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Lawmakers need to focus on business

“With the Legislature back in session, it’s important that lawmakers focus on policies that will ignite our workforce and strengthen Main Street.” Gil White, National Federation of Independent Business West Virginia state director, was responding to news that small business job creation weakened nationwide in February. “The ongoing worker shortage continues to impact West Virginia small business owners’ ability to serve their customers and grow their businesses,” he said. Data from the NFIB Jobs Report showed 38% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported ...

The legislative clock is ticking

This weekend marks days 32 and 33 of the West Virginia Legislature’s 60-day regular session. After quick movement the past few sessions on issues important to West Virginia’s future, lawmakers have, at least to date, focused primarily on social and cultural matters along with a few election-related items. These are not bills that will help your average West Virginian pay their bills, nor items that will provide opportunities for youth to remain here. That’s important to note. The election-related matters included a ban on ranked-choice voting — something that wasn’t being ...

Keep judicial races nonpartisan

Members of the state Senate sent a clear message to voters Wednesday: We don’t trust you to become informed enough on your own to elect judges; and we think so little of you that we believe you can be swayed solely by looking at the letter after a candidate’s name. Back in 2015, state lawmakers (with a brand new Republican majority) did the right thing by making judicial elections nonpartisan in West Virginia. At the time, House Bill 2010 was understood by so many to be the ethical and responsible step to take that it passed the House of Delegates 90-9 and the Senate 33-1. Today, ...

Congratulations to our young leaders

The youth are the future of our community, and, as such, should be provided with every opportunity to learn and prepare themselves for whatever path they choose in life. We are, therefore, fortunate, that the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce has offered a program to do just that. For almost 30 years, the Weirton Chamber has organized Youth Leadership Weirton, a seven-month program providing guidance and mentoring through sessions focused on life skills such as teamwork, goal setting, and ethics. Bringing together 30 sophomores from Weir, Madonna, Brooke, and Oak Glen high schools, ...

Follow rules for outdoor burning

With resources tighter all around, local and state firefighting agencies already have their hands full. That is why it is essential West Virginia residents follow the burning restrictions of the spring fire season, which kicked off March 1. Due to the conditions at this time of year, outdoor burning must be confined to 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., with fires set during that time put out before 7 a.m. Other rules include ensuring all fires have a 10-feet wide safety strip cleared of burnable materials. All fires must be attended until fully extinguished. Only leaves, brush and yard clippings ...

Pack’s term limit proposal a good start

One of the more intriguing ideas to come out of Charleston this legislative session involves proposed term limits for some elected officials. What’s interesting is the idea did not come from the governor or a sitting member of the Legislature but instead from first-term state Treasurer Larry Pack, who is planning legislation that would limit those elected to the Board of Public Works — treasurer, auditor, secretary of state, agricultural commissioner and attorney general — to only three terms in office, or 12 years. That’s an excellent idea — and one that should have been ...