Reenforcement from Russ

I have known Larry D. Kump for close to 30 years and have never known him to be anything but upright, honest, full of integrity, loyal, moral, and compassionate.

Even in times of trial on a personal front, Larry never complained or felt sorry for himself. Instead, he went out of his way to make sure the needs and feelings of others were taken care of.

Spend an hour with him and you will walk away feeling like you have known him your entire life.

His dedication to his profession, his fellow co-workers and friends is just the qualities I look for in a leader. He will not bow down to outside pressure when he believes in something. He will fight to the finish to ensure fairness and equity for everyone is accomplished.

Russ Hess

Footnote: Campaign contributions to "Friends of Larry D. Kump" (P.O. Box 1131, Falling Waters, WV 25419) will be put to prudent use in support of good governance.

Singhas Sings Out

The following letter to the editor was published in the Martinsburg Journal newspaper on Saturday, January 4th, 2014:

Not long ago, I couldn't get enough of politics. I loved the idea of our system of government. I tried to get people engaged in the issues. I was so proud of the idea that in this country, everyone had the right to be involved with the election of our local, as well as our national, leadership.

I hate to admit it, but for a while, I all but checked-out. The idea that someone like Barack Obama with a world view so much different than what I thought was most Americans, and a campaign promise to "fundamentally change" our country to reflect that view, that he could be elected to the highest office in land not only once, but twice, was beyond comprehension to me. After he was elected to a second term, I truly felt there was little hope for this nation going forward. Not because of him, but because the people of this nation would elect him.

But there is hope, one hope. But only if we replace career politicians that have a record of pandering to special interests. Those who pick out certain groups and say anything that will get them excited enough to win their vote. Those that would censor (or try to) any opposing, or objective views of their record or their true character. Those who disregard our Constitution as if they have a better idea. Those who are so politically motivated that votes are more important than the general health of our country. We need to know who these politicians are. We need to know their record, who their friends are and where there heart is.

I've known Delegate Larry Kump for close to 20 years and I can attest that this is a man with absolute integrity. An independent thinker. A man who loves people, the Lord, this state and this country. He is a man of action, who has the courage to stand on his convictions and a record to back it up.

Someone once said "all politics is local." If that's the case, then I hope we will start cleaning up the mess we have by recognizing local leaders like Delegate Larry Kump for the honorable service he's given the 59th District and the State of West Virginia. With people like Larry Kump representing West Virginians, we can rest assured we have someone fighting for our Constitutional rights.

With primary elections coming up this coming May, It's so important for thinking people to stand behind elected leaders with a proven record of personal and constitutional integrity. When you know someone you can count on to do the right thing, you stand behind them. The people of the 59th district need to re-elect Delegate Larry Kump, a man with a record of fighting for the rights of all West Virginians.

Ed Singhas
Martinsburg, West Virginia

Update: Please Read & Respond to this Post's Postscript via Facebook!

Regardless of the merits of the recently approved West Virginia Constitutional Amendment, wherein Mountaineer voters approved the borrowing of $1.6 billion for our road system, there was a deep and disturbing dynamic that also was manifest in that election.

 Alas, voter turnout (about 10% of registered voters, and less than 2% in some areas) was even worse than my previous pessimistic prediction (Please see my September 20th facebook post).

 Was this lack of voter interest and participation yet another indicator of an ongoing and growing lack of voter confidence in and even dismay with the elected leadership of both major political parties?

 Were the upstart 2016 presidential campaigns of Donald J. Trump and Bernard Sanders early barometers of a swirling and spreading storm of citizen calumny about this leadership?

 Are the majority of our citizens not only voting with their feet and walking away from our political leaders, but also now disdaining and disregarding our representative form of governance?

 Where were you on election day?

 I don't know.

 I'm just askin'.

Postscript: Visit www.facebook.com/LarryDKump and chime in on my October 22nd, 2017 reposting of my letter to the editor of "The Journal" daily newspaper, with your response to my question regarding the timing of West Virginia's "special elections". My inquiring mind needs to know!

Editorial note: Please see my other posts about good governance issues on this website and also on Facebook (www/facebook/com/LarryDKump). Please share this message with others, asking them to go and do likewise with still more others!

Support & Prayers from Tim

The previously received (in 2014) and following email message has been reposted with the permission of the author:

" Delegate Kump,
I have looked forward to the information you put out to the people you represent.
I have looked forward to the correspondence, back and forth, with you.
I have come to know you on simple terms as down-to-earth, straight forward, and sincere towards the area and people you represent.
All of these are very rare qualities for someone in your position, by far.
In today's society, it is almost unheard of for anyone to care at all about much.
For one person to care so much, about so many, is more than commendable.
I only hope the residents for whom you worked so hard for are lucky enough to have another representative of your caliber.
You will be missed!!! Greatly!!!
Please don't quit writing.
The information you share with me and the friends I talk with are of great importance to all of us.
It would be a shame not to have your wisdom and experience anymore.
As retired law enforcement, we have had to deal with so much loss throughout our lives. Constants are few and far between.
Like the North star, you are a constant to me and the few friends still left around.
Always, always be safe in future journeys and please don't ever stop your communications.
Support and Prayers Always,
Tim"

Footnote: Please visit www.facebook.com/LarryDKump for more about good governance issues! Also, please share this post with others, asking them to go and do likewise.

Postcriptum: Contributions to my election campaign should be sent to:

Friends of Larry D. Kump
P. O. Box 1131
Falling Waters, West Virginia 25419-1131

More unsolicited "hands-on" support

"Larry,

There is only a handful of people, both current and past, who have truly "served" as honorable employees of the people of our State and not simply marched to the tune of the "exploiters".

You sir, know who those people are, and I count you among them.

I hope to soon see you in the ranks of "current" again.

Thanks for your service.

Ray Glover"

Footnote:
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Then, visit www.facebook.com/LarryDKump for more about good governance issues.

Hedgesville Mayor Endorses Kump

Wow!
The leadership and people of Hedgesville are dear to me.
Accordingly, Hedgesville Mayor Mary Keller-Pile's personal paean of September 7th on my behalf (www.facebook.com/mkellerpile) deeply touched my heart:

"Larry D. Kump has decided to run for WV House of delegates 2018. Formerly a two term WV delegate #59.

You can read his biography at www.LarryKump.us. (@ This website)

Contributions can be made:

"Friends of Larry D. Kump
P.O. Box 1131
Falling Waters WV 25419

I wish him luck, for he will do great things for WV! "

Footnote: The photo in this post is of Hedgesvile's historic Mt. Clifton hotel (no longer in existence).

Addendum: Please share this message, inviting your friends and associates to visit my facebook posts (www.facebook.com/LarryDKump, asking them to also go and do likewise with even more others!

Previous Forum Feedback from a Friend

Larry,

I am so proud of you; I could just bust a button.

I was telling some of my co-workers how you are just a breath of fresh air!

You are definitely not the typical politician. Please consider this is an extremely high compliment!

But also know that I appreciate those who sacrifice and serve, because I know it is not an easy job.

First, your intro of the 3 B's was perfect--Be Sincere, Be Short, Be Seated--that got everyone's attention.

But then, when you said "Thank God for Mississippi!" (referring to the only State who's worse off than West Virginia), I nearly fell off my chair!

You spoke the truth!

Why don't some of these career politicians get it?

Why aren't they listening?

We do have many problems to resolve.

We need more sensible and honest people like you in office!

Your life-long friend!

Dorothy

Postscriptum: Visit www.facebook.com/LarryDKump for more about good governance issues for West Virginia, and share this post with others, asking them to also go and do likewise!

A Trifecta & a "Breath of Fresh Air" for WV!

A Trifecta of three big accomplishments and a "Breath of Fresh Air" stand out to me from the recently completed 2017 West Virginia 2017 Legislative Session.

Our State Budget, Broadband Internet Expansion, and Medical Marijuana were the three "Trifecta" issues.

 The Legislature surprised many by holding resolutely firm and refusing to raise taxes on already suffering Mountaineers. However, opportunities to truly uplift our economy and our lives, through meaningful reform of our tax structure, foundered and failed. Also, Governor Justice vetoed the Legislature's proposed budget. Even so, the West Virginia tax reform movement has gained credibility and momentum. Look for more to come in future legislative sessions. Moreover, the Legislature did give approval, to conduct a statewide voter referendum to authorize the sale of 1.6 billion dollars of highway construction bonds, to be used to repair and upgrade our crumbling road system.

 Delegate Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay County) tenaciously won approval of HB 3093, to allow and encourage  broadband internet expansion in West Virginia. It removes broadband internet expansion obstacles, but, best of all, this important legislative accomplishment was finely crafted by his legal team, without any expense to taxpayers. Wow!

 When the approval of the compassionate use of marijuana for medical treatment hit a roadblock in the West Virginia House of Delegates, Delegate Mike Folk (R-Berkeley County) bravely stood up on behalf of voters and forced a vote in favor of further legislative consideration. Realizing the public outcry and need for this medical treatment, Speaker of the House of Delegates Tim Armstead (R-Kanawha County) and Judiciary Committee Chairperson John Shott (R-Mercer County), assisted by a superb legal staff, went to work and crafted further amendments. The result was to allow doctors, under strict supervision, to prescribe medical marijuana. These restrictions would not allow medical marijuana medication to be smoked or otherwise used for recreation. The final legislation builds upon medical standards and procedures already successfully used by other States.

 Finally, my nomination for the "Breath of Fresh Air" West Virginia award was introduced by Delegate Ron Walters (R-Kanawha County). His HB 3008 would be a bold step in reforming our top heavy and cumbersome school system. It would reduce government spending and bureaucratic waste, while also protecting and preserving local citizen and parent oversight of our schools. Delegate Walters' proposal did not get a legislative committee hearing, but it deserves further review and consideration in future legislative sessions. (See more details in the 15 March 2017 "A Breath of Fresh Air" post at this website.)

Yours for better governance,

Larry D. Kump,

Former West Virginia Legislator (2010-2014)

Berkeley County, West Virginia

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About Bloated & Bumbling Bureaucracy, Tax Reform, and the Price of Gasoline

Attorney and public policy proposer Mike Caryl is, for sure and for certain, right on target with his observation that the elimination of West Virginia government's unnecessary programs and bloated management could and should eliminate our current state budget deficit crisis.

Indeed, citizen legislators such as West Virginia Delegates Mike Folk, S. Marshall Wilson, Pat McGeehan, and Tony Paynter have accepted a similar challenge from the Governor. They have drafted specific "line item" amendments to the Governor's proposed budget, in order to accomplish a balanced budget that doesn't include tax increases.

Mr. Caryl's also correct in pointing out that the structural economic imbalance and inefficiency in West Virginia's current and convoluted tax policies truly impede our present and future prosperity, as well as being a major contributor to our deepening economic despair. These skewed public policies even encourage our steady loss of native population and talent, as our best and our brightest "vote with their feet".

That's why the encouragement by him and numerous legislators, to increase and broaden our sales tax, as a mechanism to eliminate our personal income tax and other burdensome tax inequities, should be given serious but also careful consideration. Even so, perhaps it is Mike's personal comment to me, about "those of us who can easily afford to pay" a proposed return to a sales tax on groceries, that sticks so stubbornly in my craw.

The working poor and fixed income retirees are, in fact, not among " those of us who can easily afford to pay" such a grocery tax.

In point of fact, it is my view that legislators and public policy makers need to have a much deeper personal understanding and appreciation of what a desperate struggle it is for many of the working poor and retirees to put food on their families' tables. That angst and heartache is not suffered by "those of us who can easily afford to pay" a grocery sales tax, nor is it or will it be suffered by those on the government dole for "Food Stamps".

Finally, Senate and House of Delegates Transportation Committee Chairmen, Senator Greg Boso and Delegate Marty Gearheart, mirror my thoughts, in their opposition to the Governor's rapaciously regressive and grievously goofy gasoline tax increase proposal.

Yours for better governance,

Larry D. Kump

www.facebook.com/LarryDKump

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A "Breath of Fresh Air" letter to WV Delegate Ron Walters...

A "Breath of Fresh Air" letter to WV Delegate Ron Walters!

The Monday, March 27th front page news story in "The Journal" daily newspaper ("Bill would redraw map of school districts", www.journal-news.net), by Danyel Vanreenen, underscored my previous March 16th "Breath of Fresh Air" letter (below) to West Virginia Delegate Ron Walters (R - Kanawha County). This is an important West Virginia education reform proposal, which should lay the basis for further serious study and eventual improvement of not only our top-heavy Mountaineer educational system but also our struggling economy.

Ron,

Your recently introduced legislative proposal (HB 3008) truly is empowering for all of us Mountaineers and our children.

It would consolidate and streamline burdensome education bureaucracies, while maintaining our local oversight of our school systems.

It's also a bold step in reducing government spending and bureaucratic waste.

Finally, it could and should be an important piece to solving the puzzle of how to improve the prosperity of all West Virginians, so much so that it inspired my following ditty of praise of you and your proposal:

Hubba Hubba!

Zing Zing!

This will fix our schools,

and make us sing!

Indeed, your proposal is a breath of fresh air for our schools and all of us.

Go get 'em!

Yours for better governance,

Larry D. Kump

Footnote: Some folks have confused and conflated this legislation with the "Common Core" issue. While I also am opposed to Common Core mandates, Delegate Ron Walters' proposal (bill) is not about Common Core. It is about structurally streamlining and improving our West Virginia educational system.

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Musings about our Elected Leaders

This is a revision of a previous posting of mine, originally made several years ago, as I was sitting in my State Capitol office and serving as a citizen member of the West Virginia State Legislature.

As the 2017 session of the West Virginia Legislature now enters into the intensity of the final weeks of the session and is dealing with the need for many urgent and needed reforms, some legislator behaviors have remained unchanged.

There still is great propensity for our elected legislators to spend much of their time on the floor of the House of Delegates and State Senate, sponsoring irrelevant resolutions and making silly speeches. This includes dedicating bridges, roads, and even turn lanes to constituents back home, and also to making a great show of introducing various guests.

And so it was that these issues continued in my musings as I was reading "Emma and Joseph" (1999, Covenant Communications, Inc.) when the words describing Joseph Smith's visit to the United States Congress seemed to leap off the page (page 215):

"There is a great deal of wind blown off on the occasion of each day...."

Visit my other posts at this website for my thoughts on the more pressing political issues.

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Hoosier Homage

Offering an invocation at the West Virginia State Legislature

The following is my response to an old Hoosier friend, and his original note to me:

Noel,

Thank you for your kind thoughts and encouraging words.

The surgeon tells me that I have a most excellent prognosis, although the final results of the biopsy are still being analyzed.

I think of you, my former Hoosier Bishop, and my other old friends in Indiana often, as I also pine for the company of my friends and former associates in the West Virginia State Capitol.

Meanwhile, why God repeatedly has made me His "Designated Survivor" remains a mystery to me.

Your fervent friend and fan,

Larry

www.Mormon.org/me/4Y8B

-----Original Message-----

From: "Duerden, Noel H"

Sent: Nov 17, 2016 8:51 PM

To: "Larry D. Kump"

Subject: Kudos to you

I just read your treatise on Faith and Politics ("Faith & Politics, My Personal Pilgrimage" entry at this website) and marvel at your understanding and depth of thought. It was an inspiration to me and further affirms my faith in the Latter-day work. I would so much like to have you in Indiana again where you could help our members and others, understand and live lives more fully. I hope your cancer is beaten so that you can continue helping others in their quests for truth and understanding of life