Fixing stupid (Yes, it’s hard to do) (with 7/31 update featuring the governor's reaction and a Cawthorn apology)
West Virginia, the coronavirus, and Republican representation
The state’s coronavirus numbers are rising quickly
From Sean O'Leary at the WV Center on Budget and Policy:
Active cases are up 63% (1,259 to 2,057)
— Sean O'Leary (@OLearySW) July 30, 2021
And here is our local congressional representative, David McKinley, leading by example:
Nancy Pelosi has become unhinged . . .
Joseph Gouzd, Viatris union president, commenting on what he has heard from from his representatives: “We’ve heard nothing. We’ve heard all kinds of horse shit from A to Z.”
West Virginia’s senators are doing little, if anything, to prevent the closure of the Viatris Morgantown plant
With just a couple days left before the former Mylan plant in Morgantown closes for 1500 workers, news reports suggest that very little is being done to save the plant. Where are West Virginia’s senators? From In These Times reporter, Hamilton Nolan:
Ask Gouzd [president of the worker’s union] what he is hearing from his . . .
Posted in: joe manchinshelley moore capitoviatris/mylan
The “Thank God for Coincidence” Timeline
A look at the connections between Robin Capehart, Jim Justice and Bill Cole
The paths of three West Virginia Republicans, Robin Capehart, Jim Justice and Bill Cole, continue to intersect. With recent developments, I thought it might be worth noting where they overlap. Here's an annotated list of important events:
March 2015
After 13 charges of ethical violations by the West Virginia Ethics . . .
Statistics don’t lie, but liars . . . .
Rep. McKinley and WV Attorney General Morrisey want to talk about fentanyl
Representative David McKinley (WV-1) plays with the fentanyl numbers
#bidensbordercrisis is having deadly consequences.
For the 5th straight month, more fentanyl has been seized at the southwest border than in the corresponding months in 2018, 2019, & 2020 combined.
Enough fentanyl was seized in June 2021 to kill 238 million . . .
Posted in: david mckinleyfentanylpatrick morrisey
Attracting outsiders and WV's population decline
Can West Virginian bribe its way to a population reversal?
West Virginia continues to lose citizens (60,000 since 2010) and the loss will not just affect its tax base – WV will also lose political power as it gives up a House seat. What can be done? During the legislative session, Governor Justice and the legislature came up with a plan whereby the state will pay $12,000 to lure workers to the state. . . .
CNBC announces its "2021 Top States for Business” (with 7/14 update)
West Virginia drops two spots to 47th from its last ranking
The annual “CNBC Top States for Business” was released earlier today and West Virginia's ranking stays near the bottom.
One of the reasons I follow the CNBC ranking is that they’ve been doing them for a number of years which makes year to year comparisons easier. Here is a chart that I’ve worked up from their data.
Posted in: cnbc surveywest virginia economy
Today’s Wheeling newspaper editorials call on state leaders to start searching for ideas for WV’s economic transitioning away from coal
Do you know who had a plan 5 years ago?
From today’s editorials:
West Virginia lawmakers know they can’t put it off any longer. They have to start working to help the people who could be left in the lurch as the state’s economy inevitably transitions. Specifically, state House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, and House Minority Leader Doug Skaff, D-Kanawha, announced . . .
