West Virginia Blue
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Did you hear some of the people who are going to run as Republicans in WV this cycle?
One of my particular favorites is Delegate Brian Savilla (R-Putnam). He really thinks he can beat Secretary of State Natalie Tennant. So, let's do a brief analysis of Savilla's work in the WV House of Delegates, shall we?
We are in an era of national reassessment of priorities. An era where many are being asked to sacrafice for the sake of future generations. There is widespread agreement that the deficit must be brought under control, which has resulted in cuts to programs for the poor, infrastructure projects, military spending, and long held promises made to the elderly like Social Security and Medicare. What has the Republican Party ruled off the table? Taxing the super rich.
As ridiculous as it sounds, many yellow dogs (a blue dog preaches fiscal restraint out of conviction, a yellow dog preaches it out of electoral fear), appear willing to capitulate on the matter. Even the President, except when stumping in front of huge crowds of Democrats, repeatedly reverses ground on the subject when pushed by the GOP, both this past December and during the debt ceiling hostage standoff (where the Tea Party refused to let the American people go unless all their demands were met).
In what is one of the more honest pieces you will ever read, Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha and billionaire, is begging the politicians in Washington to quit coddling him and his super rich pals. Buffett says,
OUR leaders have asked for "shared sacrifice." But when they did the asking, they spared me. I checked with my mega-rich friends to learn what pain they were expecting. They, too, were left untouched.
While the poor and middle class fight for us in Afghanistan, and while most Americans struggle to make ends meet, we mega-rich continue to get our extraordinary tax breaks.
You are absolutely right Mr. Buffett, a man not looking to win votes or fame by jumping up on the soap box. We must rein in our excesses. We must all make sacrafices so as to not handcuff future generations with overwhelming debt. We must find balance amongst cuts to military spending, domestic spending, and raising revenue on those that have benefited the most from our nation's good fortune.
Please read Mr. Buffett's editorial and ask our leaders to do something very rare in modern politics, lead.
As credit rating firms put the federal government on notice about the dire consequences for failure to raise the national debt limit, West Virginia again finds itself getting very positive news about the State's fiscal health.
Fitch Ratings raised the State's debt rating due to West Virginia's "consistently positive financial operations, including the expansion of reserves, and an ongoing commitment to reducing long-term liabilities."
As the DailyMail pointed out in a recent editorial, this should not be lost on voters when considering the current Democratic leadership in WV. Governor Tomblin in particular, who served as Senate President during this fiscal turnaround, deserves great credit. These improved credit ratings mean that WV interest rates for big projects will be lower, ultimately saving taxpayers millions in bond issuances.
As quoted in the DailyMail editorial Governor Tomblin stated,
This is the third time, in three consecutive years, one of the rating agencies has recognized the hard work we have been implementing to get, and keep, West Virginia's financial house in order. With all three rating agencies making positive adjustments to West Virginia's portfolio in recent years, our taxpayers will save money as bond issuances to fund major projects will be financed at lower interest rates.
Folks, we are witnessing a great transition here in West Virginia. These steps are absolutely essential to our long term goals of diversifying our economy and attracting large employers. Voters should reward Tomblin's fiscal discipline in the coming gubernatorial election.
An anti-fracking rally took place at the State Capitol Monday put on by West Virginia for a Moratorium on Marcellus (WV4MOM). Over a dozen people spoke, from those affected by this controversial means of gas extraction personally to community leaders and politicians concerned about it and health impacts on communities where it's happening. Other issues of concern included environmental and property damages and devaluation associated with the drilling, not to mention damaged roads, traffic, radioactive mud and water, and fish kills. That is just to name a few of the negative consequences of fracking the Marcellus Shale aka playing Russian roulette with your health, well being and this state's economy like another certain industry which shall remain nameless. A decent sized crowd turned out from all across the state.
Rose Baker of Wetzel County Action Group, who is directly affected by the drilling, said:
"This natural gas boom is coming at a huge cost to the people of West Virginia. It is a life changer to people who live near these industrial sites.
Air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution.
I'm sure that one hundred years ago when the minerals were severed from the land, drilling thousands of feet into the ground and pumping thousands of gallons of chemicals underground was not imagined.
The regulations we have in place today were written for a different era for oil and gas extraction. We need to put a stop to the destruction of West Virginia and get stronger regulations in place before it's too late."
Part 1
Featuring: Kathy Cash (West Virginia for a Moratorium on Marcellus), Rose Baker (Wetzel County Action Group), Del. Mike Manypenny (D-Taylor), writer and Mtn. Party gubernatorial candidate Bob Henry Baber, and musicians John and Rye Garlow
Part 2
Featuring: Del. Barbara Evans Fleischauer (D-Monongalia), Lewisburg Mayor John Manchester, Physician Dr. Larry Schwab, MD.
Writer and Mtn. Party gubernatorial candidate Bob Henry Baber on Marcellus Shale Drilling
Recent studies have placed WV as one of the most obese states in the Union. As the Gazette article points out, does it really matter where we rank? No. The bottom line is that the State is one of the least healthy jurisdictions in the entire post industrial world and the socio-economic consequences of our poor health create a number of problems in our State that impact other areas of public policy.
Consequences:
*Poor health results in less productive workers from higher absenteeism or employees that go to work but are just not 100% focused because of a chronic condition.
*Poor health results in higher insurance costs for small and large businesses, making the State less attractive as a location to start a new business.
*The prevalence of chronic conditions results in enormous tax payer spending for public health insurance programs like Medicare (federal money), Medicaid (State and federal money), CHIP (State and federal money), and PEIA for State, municipal, county, and some non profit employees.
*Studies show that poor health results in less successful students.
*Poor health results in a less creative population.
*Poor health leads to higher rates of domestic abuse.
*Poor health results in lower quality of life and is inexplicably tied to poverty.
The obvious has been stated. The question is what should we do about it. What steps would you recommend the State take to improve overall population health?
Delegate Larry Border, a Wood County Republican, has died after a massive stroke. He was 60 years old.
Border was a gentleman. When I worked at the Legislature as an intern every interaction I had with Border was extremely positive. I never heard him speak an ill word. Border's easy going demeanor and good nature resulted in his being very well liked by colleagues on both sides of the aisle. You could tell he was an honest family man.
Sometimes in politics we forget that we are all on the same team- all, for the most part, trying to do what we think is best for society. When interacting with Larry Border one always thought, regardless of whether you disagreed with him on the issue, that he was one of the good guys.
Here is to Larry Border, a credit to West Virginia. He will be missed.
Earl Ray Tomblin has pushed tax payer subsidies to his family business, dog racing and gambling, for years. His affiliation with felons like Joe Ferral is well known in political circles but the generally public has little knowledge of it.
Kudos to Perdue for finally bringing this glaringly corrupt issue to the forefront. How the mainstream media has not made more of an issue about this just shows that money controls a lot in small market West Virginia. I may just vote for Perdue for having the guts to brint attention to this issue before the GOP pounces on it in the general.
I think Tomblin, the favorite in the Democratic Primary according to the polls, is in store for major attacks from a nationally bankrolled GOP candidate. As Democrats, how can we defend someone who in our heart of hearts we know is wrong. This one cannot.
If Congressman Rahall knew the first thing about Central Appalachian mining, he might include some expert witnesses, or citizens whose lives are forever impacted by the very unnecessary (and unpopular) method of mining called mountaintop removal. Poll after poll show that a majority of people across America and across Appalachia oppose mountaintop removal. His constituents seem to agree, as Rahall's district in southern West Virginia is being swiftly depopulated.
But hey, at least the citizens of WV-03 still have it better off than their neighbors in KY-05, the only district with MORE mountaintop removal. (...hint, they are 434/435)
It sounds like acting as Governor Tomblin is punishing the people that put the most on the line for our State in an attempt to silence their support of his opponents. Apparently State Troopers supporting Treasurer Perdue have been transferred against their will because of an after hours event they did with Big John. This is a shameful but not surprising tactic from the Tomblin camp and this action should be further investigated.
A lawsuit taken up by the WV Supreme Court yesterday promises to seriously damage Earl Ray Tomblin's image and chances to become Governor. Tomblin has already experienced widespread criticism for his not so humble approach to acting as Governor. From skirting Senate duties, to making proclamations, to putting his name on signs and doors- many feel Tomblin has seriously overreached.
This lawsuit puts at the front of the public's consciousness Tomblin's power grab. In this very crowded field of viable Democratic candidates, the last thing Tomblin needs is a lawsuit that will drive up his negatives. Unfortunately for Tomblin, he has no one to blame but himself. Granddad use to say don't count your chickens before they're hatched. Don't pretend to be Governor and collect the pay for the job before the people elect you.
GOP Chairman Mike Stuart stated in a MetroNews interview Monday that he would target House Republicans in the 2012 primary that voted in support of a resolution passed Saturday in support of Wisconsin public employees. The four House Republicans were Bill Hamilton, Ray Canterbury, John Ellem, and Erika Storch.
The situation in WI has inspired Democrats all over the country to draw a line in the sand and promises to reinvigorate the Democratic base. WI Republicans have stripped collective bargaining rights from public employees there even after public employee unions agreed to severe cutbacks in benefits and pay. AFL-CIO President Kenny Perdue stated in a Gazette article:
Around our country ... politicians are giving huge tax breaks to corporations and the very rich -- and then cutting funding for education, police, emergency response and vital human services.
Stuart's remarks lend credence to rumors that he had threatened Republican House members on several votes in the last week of the tumultuous Legislative Session. It appears that Stuart is willing to run his moderate members out of the WVGOP as he pushes his radical anti-worker agenda in West Virginia.
I recently posted a diary critical of Speaker Thompson on health reform. But it is all hands on deck as the Democratic Speaker battles Republicans in the last days of the session. As everyone probably knows by now, Republican Ron Walters has requested that all bills be read in full on third reading slowing work in the House down to a crawl. I heard about it on the radio today and knew I had to write something supporting Thompson tonight.
So what is at stake? Apparently the health care bills have been passed out of committees. According to the Daily Mail Ron Walters tried to filibuster in Committee on those bills and was called to the carpet for it first by Democratic Delegate Virginia Mahan and then Democratic Chairman Harry Keith White. Other bills still at play are the Marcellus Shale; legislation allowing coal producing counties to keep more of the severance tax dollars; an education bill aimed at curbing dropout rates; and the school bullying bill are caught up in this circus created by Republicans as well as dozens of other bills.
Thompson did the right thing and removed Walters from the powerful House Finance Committee and if the Speaker can hold his own against these GOP games then he will greatly improve his standing amongst Democrats across the State. If Thompson fails at this critical juncture then it will come at a bad time for his gubenatorial race. For Thompson, but more importantly the State, let's hope Thompson wins in his battle against the GOP. All Democrats should line up behind him regardless of whom they are going to support in the election.
Rick Thompson was the frontrunner for me in the Governor's race before there was one. It seemed he and Manchin could not stand one another and well- the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Add that to the fact that he placed one of my old buddies, Mike Caputo, on his leadership team, and I thought I had someone that would fight for the working person. Unfortunately, it appears Rick Thompson is in it for Rick Thompson. The House has still not moved on bills crucial to health reform and after talking to my cousin who volunteers for the AARP it appears as if the House Speaker might let these bills die because he is too worried about his race for Governor to do anything about it
After reading an article in the Daily Mail tonight it looks like Republicants are in unison against health reform. That is not a surprise- they have no alternatives and would put their partisan gamesmanship ahead of people without health insurance- count nearly all my family, all life long Democrats, on that list.
If Thompson can't bring the people health reform when it is sitting out there on a platter for him then what the hell could he do as Governor? The Democrats control the House nearly 2 to 1 and it is a crying shame that Thompson can't exercise any leadership to get this done. Hell, the Senate passed all these health bills weeks ago and it sounds like they got every Democratic vote to go along with it.
This is a crying shame WV. Thompson, if you fail on something that is this big of a slam dunk then you don't have a shot for Governor- at least you won't with my family, and buddy, we all vote.
According to the Charleston Gazette the Senate Finance Committee has killed a key component to the the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in West Virginia. The article says the bill lost on a voice vote lead by Republicans but since there are only three Republicans on the committee according to the legislative website there had to be Democrats that voted it down as well.
I attended a public hearing in Fairmont on the health insurance exchange and it was stated if the State does not operate the exchange we will miss out on tens of millions of federal grant dollars and defer to the federal government the decisions on how to operate an exchange in West Virginia. The speaker said hundreds of thousands of West Virginians would be covered by the exchange. The exchange makes coverage available to individuals and small businesses and provides tax subsidies for expensive private insurance. WV health advocacy groups like the AARP, WVAHC, and labor unions have made the exchange a priority on their legislative agendas.
How can Democrats turn their backs on implementing legislation that expands coverage to so many West Virginians? Not sure if something like this can be amended into another bill or revived somehow but something needs to be done about this.
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