Response to the Governor’s State of the State.

With the start of the WV Legislature’s session this month, Governor Morrisey gave the State of the State Address. He spoke about a vision for a prosperous state, but regularly brought politics into a federalized view, despite comments stating his intention to prioritize West Virginians.

Some things to start of with: 

• The longest serving state senator, Donna Boley, is retiring. Senator Boley for a time was the sole Republican member of the Senate, showcasing the importance of a legislative opposition voice. Her retirement will lead to a loss of experience and leadership within the capital.
• In attendance at the Capital for the address were the parents of the WV National Gaurdswoman whom was murdered while in DC, prays to her family and to her recovering colleague. Additionally the governor praised the Gaurd broadly, and specifically for noticing a fire, and responding prior to emergency responders. Our National Gaurd are key to our Future, and our Youth’s understanding of responsibility and patriotism.
• Governor Morrisey also mentioned the death of the Coal Miner within the Rolling Thunder Mine. I pray that the family and coworkers of this miner are doing okay during their ongoing mourning. Mines have claimed many lives in our state, and we must continue to do all that we can to ensure as few Miners as possible die in or related to their workplaces. We must acknowledge the continued sacrifice these miners make on a daily basis, and how selfless they and their families are.

The Governor stated priorities to include bringing foster children back in-state, infrastructure maintenance, the economic “backyard brawl” with neighboring states, remaining the energy state for the nation through the changes and investments through 2050, investing in State Parks as a tourism investment, healthcare investments, a tax cut, talked PEIA, and flood systems investments, among other statements.

These largely are great policy priorities, but we’ve seen year after year stated policy priorities versus actual legislation passed differ significantly. 

When it comes to bringing foster children back into the state, the state has a structure that overworks the types of lawyers that represent children in foster care cases, under pays them, and makes it difficult for these lawyers to practice any other form of law. Additionally, West Virginia recently lost all foster child beds for those needing psychological supports due to reliance on a privately administered provider. Now these concerns are the subject of discussion within the legislature, but in prior years childcare and youth priorities have been among those priorities stated and agreed upon by all members to then be later abandoned in favor of culture war issues. Overall, I believe that investing in our youth, particularly those who are particularly vulnerable, and in a situation where they may need permanent or temporary separation from their biological parents or other guardians is a wonderful thing for WV.  But I'm not holding my breath that those currently in power will continue to pursue this as the next federal or international policy push emerges. 

Infrastructure maintenance is something that WV badly needs, so the size of the investment into this is vitally important. Particularly as the maintenance and repairs that tend to occur, tend to be in places most visible to those in power, rather than those areas most in need. Now I understand that maintaining major roadways and bridges is vitally important, but I also understand that the people that need this money are those in the hollers, those living in the neighborhood of a farm, and those who have to meet an ambulance miles from home because it simply isn't practical to wait for emergency services to figure out how to get to you. As such the people of WV deserve the majority of infrastructure investment being put into improving access to these underserved rural and "backwoods" neighborhoods throughout the state. 

As part of the governors "backyard brawl", priorities stated seem to be in line with competition with our neighboring states. However, my approach in many of my policies promotes regional cooperation with these states as a means of grouping our collective resources. That said aiming to be the best among the region is admirable, and definitely a policy priority. For this to occur we must invest in our people, invest in our future, and ensure that these investments are adequately and equitably paid for. When serving, I will ensure that we win this brawl and that we make a few alliances throughout it. 

Now something that has admittedly surprised me over the past few years has been the shift in messaging regarding energy production, we are now pursuing a policy to ensure that WV remains the energy state into the future. As another part of energy policy we are also concerned about electricity bills within our state, as they continue to move in a direction of making us pay some of the highest prices in the nation. Per the governors vision, we must make investments in our energy future through 2050. Currently over 90% of energy production servicing our state comes from coal, one of the single most expensive fuel sources that exist, but also obviously a source that comes from our state itself and employs countless WV-ians and our ancestors. We must invest in various technologies to make coal mining safer, cheaper, and cleaner for the futures of our miners, while at the same time investing in a transition to a broader range of energy sources. Many of these technologies will require metallurgical coal, so there should be no worry regarding a full loss of the industry. Further the state should work with and encourage cooperation between UMW and IBEW (alongside other trades unions and manufacturing unions) to create formal pathways for workers to transition between the two with continued benefits to ensure an easy transition throughout the energy sector. As utility costs continue to rise, this becomes named as a priority year and year, yet despite mass single party control we fail to see those in power willing to unshackle the poor and working classes.

Something that worried me, was Governor Morrisey's emphasis on tourism, particularly his framing of state park funding around this framework. Yes, tourism is major industry and promising to the future of West Virginia and State Parks are designed for such. However, as I have feared wouldn't be the case since High School, we need to avoid swapping one single industry economy for another. As 2020 showed, tourism can be interrupted in very unexpected ways. WV should invest in our Wild and Wonderful parks, but the goal should be internal tourism and making these spaces places for WV families and children above all else. Economic investments into tourism is a good idea, so long as our economic investments span more industries and necessarily address what we will do if any such industry grinds to a halt due to unforeseen circumstances. 

Morrisey was keen to highlight planned investments into healthcare within the mountain state; without context this appears to be a wonderful idea. But it is important to note that these proposed healthcare investment comes on the heels of Morrisey selling the state-owned long-term care facilities, and the federal government reducing healthcare investment within the state. It is wonderful to see that these divestments will at least partially be made up through grants we are receiving, and investment at the state level; but touting them as if various WV-ians won't see a reduction in care and ability to pay is ridiculous and frankly cruel. WV certainly doesn't have the resources to make up for all of that lost, but the least our Governor could do is acknowledge these investments as making up for part of a shortfall that our elders, youth, and everyone in need of medical attention will experience. 

Mentioned was a plan to introduce a 10% tax cut, however when it came time for the Governor's budget to be explained in committee less than 24 hours after that statement the tax cut was described as a 5% cut. If we are going to continue to operate with massive surpluses in our budget, I support a tax cut as we should spend the money on improving the lives of West Virginians or not take the money in the first place. But why did the Governor say 10% when all the cameras and microphones were focused on him, only to have his administration say 5% in committee? The administration when asked stated that 5% was the starting point and that 10% was the goal, however that sounds like a ton of BS to me and many existing lawmakers. As seen with prior statements, it appears that Morrisey is not above saying things just for the cameras. If I ever promise a tax cut, I intend to fight for every penny promised for the poor and working classes; and will never propose a tax cut on the wealthy and powerful. 

Morrisey briefly spoke about PEIA, the health insurance program for public employees in the state including teachers. He stated that there will be a 3% rate increase, seeking to highlight that isn't a double digit percentage increase. I commend the governor, for his honesty in the fact that it will be increasing, but feel that it makes his announcement to increase public employee pay by an average of 3% in the same speech less impactful. Teachers and other public employees deserve the best healthcare plan imaginable, which is why we must invest in the program as much as possible, Teachers and School Service Personnel in particular are welcome in my future office at any time.

The final thing that I remember to respond to is about investing in a new Flood Warning system that will provide preemptive warnings with more advanced notice, which is a terrific investment. West Virginia over the past decade has been hit hard by multiple flood events, and so improvements to our warning systems are very welcome. However, what this system isn't, is that it isn't an investment into mitigating the damage done by floods. So its great that more people will know to leave, but it does little to protect those who can't and nothing to protect their livelihoods, property, and memories. Alongside investment into this warning system, must be investments into Flood Insurance programs, and infrastructure that will protect homes and schools from the brunt of the damage caused by the water.

I'm sure I missed addressing a key issue, but as a response to the governor, I believe I addressed many of the key priorities stated. West Virginia could do much better than we currently are achieving, and without smart, targeted investments we will not be a place for the future of our nation and our people. 

Thank you, and I am Colby A. Lopez and I approve this message. 

#WVPolitics #PeopleFirst #FairEconomy #CleanFuture