Not Okay with Kay!

Click on the link below:

http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/560186/SB-550-sends-the-wrong-message-about-our-state.html?nav=5061

Matthew Harris on "Gambling or Groceries?"

Click on the link below:

http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/560004/Bill-purchasing-gambling-machines-is-serious-mistake.html?nav=5061

Gambling or Groceries?

There has been some confusion and publicity in our Eastern Panhandle about which Delegates voted for or against entirely eliminating the West Virginia grocery tax, as well as consternation and confusion about which Delegates voted for a $100 million giveaway of tax dollars for gambling dens to buy new slot machines (SB550)

For the record, SB 550 was voted for (on final passage) by Delegate Doyle. Voting against SB 550 were Delegates Cowles, Duke, Householder, Kump, J. Miller, and Overington. Delegate Lawrence was excused from that final vote, but not excused from the other votes to amend SB 550.

Prior to that final SB55 vote and on Friday, March 11th at 5:11 PM, Delegate Tim Armstead offered an amendment to SB 550 (Roll Call Vote # 329, HFA Armstead 3-10 #2).

The Armstead amendment would have eliminated the $100 million giveaway to gambling dens and instead use that money to completely eliminate the West Virginia grocery tax.

The Armstead amendment failed by a vote of 66-33.

Eastern Panhandle Delegates voting to eliminate the grocery tax were Delegates Cowles, Duke, Householder, Kump, J. Miller, and Overington. Voting against the Armstead amendment and against eliminating the grocery tax were Delegates Doyle and Lawrence. Only Delegate Crosier did not vote, inasmuch as he was absent.

Click on "WV State Legislature" on the right hand side of this webpage to verify this information for yourself, access the entire text of the Armstead amendment, and to see the entire House of Delegates voting record on all the SB550 votes.

So now you know.

Gambling Away Prosperity

West Virginia Senate Bill 550 recently was signed into law, and it's,pure and simple, just plain bad governance and bad news for West Virginia.

SB550 gives away $100 million in our tax dollars to gambling dens, so that they can buy new slot machines and other stuff to fleece the
unwary public.

I stood up and spoke in the House of Delegates, asking "How come we can afford to finance and encourage West Virginia betting parlors, but can't afford to completely do away with our regressive grocery tax, which hurts those of us who are the most vulnerable?".

I'm still waiting for an answer that makes good sense.

West Virginia is a wonderful place to live, and it's far past time for West Virginia to stop being infamous for bars, strip clubs, and clip joints.

Even More State Budget News

Click on the link below:

http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/559041/Savings--Study-of-PEIA-rolls-finds-millions-wasted.html?nav=5003

Click on the above Martinsburg Journal editorial, which is"spot on" about the need to quickly purge the 11.600 free-riders from the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA), thereby saving $22 million a year.

And, that's just the beginning of our wasted taxpayer dollars (such as the $3 BILLION in unclassified spending) that could and should be saved throughout the West Virginia State Budget.