This week, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced that the state will extend its “donor agreement” to keep open the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

At $7,000 a day, Morrisey is likely correct that such a decision is worth the money, given the consequences if New River was to be closed for Bridge Day, or visitors were disappointed when they tried to visit our parks during what should be peak leaf-viewing season.

“The political gridlock in Washington, it’s hurting a lot of people, but we took swift action in one area where we felt we could mitigate the effects of the shutdown, and that’s protecting our beautiful national parks,” Morrisey said. “I think the national park system is a great gem for our country, But boy, our New River Gorge Park and Harpers Ferry, they’re some of the finest. So, I hope people have a chance to get out and take advantage of the amazing parks that we have.”

It is encouraging to see Morrisey’s administration understand how heavily West Virginia’s economic wellbeing rests on federal entities and programs. He is spot on that the inability of ALL members of Congress to do their jobs and work toward a compromise that will end this stalemate is “hurting a lot of people.”

But what Morrisey has proved — and legislators must realize — is that state government is capable of pinpointing federal action (or inaction) that affects residents and quickly moving to do something about it. To that end, it will be important for them, as the federal shutdown stretches on, to look at other ways the state can take action to avoid too much damage being done to Mountain State residents.

It’s possible. Morrisey just showed us how.

“We know that some of these communities actually are being hurt right …,” Morrisey said. “We have a lot of federal employees in different parts of our state, and there’s no doubt (the shutdown) is going to have an economic effect, a negative one on West Virginia. So, I really believe that when you can at least mitigate some of the harm, it’s making a big difference.”

He is absolutely right, and lawmakers and other state officials must not fail to swing at the pitch Morrisey just lobbed to them.

Our elected officials work for us, using OUR money. When the ones we’ve sent to Washington, D.C., decide to ignore their responsibilities, it’s up to the ones in Charleston to get the job done.