Bluefield Daily Telegraph. February 28, 2023.
Editorial: Congressionally Directed Spending requests: A chance to provide input on worthy projects
Now that federal earmarks are once again being used by Congress, some lawmakers are correctly seeking input from their constituents back home on worthy projects that may qualify for a Congressionally Directed Spending request.
Here in West Virginia, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has reopened a webpage where communities, non-profits and other constituents can submit requests for Congressionally Directed Spending, which is the official term now being used for federal earmarks. But interested groups and entities will need to act quickly.
The deadline to submit requests is Sunday, March 12, at 11:59 p.m. The webpage can be reached by visiting www.manchin.senate.gov/appropriations.
According to Manchin, the Senate Appropriations Committee will once again allow communities and non-profits the opportunity to request targeted funding through Congressionally Directed Spending in the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process.
“As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I work hard to ensure taxpayer dollars are allocated to priorities that benefit West Virginians and all Americans while remaining fiscally responsible,” Manchin said. “Investing in West Virginia has always been a top priority and these federal investments spur innovation and boost our economy, while also supporting the needs of our state.”
Several local projects were already approved for earmarks late last year, including a $2.9 million award for a natural gas line at John Nash Boulevard in Bluefield and a $2 million award for a new sports complex project in Mercer County that will include an outdoor recreation-tourism focus combined with a commercial component.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., talked about Congressionally Directed Spending requests during a meeting with local officials last week in Princeton.
Capito said the funds were once called “earmarks,” but said they “got a bad name” for abuses of the system and ended about 10 years ago. She says how the money is spent now is much more limited, and should be directed toward local and regional projects that have more of a direct impact on residents.
Such projects can range anywhere from supporting rural communities through investments in infrastructure and broadband to funding programs that help small businesses or address the drug epidemic, according to Manchin. He says this year the Senate Appropriations Committee is allowing state and local governments, non-profits and public entities to request targeted funds through Congressionally Directed Spending.
This is an opportunity for local communities, governments, non-profits and others to request federal funding for important projects in our region. Local governing bodies and other entities who have not yet considered a funding request should give ample consideration to doing so before the March 12 deadline.
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Parkersburg News and Sentinel. February 25, 2023.
Editorial: ‘Bad Actors’: Law enforcement has a higher standard to meet
As the state Department of Homeland Security investigation of the West Virginia State Police continues, Gov. Jim Justice took the not-so-bold step of saying he fully supports “cutting out bad actors.”
Investigators are looking into an anonymous letter that claims inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars, a hidden camera in a women’s locker room, overtime fraud and abuse, and other accusations.
According to WOWK, the Justice administration has been vague in answering questions about individuals involved or other specifics, but it did send a statement to the station:
“Over the past few months, extensive work has been done by the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General and other retired law enforcement officers employed by the Department of Homeland Security…” it said.
During a news conference Tuesday, Justice said we in the public have to remember enforcing the law is a “tough job.”
Yes, it is. One of the things that makes it tough is being held to the standard that law enforcement officers will have more regard for the law than the criminals they arrest. Should the accusations prove true, we’re not talking about the kinds of mistakes made because of split-second decision-making in the heat of a moment.
We’re talking about intentional breaking of the law and abuse of the public’s trust.
Mountain State residents must expect, therefore, that Jeff Sandy’s Department of Homeland Security is conducting an active and thorough investigation into these allegations; and that should they prove true, ALL the “bad actors” involved are indeed removed from their law enforcement positions. If some have committed crimes, they must be charged.
“The actions of a few should not tarnish the reputation of the organization,” Sandy said Tuesday.
Fine. Show a little respect for those who take their jobs and responsibility seriously. Get to work weeding out those few so the rest can do their jobs without distraction.
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The Intelligencer. February 27, 2023.
Editorial: Agreement Helps Clean W.Va.’s Air
Clean air is on the minds of many as we watch the aftermath of a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Here in West Virginia, communities have had questions about what they were breathing near industrial facilities for generations. But an agreement between the state Department of Environmental Protection and Union Carbide Corp. could help ease the minds of those in Institute, W.Va.
An agreement between the DEP’s Division of Air Quality and Union Carbide will implement new measures to reduce ethylene oxide emissions from the facility. According to the DEP, the distribution system at Union Carbide’s Institute facility is responsible for unloading all rail cars containing EtO and supplying it to the Institute and South Charleston facilities. DEP says the system was already in compliance with EtO terms, conditions and air permits, but these new steps will go beyond even federal regulations.
“This agreement is an important step in ensuring that the health and well-being of West Virginia’s communities remain protected,” said WVDEP Secretary Harold Ward. “It is the result of working through our regulatory process, collecting fence line monitoring data, and conducting significant public outreach.”
Wonderful. But the work is far from over.
DEP says it is “continuing to work with West Virginia facilities and communities to reduce the potential health risks associated with air toxic emissions.” Collaborative agreements with corporations are a nice way to get that done, but officials had better not be counting on agreements in all the Mountain State’s affected communities.
Playing nice won’t finish this job; and West Virginians have already waited long enough.
END