Amid lectures, Justice announces plan to avoid PEIA hikes linked to July 1 pay raises

CHARLESTON, W.Va. —Gov. Jim Justice announced Monday that he will ask the PEIA Finance Board to raise the health insurance plan’s 10 salary-based premium tiers by $2,700 per tier, so that 5 percent pay raises for teachers, school service personnel and other state employees that go into effect July 1 will not result in premium hikes for those workers.

However, as has been the case recently, much of Justice’s 37-minute news conference was devoted to criticizing the news media for coverage he believes is too negative, and to defend his decision to defy the state constitution and not reside in the Governor’s Mansion.