Charleston Gazette-Mail. March 7, 2024.
Editorial: Lawmakers continue blowing holes in WV budget
Gov. Jim Justice and Republican leaders who have supermajority control of the West Virginia Legislature have been trying to slash taxes over the years. This culminated last year in successfully reducing the income tax and creating a personal property tax rebate. But others have sounded the warning that West Virginia can’t afford it.
Years of unrealistic flat budgets and occasional surges in severance taxes led Justice to tout a questionable surplus of more than $1 billion, thereby justifying cutting the only progressive tax the state has while shifting more of the tax burden onto the poor and potentially blowing a massive revenue hole in state finances.
As Justice and lawmakers are giving money away, West Virginia is dealing with a foster care crisis and massive problems in health care and education, to name but a few issues.
And yet, some lawmakers want to cut taxes even further.
This week, the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee restored about $53 million to $65 million in tax cuts for the coal industry to a bill passed by the House of Delegates that had removed such cuts. Officials said the cuts would essentially be the same as the cut on steam coal severance taxes passed in 2019, which is now costing the state about $64 million in lost revenue each year.
Small wonder that the state is having problems paying teachers and Child Protective Services workers when lawmakers continue to give these types of breaks to corporate coal interests.
But that’s what lawmakers in West Virginia have always done. And they’re certainly not likely to stop now, when coal as a national energy source has greatly diminished. Coal-fired power plants used to provide most of the electricity used in the United States, but it has been in steady decline for decades. Now, only 20% of the nation’s energy grid relies on coal. In 2022, renewables surpassed coal in national energy production for the first time. Coal is a finite resource, and it has gone from one of the cheapest ways to produce electricity to the most expensive.
But lawmakers and policy officials here have kept their thumbs on the scales, curbing renewable initiatives while trying to keep coal-fired plants open past their planned lifetimes, and burning an unreasonable amount of product, which has resulted in West Virginians paying some of the highest utility rates in the country. And 91% of electricity used in West Virginia still comes from coal.
So, it’s not surprising that some lawmakers would look to give the coal industry yet another break. But one has to wonder just how much money one of the poorest states in the nation can continue to give away while ignoring major problems.
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The Herald-Dispatch. March 12, 2024.
Editorial: Do-little Legislature is fine with the status quo
If there was one good thing that came out of the recent session of the West Virginia Legislature, it’s that our legislators didn’t mess things up too badly — unless maybe if you find yourself unemployed next year.
When the session ended Saturday night as the clock turned over to Sunday morning, it was apparent that no landmark legislation would head to the governor’s desk for his signature. This being an election year may have had something to do with that. Or it may be that the Republican supermajority has achieved most of its goals already and other than a few attempts to micromanage high school athletic competitions, it didn’t feel any need to tackle any other problems facing state government.
Was anything done to improve the quality of education in our public schools? Other than pay raises, no. Was anything done to make our roads better, particularly the often-neglected secondary roads? No. Public safety? No. Tax reform? There was a bill passed that phases out taxes on Social Security benefits. That was a bit of a victory in a state that is older than the national average.
In some ways this session was in a holding pattern as state officials cleared the table for next year. This year, West Virginians will elect a new governor. All 100 members of the House of Delegates and half the state Senate are up for election. The new governor will have his own goals. A MAGA governor could very well give us more of the same. A governor of a different philosophy will have proposals more in line with other goals.
Except for people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own, this legislative session will go down as a forgettable one.
The session’s end comes as spring makes its presence known. The countryside is beginning to turn green again. Grass has a richer hue. Flowers are blooming. Leaves are appearing on some trees. Days are longer. And the primary election in June is getting closer. Flowers and other vegetation will compete with campaign signs for space along our roads.
With the do-little session out of the way, West Virginia’s primary election political season heads toward its finale.
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The Intelligencer. March 12, 2024.
Editorial: Veto House Bill 4850
Gov. Jim Justice still has time to right a wrong foisted on Northern Panhandle mineral rights owners by vetoing House Bill 4850, which currently awaits his signature.
The legislation would enshrine a mineral rights valuation formula that doesn’t work. The State Tax Division has been attempting to implement the formula for two years; both years have resulted in massive mistakes.
Vague promises were made at the end of this session to fix the formula, but that’s likely nothing more than lip service. Local lawmakers who voted in favor of the formula — there were several — have failed to represent their constituent’s interests.
The solution to this needs to come from Justice, who’s refused to even address the issue. His Tax Division appears to be inept; only a veto can right this wrong.
The ball’s in your court, governor. Veto HB 4850 and have lawmakers fix it — now. Anything less will show that your concern for residents in our region is, as well, nothing more than lip service.
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