The new governor echos Trump policies, but there's also been some dissent

The West Virginia Weakly Reader for Saturday, February 15, 2025

Feb 15, 2025

Well, the 87th West Virginia Legislature’s first 60-day session is in full swing and everyone who exists in the state political ecosystem just got a heck of a lot busier.

The session kicked off in earnest Wednesday as the House of Delegates and state Senate gaveled in and Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivered his first State of the State address.12

Morrisey’s speech highlighted priorities he had already made evident in his campaign and through a string of executive orders signed shortly following his inauguration. Those include issues related to gender identity and trans rights, immigration and cutting government spending.

For their part, state lawmakers are introducing bills, gathering in committee and moving through the legislative process.

We’ll recap some reporting about the start of the session and take a look at what else has happened around the state.

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.

🪧 Protestors marched in Parkersburg Tuesday to oppose a rumored visit from the Department of Government Efficiency to a federal facility. The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia organized the protest outside the Bureau of Fiscal Service as billionaire Elon Musk and a team of programmers work with President Donald Trump to cut government spending across a number of federal agencies.3 Many in the crowd in Parkersburg said the work of Musk and his DOGE team brings concerns over privacy, as well as the questions over the constitutionality of the DOGE team’s efforts — given that Congress has the sole authority to decide how federal dollars are allocated. The DOGE team’s efforts and the ensuing protest comes as Gov. Morrisey has pledged to mirror the Trump administration’s efforts to cut spending.

🏛️ As the new Trump administration gets itself into place, some recognizable names from West Virginia are being tapped for key posts across federal agencies. State Sen. Mike Stuart (R-Kanawha) has been selected to fill the role as general counsel for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.4 His incoming boss, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was confirmed Thursday by the U.S. Senate. Kennedy’s conformation process faced sharp opposition from Democrats for his anti-vaccine positions, but the Senate ultimately voted 53-49 to have him lead DHHS. Stuart says he will remain in the Legislature until the wheel’s start moving on his own nomination. “It’s a great honor to be nominated by President Trump,” Stuart said on Wednesday. “I look forward to working with the Senate, hopefully on confirmation but I look forward to continuing to serve here in the Judiciary Committee as judiciary chair until such time as the Senate takes action on my nomination.”

💸 Soon after being sworn in last month, Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued a stark warning about the state of West Virginia’s finances. But at least one lawmaker with big influence on the state budget doesn’t buy that is a projected $400 million budget deficit. Following a Thursday presentation from Morrisey’s budget director Mike McKown, House Finance Chair Vernon Criss (R-Wood) believed the new administration’s rationale behind the budget shortfall is backwards.5 Interestingly, Criss gave an audible objection to a voice vote motion Wednesday, which was called to invite Morrisey to the House to deliver his State of the State address.6

👶 As lawmakers return to Charleston, they’re tasked with trying to oblige the governor’s priorities and still make headway on other pressing issues important to their constituents. With the effects of the state’s long plagued foster care system spilling over into the courts, new House Judiciary Committee Chair Del. J.B. Akers (R-Kanawha) says his panel will try to help the courts deal with an overwhelming number of child abuse and neglect cases.7 “This was a huge challenge for the state of West Virginia, but I thought it was important symbolically to make this a day one issue,” Akers said. “I’m not going to promise folks that we’re going to solve this, because it’s probably too big of a problem … to solve them in one legislative session. But I want folks to know that it is a focus of the work we’re doing.”

⛰️ While we typically wouldn’t mention any legislative effort until it hits committee, this one caught so much attention on social media Friday that the Weakly editorial board couldn’t help but point it out. A number of Republican members of the House of Delegates are hoping to rename Spruce Knob in honor of the current president. With Del. Chris Anders (R-Berkeley) as lead sponsor and 11 other Republicans signing on as co-sponsors, the group introduced House Concurrent Resolution 33 to rename the West Virginia geographical wonder “Trump Mountain.”8 The resolution cites President Donald Trump’s policy positions the sponsoring lawmakers say have benefitted West Virginia and him winning every one of the state’s counties in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 general elections as cause for the name change.

📚 The West Virginia Board of Education has declared a state of emergency for Pocahontas County Schools. The state education department’s Office of Accountability presented board members with the findings from Pocahontas County High School. State officials found significant problems with the school’s master schedule, grade transcription processes and counseling program.9 In addition, they said there were also issues related to leadership, creating a positive and safe school environment and special education. Deputy state superintendent gave recommendations for the high school’s improvement. “I would like the board to establish a six-month period for Pocahontas County Schools to correct identified deficiency’s with prioritize support from the WVDE,” Blatt said.

👨🏼‍⚖️ Two coal companies owned by Sen. Jim Justice and his family have been slapped with additional fines for failing to comply with an earlier order in a case involving a lawsuit against the firms. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove wrote in a Monday order that the companies had failed to share evidence with the court. The judge ordered Kentucky Fuel Corp. and James C. Justice Companies, Inc. to pay nearly $650,00 in attorneys fees and plus interest dating back to a 2020 judgement against them.10 Justice’s son Jay and another executive from the companies were also ordered to pay $1,000 per day for failing to comply with the earlier order, plus another $200,000 in attorney fees and expenses. The lawsuit was brought by New London Tobacco Market Inc. and New London agent Five Mile Energy, LLC over the Justice-owned companies failing to mine coal under an agreement.

☔️ A large portion of West Virginia is bracing for flooding this weekend, as a powerful storm moves through the area today. The National Weather Service says forecast models show the storm will first hit the southern coalfields this morning before making its way to the Eastern Panhandle by midday.11 While most of the state is under a flood watch, National Weather Service forecasters have already issued flood warnings for the Tug Fork in Mingo County, the Guyandotte in Lincoln County and the Coal River in Boone, Lincoln and Kanawha counties.

🦬 Marshall University is expanding on its tuition free program known as “Marshall For All.” First-time freshman from West Virginia with a family income of less than $65,000 will be eligible to have their tuition and fees covered.12 Those students will still be responsible to pay for room and board, meals and other needs. "We believe that every student deserves access to a high-quality education, regardless of their financial background," Marshall University president Brad Smith stated in a news release this week. "With this expansion, we’re eliminating tuition as a barrier for even more students, helping them build a future of success without the weight of student loan debt."

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What we’re reading: Opinion and whatnot

Jack Canfield: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito needs to find her voice (OPINION) ~ The Charleston Gazette-Mail
Patrick Morrisey’s big promises (COMMENTARY) ~ Hoppy Kercheval, WVMetroNews
Groceries: State ranking shows need for higher wages (EDITORIAL) ~ The Parkersburg News & Sentinel

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