From The Journal of Martinsburg: Confirmation of Betsy DeVos as U.S. secretary of education means the end of public schools as we know them, her critics have charged. There was enough concern about that among senators that 50 of them voted against her. For the first time in history, a[Read More…]
Month: February 2017
Editorial: Keep both hands on state vehicle fleet
From The Dominion Post of Morgantown: The best number now is 7,529 state-owned vehicles … and counting. Or is that minus five vehicles here, 35 vehicles there, 45 more elsewhere and the 122 to be auctioned this spring and fall? This week, the Legislative Auditor’s office reported that 7,529 tally[Read More…]
Editorial: Local Control – RESA officials should be heard at talks
From The Parkersburg News and Sentinel: As state-funded agencies continue to sift through the proposed budget submitted by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice last week, it becomes clearer the few cuts made by the governor are meant to do more than reduce a little spending. For example, the elimination of[Read More…]
Editorial: Improving W.Va. Public Education
From The Intelligencer of Wheeling: West Virginia needs “gigantic education reform,” Gov. Jim Justice proclaimed Wednesday. Few would argue with that. But precisely what does the governor have in mind? He provided few details during his State of the State speech. What he did say seems like a good start, but no[Read More…]
Opinion: Budget can’t be balanced on backs of state’s smal businesses
John Miller – Executive Editor The Exponent Telegram When former Gov. Gaston Caperton took office, he stared down the potential of a $300 million budget deficit and called the Legislature into a special session to address it during his inaugural address. The results weren’t pretty — namely, a $392 million[Read More…]
DEP eliminates protections for noise, light from natural gas facilities
By Ken Ward Jr. The Charleston Gazette-Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Less than two weeks after taking office, Gov. Jim Justice’s administration quietly deleted permit language intended to protect residents in West Virginia’s natural gas regions from excessive noise and bright lights from compressor stations and other facilities that are springing up across those[Read More…]
Justice, legislators revisiting sales tax exemptions
By Phil Kabler www.wvgazettemail.com CHARLESTON, W.Va. — With the state facing a $500 million shortfall in its 2017-18 budget, some legislators are revisiting the extensive list of goods and services exempted from state consumer sales taxes as a way to raise additional revenue. Also, in his budget plan unveiled Wednesday, Gov.[Read More…]
Editorial: Federal government must be partner in addressing U.S. infrastructure needs
From The Times West Virginian of Fairmont: From immigration to health care to Cabinet appointments and all points in between, there has been plenty of conflict between Republican President Donald Trump and Democrats during the president’s opening three-plus weeks on the job. Looking ahead, though, there could be a place[Read More…]
Editorial: Budget strategies need to consider impact on jobs
From The Herald-Dispatch of Huntington: West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice reminded lawmakers and residents in his State of the State address this week that he “hates raising taxes.” But his proposal to fill a projected $500 million hole in the 2017-18 budget includes what some are calling the largest tax increase[Read More…]
Charter schools draw praise, ire from all sides
By MATT DELLINGER [email protected] MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Charter schools are increasingly becoming a topic for debate in education circles, but many are left wondering what they are and if they’re right for West Virginia. The state is one of eight without charter school laws and the West Virginia Chamber of[Read More…]