Gov. Morrisey is wasting little time in rolling out his vision for a conservative West Virginia

The West Virginia Weakly Reader for Saturday, January 19, 2025

Jan 18, 2025

Patrick Morrisey has been sworn in as the 37th governor of West Virginia. The New Jersey native, former pharmaceutical lobbyist and three-term state attorney general was officially sworn into as the state’s chief executive just after midnight Monday during a private ceremony at the governor’s mansion.

Then it was onto the pomp and circumstance of Inauguration Day proper. A public swearing was held on the Capital steps1 and soirees were held around town to mark the occasion.

During ceremonies held Monday afternoon, Morrisey pledged to end liberal “wokeness,” prioritize deregulation of business and cut government waste2 — taking a cue from incoming president Donald Trump’s own campaign and post-election promises.

On just his second day holding office as governor, Morrisey delivered ten executive orders to address some of those same issues.3

With Morrisey’s new administration and his agenda taking shape in its first week, you’d be correct in believing there’s been quite a lot — and more — to keep tabs on.

You’re lucky that’s what The Weakly is here for — so strap in.

The West Virginia Weakly Reader — For more on the sources we use, have a look at the footnotes to see the original reporting from news outlets across West Virginia.

🏛️ Former-governor-now-Senator Jim Justice was among the crowd for Morrisey’s inauguration on Monday. The following day, Justice was sworn in at the U.S. Capitol for his new gig. Throughout his campaign for Senate, Justice promised immigration would be his top focus. But on Tuesday, Justice missed his first two floor votes — related to that same issue — with amendments considered to the Lakin Riley Act, a Republican effort to crack down on people who are in the U.S. without legal status.4 Justice did, though, take part in Senate confirmation hearings for the incoming Trump administration, including Wednesday’s proceedings focused on Energy Secretary nominee Chris Wright and a hearing for Interior Secretary nominee Doug Burgum on Thursday.

💸 As Justice leaves the governor’s office and takes his spot in the U.S. Senate, the newly minted Morrisey administration is predicting a more than $400 million state budget shortfall next year.5 Morrisey seemed to put the blame on his predecessor. “Now, it’s important that when you talk about the budget, we’re talking about what we inherited,” he said. Hinting at his pledge of making state government more efficient, Morrisey announced plans to ask the Legislature to merge the Department of Arts, Culture, and History with the Department of Tourism. He also said he plans to work with lawmakers to combine the Department of Commerce and the Department of Economic Development.6 “These consolidations are an initial step toward making state government more efficient and effective,” Morrisey said.

💉 Despite no state health officer named for his new administration, Morrisey is also calling for a religious exemption policy for the state’s school vaccine laws by February 1.7 The plan is part of the 10 executive orders Morrisey handed down on his second day in office.

🏳️‍🌈 Another executive order from the new governor calls on stage agencies and programs to end diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Major universities, such as West Virginia University and Marshall University, are reviewing their policies following Morrisey’s executive order — taking stock of programs and initiatives that support inclusiveness.8

🏛️ While the Morrisey administration is making quick work, there’s been some small shakeups in staffing plans in the early days. Crescent Gallagher will not be joining as press secretary after all. In a post on X9, Gallagher says his “number one priority” this year is to start a family after he gets married in May. Gallagher will remain working with Americans For Prosperity, a Koch brothers-backed 501(c)4 non-profit focused on eliminating taxes, the deregulation of business and limiting the power of the courts.

🏛️ But it’s not just the executive branch’s staff that’s seeing a shakeup. Del. Brandon Steele (R-Raleigh) has been removed as chair of the House Judiciary Committee after 911 calls were made by his wife alleging “drunk” and “paranoid” behavior just days before Christmas.10 House Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay), who had appointed Steele to the post in December announced Friday that Del. J.B. Akers (R-Kanawha) will now take over as chair of the committee with Del. Jordan Maynor (R-Raleigh) taking the vice chair spot. Akers had initially been appointed by Hanshaw to serve as vice chair under Steele.

💦 The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia has announced a lawsuit to stop a $5 million wastewater grant awarded to a religious school in Ohio to expand its operations in West Virginia.11 The grant — initiated by Del. Pat McGeehan (R-Hancock) to enhance Hancock County by training local youth in skilled trades — ignited controversy upon initial reports of it being awarded to an organization based out of state.

👨🏼‍⚖️ The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has announced the death of former state Supreme Court Justice Thomas E. McHugh at the age of 88.12 First elected to the state’s high court in 1980, McHugh retired in 1997. But he returned to the bench in 2008 as a senior status justice to cover the spot left by an ailing Joseph Albright. When Albright passed away the following year, then-Gov. Joe Manchin appointed McHugh to fill the vacancy and then was elected in 2010 to serve out Albright’s unexpired term until 2012. “Tom McHugh is one of the truly outstanding justices of the West Virginia Supreme Court. His example is revered by all current members of the Court,” current Chief Justice Bill Wooten said. “His impact on the jurisprudence of West Virginia is indelible.”

❄️ Following a recent steady stretch of winter weather across West Virginia, the Department of Highways is preparing for another round of storms that could impact the state.13 The next winter weather system headed to West Virginia packs Arctic air that could quickly drop temperatures as low as -10 degrees. Rain is forecast for Saturday and temperatures are expected to rise into the 40s. But Saturday night, rain is expected to turn into a wintry mix, then to snow that will continue through Sunday. Total accumulations are forecast to be 1 to 3 inches.

🎨 And, finally, the designer of the Great Seal of West Virginia, Joseph Diss Debar, died 120 years ago this week. Debar died in Philadelphia on January 13th, 1905. Hope he’s not mad about the changes we made to the seal for The Weakly’s logo.14

What we’re reading: Opinion and whatnot