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West Virginia lawmakers have spent the early part of this year's regular legislative session focusing more on culture war issues than our economic, mental and physical well being as Mountain State residents. That must change over the final weeks of the session.
The session is at its halfway point. So many good strides have been taken in recent years to move West Virginia forward. It would be derelict to allow that to stop this session simply because of election-year politics.
Why focus on these issues when they could and should be focusing on lifting us all up with measures regarding the expansion and diversification of our economy, improving public education, increasing access to affordable housing, childcare and quality healthcare ... The list of ways in which lawmakers could be working to lift all West Virginians is practically endless.
They'd rather not, it seems to date.
Delegate Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha and minority chair, was spot on when he said "It's not just harmless election year red meat type of legislation, because it does have the potential to harm children."
Voters must let these folks know we have had enough of their willful neglect of their responsibility to represent and serve us, rather than their own personal creeds. But we mustn't wait until we have a chance to speak at the polling place. Let them know, now, so that West Virginia can continue to move forward.