So this week, I am including in this little corner of the paper ... my little section of the world, a photograph. Not the best picture, by any means. But still, a moment captured of the three people who mean the very most to me. They are my reason for saying what I say. They are the ...
I’m writing this on Valentine’s Day, three days into the 60-day legislative session, and if Gov. Patrick Morrisey and some members of the Republican caucus in the House of Delegates have love for each other, I’m having a hard time seeing the floating hearts. Morrisey presented his first State of the State address Wednesday night to a joint session of the West Virginia Legislature, but even before he presented his legislative agenda, I was hearing consternation from House Republicans about pressure from those in the Morrisey administration. In fact, one thing I noticed Friday is ...
Facing what our new Governor describes as a “massive deficit” in our state budget, I can’t help but notice that Medicaid and PEIA are among the primary causes. This raises an important question. What could we have done over the past few decades to reduce these expenses? The answer is simple - promote healthier outcomes through better diet and nutrition. Healthcare professionals have long advised us to eat healthier, and national discussions increasingly emphasize the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables over processed foods. Yet, here in West Virginia, we’ve often ignored ...
The process of budget planning has begun for many of our governmental entities. If you follow along with the Legislature, our state lawmakers received Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year Wednesday during his first State of the State Address. Our state reporter, Steven Allen Adams, will, no doubt, be keeping a close eye on the movement there, especially with all the discussion of a $400 million hole, which is still up for debate depending on whether you speak to people connected to Morrisey or the now-U.S. Sen. Jim Justice. There undoubtedly are ...
Parts of West Virginia are less than an hour’s drive from Washington, but the two places could not be any more different. It’s not about the size of the cities or how many people live there, it’s about the way we think. It’s about culture, priorities and how we approach government. Inside the beltway, everybody is too busy worrying about the next election. But I never approached things that way. Back home, sure, people are busy. They’ve got plenty to do. But there’s this feeling of community, of belonging, of we are all in this together. And that is sorely lacking in a ...
West Virginia taxpayers have dealt with increased consumer and healthcare costs for decades, tied to our formerly poor litigation climate. As our state courts have become fairer in recent years due to legal reforms that have improved our overall economy, the personal injury lawsuit industry has found a new deep pocket to go after—the state of West Virginia itself. Lawsuit after lawsuit has been filed against school boards and other non-profit organizations that use the state’s insurance agency, the West Virginia Board of Risk and Insurance Management (BRIM). In just the last ...
