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Budget More of Same Cuts That Hurt

Editor, News-Register:

Budget?

Again, West Virginia has no real plans to generate new or real working revenue.

The headlines state that a budget has been passed! Well, sadly, it is not a working budget but once again a slash in services that are for the very people who need them the most.

So you call that making a budget? Anyone can take a red pen and cross out line items that make the bottom line look balanced, and that is what was done. Months were spent and dollars wasted on crossing out the items in the budget for education, human services and programs that will hurt the very people that would be affected by any tax increase. Is that an oxymoron? A lot of work or, should I say, time was spent on an exercise that happens every session. Nothing has changed in decades.

It was noted that any tax increase on anything would hurt the working and the poor. Well, if taking away dollars for education and services is not doing the same thing, we all need it explained. Decreasing any of those line items that get hit every time has the same affect.

In the United States we are last on the list on “good” and first on the list of “bad.” Education has to be the focus of attracting new business and creating a generation of well education well-rounded adults that will become the workforce needed for the future of the state. So, if that is the case, crossing out and decreasing this line item does what? If anyone in the House or the Senate can explain the rationale on how this does not hurt our future generation, please do so.

Could it be that the fear of lowering the income tax is that there are more West Virginians not working and paying into that line item than there are working?

Maybe the terms for these men and women who are charged with growing West Virginia should be four years instead of two. This might eliminate the fear they have of making changes and jeopardizing their re-election.

In business, and the state of West Virginia is a business, you have to continually find ways to generate more funds each year. A successful business trims the fat but at the same time must find ways to generate new funds. Business 101. (Maybe this was a class in school that was cut due to budget decreases)

As we once again enter into a budget that is nothing more than subtraction and not addition, we can expect to see a repeat or rerun of the same in 2018 when the same people get back in their cars, drive to Charleston; spend days and months in and about the city only to do the same. Very similar to a bad sitcom that they rerun on TV year after year.

The old business saying that we have heard, “If you keep doing what you’re doing now don’t expect anything different to happen” seems to be West Virginia’s motto.

Please, please, West Virginia, if you are concerned about “hurting” the people who voted in the individuals who are to make positive changes for West Virginia, take action that will truly move us in a direction that is positive. We are stuck in neutral and haven’t moved forward for far too long.

West Virginia deserves better. We are proud people and every year are handed more of the same.

Lori Kestner

Marshall County

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