Incoming Senate President Randy Smith told a TV news station this week that he plans to address “social issues” right away in the 2025 session.
“I would like to get anything like that out of the road so we can concentrate on economic development, creating jobs…” Smith told the station.
I couldn’t help but find his comments naive. Quaint, even.
“Social issues” are one of the right’s dog whistles for legislatively bullying everyone from trans kids to librarians. If Smith thinks he will ever be able to get them out of the way to focus on substantive issues, he’d better think again.
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I hate to break it to the Senate president-elect, but once you start trying to appease the anti-liberty movement, they won’t let you stop. You’ll never reach a point where their agenda is “out of the road.” Once they’ve clawed back rights from one group, they’re immediately on to the next.
Ban trans kids from playing sports? Up next is policing cisgender girls’ femininity.
Ban gender affirming care for kids? Up next is restricting health care for trans adults.
Ban abortion? Up next is electronically tracking people’s menstrual cycles.
Ban same-sex marriage? Up next is eliminating no-fault divorce for everyone.
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This is the defining feature of a movement that lacks real-world solutions for our real-world problems.
West Virginia is 48th in education. We have the third highest health insurance premiums in the country despite also being one of the poorest states. Tens of thousands lack access to clean water. Our twin crises of addiction and foster care continue to spiral out of control. Our jails are overcrowded and among the deadliest in the nation.
But rather than find solutions to these complex problems, it’s much easier to demonize our fellow citizens and pit neighbor against neighbor. Somewhere out there, there is always going to be someone who simply has too much freedom.
But Smith should also be aware that we are every bit as relentless as our opponents.
While they never stop searching for a group to oppress, we never stop looking for ways to expand the sacred promise encoded in the Bill of Rights.
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Where the other side looks at the world and sees an excess of liberty, we will use every tool at our disposal to get the government out of people’s lives and personal decisions.
We and our allies have been on the front lines of this fight for more than 100 years and we aren’t going anywhere.
And we’ll be ready for the Senate president on day one.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — West Virginia’s Democratic lawmakers say public education is facing a growing financial crisis, echoing warnings from state school officials.
“We have officially as House Democrats requested a special session. We can not wait,” Minority Leader Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, said. “If we wait to the legislative session, there will be more schools that close.”
Democrats want to change the enrollment based school aid formula, place guardrails on the Hope Scholarship and increase the minimum starting salary for teachers.
More than 100 West Virginia schools have closed over the last 15 years. Most of those closings have involved elementary schools impacting neighborhoods and small towns.
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Democrats said 20 more schools are on the chopping block.
Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey recognizes formula changes may be needed but did not seem in a rush when interviewed prior to the Democrats’ announcement.
“Well, we will look at them,” Morrisey said Thursday. “We want to find ways to solve the root causes of the problem. That’s what matters.”
Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, called for Morrisey to take action, arguing education issues can’t wait until next year.
“Once he gets his fair share of funnel cake and the Ferris wheel is packed off and goes to the next town, it’s time for us to get back to work, governor,” Pushkin said. “Call us back into special session. This cannot wait until the next session. We are in a crisis mode right now. We’ve got to save our schools and save our communities. We’re ready to get back to work and take up these important pieces of legislation.”
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State education officials recently warned some county school systems could be headed toward financial insolvency without additional funding.
Four people died in a fire at this mobile home in Junior PHOTO: Alan Coberly
JUNIOR, W.Va. — A late night fire in Barbour County has claimed the lives of four people.
The State Fire Marshal confirms the four adults died in the blaze at a home in the town of Junior. The fire department was alerted just before 11 p.m. Wednesday. They arrived to find a mobile home fully engulfed in flames along River Avenue in the town.
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The fire was out in 15 minutes and the bodies discovered.
The Fire Marshal has investigators on scene. All four victims were adults, but further information is not known.
