Editor:
The West Virginia legislature recently adjourned its 60 day sprint to do virtually nothing to benefit the state’s citizens. Then, the governor, in his infinite wisdom, decided that even that was too much and vetoed parts of several bills that would have helped people, even modestly, in ways that past governors have seen fit to do. All this because Jim Justice, when he was governor, cut income tax revenue by 27%, creating a $400 million hole in the state’s budget.
First, Governor Morrisey used the line-item veto to cut funding for state roads. Next, he whacked money for the Veterans Nursing Home in a state with a higher than average number of military veterans. Then he moved on to a series of cuts in programs which help children and foster families. He cut $250,000 from Lily’s Place in Huntington which treats drug babies born to women who continued using drugs during pregnancy. He cut money for the Ronald McDonald House in Morgantown which provides housing for families with children undergoing medical care. Next, he cut 75% of funds for the CASA program (Court Appointed Special Advocates) which funds advocates for children in abusive or dysfunctional family situations – saying that because CASA receives a lot of money from charitable organizations, they should just seek more grants.
Although more than two-thirds of WV voters supported Morissey in last November’s election many of them are now affected by these cuts. This is not how he should be rewarding his loyal base. Meanwhile, PEIA, the state’s insurance program which covers state and local government employees, has serious long term funding shortfalls, the state’s prison and regional jail system is an underfunded mess, and there is insufficient funding for state-mandated spending in public schools while millions of dollars are being used to fund school vouchers. And, finally, the state’s foster care program under Child Protective Services has an overwhelming caseload and far too few employees to adequately address the many problems associated with foster care.
All of these deficiencies of the current Administration will keep West Virginia firmly entrenched at the bottom for rankings of how well a state government works to benefit its citizens.
Jay Miller
Hillsboro
Dear Editor,
I was born and raised in Green Bank and can remember when emergency care or a visit to a doctor required a 26 mile trip to Marlinton. In 1956, our neighbor drove my father to Marlinton after his fingers were almost severed when a blade ejected from a lawnmower.
Now, we have Community Care in Green Bank and a modernized hospital in Marlinton.
Because of my heart disease, I have benefited from the services that are offered by both of these facilities. As looming budget cuts are discussed in Washington, D. C., I fear we may return to the “good old days” of distant medical care.
Pocahontas Memorial and Community Care are both reliant on the funding stream that Medicare and Medicaid provide. Without those sources of income, they will be forced to reduce staff and services to our community.
Don’t wait to see how things develop. Call your Representative and our Senators Justice and Capito and tell them to fully fund Medicare and Medicaid.
Bob Sheets
Retired Teacher/Coach
