WHEELING - Mountain Party candidate Bob Henry Baber believes that with a bevy of natural resources, West Virginia should be among America's wealthiest states - but instead finds itself "in a three-legged race with Mississippi to see who can be the poorest state in the nation."
Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, who took office after former Gov. Joe Manchin assumed the late Robert C. Byrd's vacant Senate seat in November, pointed to a $330 million budget surplus for the state, noting its finances haven't always been in such shape. He also mentioned Orrick's decision to add 40 jobs in Wheeling earlier this year as well as retail giant Macy's announcement it will build a massive distribution center in the Eastern Panhandle.
"I think we're poised for great things in West Virginia," he said.
With President Barack Obama poised to unveil a plan for job creation during a speech tonight, Republican Bill Maloney said he hopes the president can quell one of the biggest fears of would-be entrepreneurs - the unknown.
"Above all he just needs to give us certainty here in the business world so people know what the rules are and we can move ahead and make our state all it should be," he said.
Alluding to a $300 million economic stimulus program expected to be a lynchpin of Obama's jobs plan, Tomblin said he hopes West Virginia will get its fair share in any such proposal. He noted there are roads across the state in need of improvement - including W.Va. 2 - that "are going to be hard to finish without federal help like we've had in the past."
But ultimately, he said, the state must continue being fiscally responsible and taking steps to be more "business friendly," as it is the private sector that should take the lead in job creation.
Maloney agreed, and questioned why government jobs have seen the most growth in recent years. He said West Virginia needs "less tax, less regulation, less bureaucracy."
"Our tax structure stinks - period," said Maloney, noting tax breaks should be available to all businesses, not just special interests, and that cities should have more options to raise revenue.
Tomblin said West Virginia has taken steps in that regard, through its "home rule" pilot program in several cities, including Wheeling, which used its new authority under the program to impose fees on owners of vacant structures in the city.
Baber said while he advocates raising additional revenue through severance taxes, he opposes taxes such as the food tax that affect the average resident. He also believes property taxes are structured unfairly and "tilted toward corporations."
Tomblin said the Legislature has made great strides in reducing the food tax, adding "the end is in sight" and he's confident it will be eliminated in the next year or so.