An editorial from The Exponent Telegram CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — We’ve all heard the statistics. West Virginia ranks near the top of all the bad categories (obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, smoking, cancer) and near the bottom of the good ones (life expectancy, quality of life). And we’d be the first[Read More…]
Opinion
The Editorial category is a roundup of links to editorials and columns from West Virginia newspapers.
Controversy highlights prevailing wage flaws
An editorial from the Charleston Daily Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The hand-wringing and controversy over the calculation of West Virginia’s prevailing wage rates provides a vivid illustration of the problem with government setting private wages. The state agency charged with recalculating the rates has come up with a methodology. Republicans[Read More…]
Mistake in school bus law needs correction
An editorial from The Journal MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — One step forward, two back. All too often that seems to be the situation when government tries to do something to make our lives better. It is frustrating, to say the least. But when our children’s safety is involved, it is infuriating and[Read More…]
Loss of AEP power plant will have ripple effect
An editorial from the Parkersburg News and Sentinel PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — American Electric Power’s Muskingum River Plant is winding down, and as it does, the consequences of the war on coal and affordable electricity are more visible than the folks in Washington, D.C., might want to acknowledge. For more than 60[Read More…]
Students with disabilities have advantage in W.Va.
An editorial from the Parkersburg News and Sentinel PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — West Virginia public schools do not always compare well with those in other states, when ranked based on one piece of data or another. But in one field, the Mountain State is doing quite well for its students, when measured[Read More…]
Lack of transparency unacceptable
An editorial from The Exponent Telegram CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A recent hearing by the House Oversight Committee led to a lot of arguing over White House compliance with requests for information. Bottom line: The Obama administration is not as transparent as it promised to be so many years ago. At[Read More…]
Column: Gov. Tomblin looks at reinvesting in W.Va., fighting substance abuse
By Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin During the five years I have served as your governor, I have made it a priority to develop a skilled workforce, reduce our state’s prison and regional jail inmate population, rehabilitate those offenders when possible, and fight the battle against substance abuse. I know there is[Read More…]
Charleston Daily Mail Column: Goodwin says enough with rising cost of higher education
By Kay Goodwin On June 22, 2015, the state’s Higher Education Policy Commission will consider a request by the Board of Governors of West Virginia University to increase tuition and fees on its in-state students by $670 a year. The proposed hike is just a hair short of ten percent.[Read More…]
Column: Age-old threats to freedom of speech
“The moment somebody says, ‘Yes, I believe in free speech, but…’ I stop listening,” says Salman Rushdie, who knows something about freedom of expression and its costs. We’ve all heard arguments from what Rushdie calls “the ‘but’ brigade.” “I’m a passionate defender of free speech, but there have to be limits.” “Free speech[Read More…]
The Charleston Gazette: Coalfield distress
From the editorial page of The Charleston Gazette: Researchers at West Virginia University found that coal mines in the northern half of the state are doing well, increasing output by 8 percent per year between 2011 and 2014. But mining in southern counties is an economic tragedy. Southern production fell[Read More…]