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Art of Compromise Isn’t Dead, After All

The second special session of 2024 ended Tuesday night with a compromise between Gov. Jim Justice and Republican legislative leadership on an additional 2% cut in personal income tax rates. During an address last Wednesday, Justice did a touchdown dance and criticized those in the Legislature and media who said he would never get a tax cut over the special session finish line. As I don’t make predictions, I never said one way or another whether there would be a tax cut. I only relayed what my sources in the Legislature were saying, which was they did not see a pathway for ...

Marshall Memo: Coaches Named and Halloween Haunts Announced

The Marshall County Board of Education this past Tuesday approved the following coaches: Shawn Ball and Jason Dalesio, assistant baseball coaches, Citizen Coaches, Cameron High School. Adam Angel, Head Baseball Coach at Cameron High (HS). Citizen Coach. Matt Francis, Head Baseball Coach, Cameron High (MS) Citizen Coach. Shawn Fullerton, Boys’ Assistant Track Coach (HS), Cameron High. Citizen Coach. Melissa Burkett, Girls’ Assistant Track Coach (HS), Cameron High. Curtis Mele, Assistant Softball Coach, John Marshall. Citizen Coach. Rodney’s Swoger, Assistant Softball ...

Something May Be Better Than Nothing

After a five-day timeout, both to avoid spending $35,000 per day and to allow negotiations between lawmakers and representatives of the governor’s office toward a 5% personal income tax cut to continue, the Legislature resumed the special session Sunday. Based on some of the rhetoric I heard last week on various talk radio programs, I don’t get the sense we’re any closer to lawmakers giving Gov. Jim Justice what he wants. During his weekly administration briefing last week, it sounds like Justice may be willing to accept a cut of less than 5%. In my opinion, that is the ...

Marshall Memo: Free Movies, Health Screenings And Vaccinations Available

The Marshall County Strings Program will present its annual fall concert at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the John Marshall High School Center for Performing Arts. The concert will feature middle and high school students, all dressed in festive costumes, performing a variety of music including spooky seasonal selections. Admission for the concert will be $5 for adults, $1 for students (K-12), and free for children 5 and under. Marshall County Schools Activity Passes and Marshall County Student ID will be accepted in lieu of concert admissions. --- The Cameron High School homecoming ...

Ready for a Roller Coaster Ride of a Special Session

My wife and I somehow survived Disney World last week with two parents who haven’t been there in decades and their three daughters ages 12, 7, and 5. All while dodging a hurricane at the end of the week. Now I’m flying into the hurricane that is Monday’s special session of the West Virginia Legislature. This could all change by the time you read this, but as I write this Sunday afternoon, I’m hearing that the Legislature could very well gavel in at 11 a.m., quickly pass some of the 19 supplemental appropriations bills on the special session proclamation, and adjourn until ...

Us vs. Them — West Virginia Protects Against Suicide

There are states where it is acceptable for a family to discuss whether one of their members should kill themselves, and there are states where it is not. There are states—like Oregon, California, Vermont, Washington and many others now—where insurance companies can deny people end-of-life care—but offer to cover the cost of their suicide. And there are states—like West Virginia—where they cannot. I am proud to be a son of West Virginia, where suicide is known as a problem and not pushed as a solution. But well-funded liberal interest groups—like Portland, Oregon’s ...