The Issues

Here is what motivated me to stand up and be counted for election to the West Virginia House of Delegates in District #52.

There must be less government taxation and intrusion into the lives of us and our families, and here are the three major issues:

• Jobs & Prosperity,
  
• Personal Liberty & Family Values, and
  
• Returning Government Back to the People.

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Jobs & Prosperity

West Virginia is rich in natural resources and talent, but also the poorest amidst all our surrounding States. Even worse, West Virginia ranks last or close to last in the United States regarding just about every indicator of jobs and prosperity. Sadly, we also are near the top in the amount of per capita taxation and government intrusion into all of our lives. West Virginia's wrong-headed taxation of groceries and home heating fuel are just two examples of regressive and wrong tax policies. The West Virginia personal property taxes on family cars and the lower gasoline taxes by our neighbors Virginia and Maryland are two more examples of how West Virginia drives folks to "vote with their feet" and flee across our borders. For a detailed and further analysis of why West Virginia taxes should both be restructured and reduced, read "Unleashing Capitalism: Why Prosperity Stops at the West Virginia Border and How to Fix It". You can order a copy at Amazon.

Personal Liberty & Family Values

West Virginia ranks near the top among States with excessive government oversight over our personal lives. This also contributes to our rancid record on jobs and prosperity. Morality should not be dictated by the whims of government fiat. West Virginians should seek out and elect leaders who aggressively pursue the protection of both individual and family rights. By definition, that protection also must include our personal property rights. To that end, a return to more closely following the simply stated values and principles of our United States Constitution & Bill of Rights (especially our rights under the 2nd & 10th amendments) would go a long way to toward protecting ourselves and our families.

Returning Government Back to the People

Our West Virginia government leadership far too often seeks out their own self-aggrandizement and more control over the lives of us and our families.

They think they know better than we do about what's best for the rest of us.

Term Limits, the right of Recall of Elected Officials, Voter Referendum, and the right of Voter Initiative would go far to help curb West Virginia government excesses.

Another West Virginia initiative to persistently pursue is to mandate a choice of "None of the Above" in elections for every office. This would put an end to all "uncontested" elections, give voters much more of an opportunity to "throw the rascals out", and even increase voter participation at the polls.

Contributions to Larry's campaign will be used prudently in support of good governance. Please send your contributions to "Friends of Larry D. Kump", c/o Treasurer Robert B. Griffith, P.O. Box 1322, Hedgesville, WV 25427.

Kump Weighs in on Taxes & Economics

Larry D. Kump, candidate for election to the West Virginia House of Delegates (District #52), has signed the "Americans for Tax Reform" pledge to taxpayers that he will oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes in West Virginia.

Kump pointed out that, although the current "job-less recovery" and massive deficit spending is a national problem, West Virginia has experienced an on-going problem since 1932.

Further, during the last two decades, West Virginians' average personal income has been ranked near or at the bottom in comparison to the folks in all other states. This is especially true when our personal incomes in West Virginia's border counties are compared to the personal incomes of folks in the counties just across our state line on the other side of our border.

Simply put: In these challenging times, West Virginia's bad tax laws and misdirected government regulation stifle our personal prosperity and individual freedoms.

Not only should West Virginians be protected from further tax hikes, but the current tax structure must be reformed.

Among other tax issues, the West Virginia groceries tax, home heating fuel tax, and the personal property tax on vehicles must be eliminated.

Also, West Virginia's destructively partisan legal system adds to our stagnation in productivity and wages. The American Tort Reform Association describes West Virginia as a "Legal Hellhole". Medical Malpractice, Tort, Venue Shopping, and Eminent Domain reform in West Virginia is necessary to help all West Virginians have a better tomorrow.

West Virginia might have a balanced budget and even a transitory budget surplus, but the citizens of West Virginia need major tax and policy reform to provide for meaningful jobs growth and the preservation of our personal liberties.

Visit www.atr.org for more about the pledge to vote against all tax increases.