In just the first six sentences of his op-ed in this weekend’s Wheeling News-Register, West Virginia's treasurer, Riley Moore, uses twelve emotionally charged words/phrases/cliches to attack the Biden administration:

• wasteful spending
• raising taxes
• liberal allies
• pork-wish list
• radical socialist
• China Virus pandemic
• tax increases
• stifle investment
• runaway inflation
• reckless spending
• sluggish economic growth
• stagflation

(Stagflation? Haven't heard that one since the 1970s.)

Most importantly, Moore offers no argument or proof for any of his highly-charged phrases – they are pure assertion meant to appeal with emotion rather than logic.

Later in the op-ed, Moore does make two arguments against what he claims are parts of Biden's proposal: (1) a tax on stock transactions, and (2) a tax on certain tobacco products.

On the former, Moore argues:

One such increase is being called a “financial transaction tax.” This is being pushed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. – which in and of itself should already be a red flag to freedom-loving Americans.

The Democratic Socialist Senator, and his allies, wants to implement a tax of at least 0.1-percent on any stock, bond, or mutual fund transactions. While it’s being pitched as a tax on the super-rich, it will actually harm working-class Americans.

“Freedom-loving Americans” can relax -- Biden has not adopted Sanders’ tax as part of his proposal. Even if he had, Sanders' tax would put the burden on frequent traders not ordinary citizens. Of course, Moore knows that.

Additionally, Moore warns readers about Biden’s “Tobacco Tax Equity Act” that would equalize taxes on various tobacco products. Moore worries that, if vapor products were taxed at the same rate as cigarettes, it would

lead to fewer customers choosing them as an alternative, locking them into using tobacco products.

The tax would also, according to Moore, raise the price on smokeless tobacco and hurt small businesses that depend upon this revenue. Earlier this year, Governor Justice wanted to raise tobacco taxes to pay for decreasing or eliminating the state income tax. I can find no objections from Moore on either issue. Now, the state would benefit from billions of dollars for infrastructure but what the West Virginia's treasurer wants us to be most concerned about is an increase in the tax on vaping and dipping tobacco.

Yes, Riley Moore has given us a dozen highly charged, weaselly phrases and two questionable arguments against Biden’s infrastructure plan. Is it any wonder that he’s an Ogden favorite and a rising star in West Virginia's Trump Party?