Racism in West Virginia: has it changed much in 62 years?
Elgin Baylor and West Virginia
Legendary basketball player Elgin Baylor died on Monday. Not mentioned in the Associated Press’ various articles about his career was an incident that occurred in Charleston, West Virginia on January 16, 1959. Here is how Mike Whiteford, citing Baylor, described it in 2019 in the Charleston Gazette-Mail . . .
The West Virginia legislature’s war on workers continues
As the governor admitted last week, eliminating prevailing wage and instituting right-to-work laws didn’t change anything in the state. With a super-majority, however, Republicans aren’t deterred.
They’re not workers, they’re independent contractors!
The headline at Mountain State Spotlight:
Seeking ‘clarity,’ West Virginia lawmakers push to turn more employees into independent contractors
With the subheading:
This status change matters, because independent contractors aren't eligible . . .
Posted in: right-to-workwv legislaturewv republicans
Eliminating the WV income tax
Republicans, the Promise Scholarship, and a vulture with a bow tie
Locally, I have seen very little local reporting on this, but the Republican super-majority in the West Virginia legislature looks intent upon eliminating the personal state income tax. At our local Ogden papers, Steven Allen Adams has mentioned it and Mike Myer raised the idea last year. But for something that will negatively impact a . . .
West Virginia’s legislature and the state’s declining population
They are not unrelated
State-by-state population growth rates from 2008 to 2018
From “Fiscal 50: State Trends and Analysis” by the Pew Research Center:
Bible classes passes WV Senate; waits for governor’s signature
From Victor Urecki, Rabbi of Charleston’s B’nai Jacob Synagogue:
This bill that placed biblical instruction in . . .
Posted in: wv legislature
Breaking news: WV Senate reaches 21st century
Passes state's first solar bill
From the Associated Press:
The West Virginia Senate on Friday passed a bill encouraging power companies to use solar energy in a bid to lure businesses to the state. But they’re making it clear that they don’t want the coal industry to feel left out.
The proposal, which would create a regulatory program for utilities to use . . .
Posted in: solar energywar on coalwv legislature
Who is going to reign in the power of the fossil fuel industry in West Virginia?
Progressive West Virginians shouldn’t wait for current Democrats to do the right thing
My previous post dealt with how the fossil fuel industry runs West Virginia. My example for coal was Wednesday’s passage in senate committee of a three-year tax cut for steam coal despite evidence that it would do little for coal mine employment but much for the bottom line of coal companies. (See here, for instance.)
Today’s . . .
Posted in: coal companieswv legislature
WV legislature obviously oblivious to what's going on around them
NRA-backed proposal passes WV House of Delegates 85 - 14
From the Associated Press:
W.Va. House Backs Employee Guns in Locked Cars
The article explains:
West Virginia's House has voted 85-14 to let employees bring loaded guns to their workplaces as long as they are locked in their cars.
The bill, titled the "Business Liability Protection . . .
Posted in: gun controlwv legislature
