By George Melik
For WV Freedom Caucus
Charleston – Members of the West Virginia Freedom Caucus opposed the passage of the House Amendment to Senate Bill 250 in the House of Delegates on Wednesday.
“What Finance Chairman Vernon Criss shoved through this chamber is a dumpster fire.” Freedom Caucus Chairman S. Chris Anders stated.
“By slight of hand, they have cut the funding for Hope Scholarship by nearly half.” Anders pointed out.
“They’re showering the Department of Tourism with $15 million. They’re giving handouts to woke billionaires through the Department of Economic Development” Anders continued.
“While at the same time doing nothing about insane over-regulation that’s driving our coal workers out of their jobs and into unemployment lines, like 4,000 in the Northern Panhandle just over the weekend.” Anders emphasized.
On the floor, Freedom Caucus Secretary Henry Dillon pressed Vernon Criss to answer whether the budget bill included the 10% income tax cut Governor Patrick Morrisey and Senate President Randy Smith advertised. Under pressure, Criss came clean and admitted the budget bill had no tax cuts in it.
“West Virginians are already stretched thin by inflation, energy costs, groceries, and insurance premiums. Government should not be growing by hundreds of millions of dollars while families are tightening their belts.” Henry Dillon said afterward.
“While school teachers are being laid off, programs cut, and small schools closed, the budget bill gives away hundreds of millions to universities and highly paid administrators who are political pals with many legislators.” Dillon added.
“Draining reserves and increasing spending while claiming fiscal conservatism is pure hypocrisy” Anders said.
“We can cut taxes. We can protect school choice. We can support first responders and teachers. But we must do so within a sustainable, disciplined framework.” Anders emphasized.
The Caucus stressed the fact that West Virginians live within their means, and their government should as well.
Eleven other Delegates joined Freedom Caucus members Anders, Dillon and Laura Kimble in opposing the final passage. 83 yeas, 14 nays and 3 absent.
Contact West Virginia Freedom Caucus here: [email protected] https://www.youtube.com/@WVFreedomCaucus or https://x.com/FreedomCaucusWV
