By David Beard, The Dominion Post
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice took his “food fight” – as he’s been calling it – with the Senate over Amendment 2 to another level on Thursday.
Speaking from Independence Hall in Wheeling, he elevated his traveling community conversations on the issue to a statewide address; although it was essentially just another one of his conversations, minus Babydog, and not really a speech.
Revenue Secretary Dave Hardy opened the meeting, as the governor arrived 38 minutes late, apparently delayed by fog, as Hardy related.
Quick background: If voters approve a change to the state Constitution through Amendment 2, it would enable the Legislature to change the tax code to eliminate the property tax on business inventory, equipment and machinery, and on motor vehicles. This is the plan of Senate leadership. Justice and House leaders favor a plan to phase out the personal income tax, initially by an aggregate 10%…