GOP opposes road bond measure
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WHEELING -- The West Virginia Republican Party is opposing a road bond issue set to go before voters on Oct.7, but Gov. Jim Justice and GOP lawmakers say party leaders are misguided in their belief the bond issue will raise taxes.
The state GOP executive committee -- by a vote of 99-1 -- passed a resolution during their meeting over the weekend stating the party in West Virginia is "committed to principles of smaller government, lower taxes and balanced budgets."
The road bond, if approved by West Virginia voters, would permit the state to borrow up to $1.6 billion to start needed road projects in the state.
The resolution cites concern that there is "no limit in the road bond amendment on future tax increases, gasoline excise tax increases, toll increases or increases in (Division of Motor Vehicle) fees to pay interest or principal on these billions of borrowed dollars."
It's a belief disputed both by Gov. Jim Justice and the GOP-led Legislature, which passed the road bond bill.
Senate Majority Leader Ryan Ferns, R-Ohio, wonders if executive committee members voting on the resolution "completely understood the process." He said the Legislature already has voted to raise DMV licensing fees and the gas tax to pay for the bonds, and no additional revenue would be needed.
"In what little bit of discussion I've had with some folks, there appears to be a misconception that passing the road bond affects taxes -- but the legislation generating additional revenue already has already been passed," he said. "The voters will be voting on whether or not to authorize the bonds to do a lot of projects up front."
Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, said lawmakers most often hear from constituents that state roads and infrastructure in their area are crumbling and in need of repair. The bonds would allow allow the state to have the money now to start road projects immediately and make a more significant impact than doing it over a number of years.
"The executive committee members are free to vote how they want," he said. "As legislators, we have a lot more information available to us. But we are responsible to our constituents, and we know we have a lot of projects in the Northern Panhandle that could be funded by the road bond. We have a responsibility to our constituents, not the party."
Justice -- who recently changed his political affiliation from Democrat to Republican -- has pushed for the road bond and infrastructure improvements as the cornerstone to his agenda.
"This is a not a Democrat, Republican or Independent issue," he said in a released statement. "It's about jobs, safety, your roads and bridges and hope for our state. The overwhelming majority of our elected leaders, along with myself, are in favor of the road bond referendum and providing our citizens with safe roads and bridges."
Justice echoed Ferns' statement that approving the road bond would not increase taxes.
"What we are really voting for on Oct. 7 is whether or not we want to create tens of thousands of good paying jobs and launch our state into an economic recovery, and put us on a pathway to prosperity, that will be remembered forevermore," Justice said.
The decision by the state Republican Party to oppose the upcoming road bond was "disappointing" as the taxes and fees have already been approved to pay for the bond, according to West Virginia Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson.
"There's little or no reason to reject passage of the bond," Carmichael said.
The resolution opposing the road bond issue was presented by Wood County GOP Chairman Rob Cornelius.
"Everyone had an opportunity to speak up and no one did … ," Cornelius said. "Americans didn't elect Republicans and (President Donald) Trump in West Virginia to raise taxes or borrow billions of dollars."
Hancock Country GOP Chairman Elizabeth Baldt said financial concerns about the bond drove members to vote as they did.
"As a state, we cannot afford to borrow money at this point in time," she said. "As the oil and gas industry moves forward, our finances will pay for infrastructure improvements if anyone gives it a minute."
(Jess Mancini contributed to this story.)