instead of operating behind closed doors.
Members of the press are welcome and encouraged to attend in person.
For members of the media not located in Charleston, we have partners in Morgantown, Wheeling, and the Eastern Panhandle available for interviews. Please reach out if you would like to be connected with anyone in those areas.
