On West Virginia Day, Gov. Jim Justice held a dedication to the four new murals in the state Capitol rotunda. 

The next day, we heard rumors that Babydog, Justice’s prized English bulldog, was in the murals. Sure enough, when I looked through the state Legislature’s photo gallery, there she was … right between a painter and a musician, with Seneca Rocks in the background.

We immediately began contacting state officials and the artists, with not much luck. The renderings released in April did not include Babydog in “The Shivaree of Seneca Rock.” 

First, let me make it clear that I’m not blaming Babydog. Babydog is baby. She is innocent. She can’t help that she is chonky and people love her for it. 

And yes, it is kind of funny and silly that she is in what’s supposed to be a historically accurate mural. (Sorry, it’s not actually “our” Babydog in the mural. It’s Babydog’s “20th grandma,” according to Randall Reid-Smith, secretary for the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History.) 

But the problem is that protocols were not followed with the mural, which was funded by taxpayer money. 

Reid-Smith, who would not return our calls for an interview, said on Metronews’ “Talkline” that he and other top members of the Justice administration, after reviewing the initial draft of the mural, felt it needed more content, and added a cardinal, elk and Babydog. 

However, any changes made to the Capitol must be approved by the Capitol Building Commission. He said the mural with Babydog’s likeness was approved by himself, state Museums Director Charles Morris, Deputy Chief of Staff Ann Urling, Administration Secretary Mark Scott and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Rebecca Blaine. Reid-Smith is the only one on that list who is a member of the Capitol Building Commission. 

Like many things in Justice’s administration, there’s been a lack of transparency with the process. The Gazette-Mail’s Phil Kabler sent a Freedom of Information Act request related to the state’s decision to enter into a contract with John Canning & Co. for the mural work, since the current Capitol Building Commission never approved the work. Kabler said the response he received was the April 3 news release announcing the murals. 

Reid-Smith also tried to justify the decision by saying, “People will always remember Babydog, and so that is creating history.”

Yes. People will remember Babydog because Justice brings her everywhere — along with her own chair — and uses her to try to endear people to him.

People on social media have compared Babydog to Li’l Sebastian, a beloved 25-year-old mini horse from the sitcom, “Parks and Recreation.” The mini horse is the city of Pawnee’s mascot, and some describe Babydog as West Virginia’s mascot. 

Everyone loves Lil’ Sebastian, who somehow has an honorary degree from Notre Dame. Even curmudgeon Ron Swanson squeals in delight when the tiny horse visits city hall.

Both Li’l Sebastian and Babydog have songs about them. Both have merch. Both make special appearances at events. 

Except Li’l Sebastian’s owner isn’t a politician. 

Li’l Sebastian’s owner never ran for U.S. Senate. 

Li’l Sebastian never endorsed a political candidate. 

Li’l Sebastian never lobbied around the state against personal income taxes. 

Babydog is a distraction. Justice has had a lot of bad press, even going back to before he was elected governor. In February, when it was announced that Carter Bank & Trust listed several of Justice’s properties at the Greenbrier Sporting Club for auction, Justice announced soon after that Babydog would need surgeries for a torn ACL. A few days after Justice’s companies sued to block the auction, an official news release came out saying Babydog’s ACL surgery was successful.

On West Virginia Day, Justice was scheduled to unveil a statue of the state’s first governor, Arthur I. Boreman, in Wheeling. He showed up 40 minutes late and sat in his air conditioned car on the 92 degree day until it was his turn to speak.

Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, Justice’s opponent in the U.S. Senate race, posted on X that Justice “spoke at length about his own dog and said nothing about Governor Boreman.”

Justice apologized to the crowd for not bringing Babydog to the event, “It’s unseasonably warm, and Babydog absolutely can’t stand it when it’s unseasonably warm.”

Same, girl.

Now that things have been heating up with Child Protective Services and the Department of Human Services as reporters and legislators try to find out how a Boone County teen fell through the cracks, Babydog has popped up in a mural.

It’s OK to love Babydog. But remember she’s there to distract you. Pay no attention to the man behind the English bulldog.

About four months out from an election that could make him West Virginia’s next U.S. senator, Gov. Jim Justice on Monday announced that the state has hit the trigger to phase out its personal income taxes while also directing the Legislature to convene for a special session to increase those tax cuts by another 5%.

The tax cuts that were triggered this week are based on revenue collections from fiscal year 2024, which came about $826 million above estimates. They will be enacted between 3% and 4%, though details for exactly what they will look like will be released on July 11, according to a news release. 

“We’ve got another surplus of numbers that are just un-flat-believable in every way,” Justice said. “$826 million … today, with the tax cuts that we have in place and all that has been done, another $826 million. If you don’t believe that that’s a miracle from God above, you got something wrong with you …” 

According to an analysis from the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, the average West Virginia family will see about 85 cents per week from these cuts, or about $44 per year.

“When you look at the loss of child care subsidies or increases in the price of tuition, that amount of money is not going to address all of those needs,” said Kelly Allen, director of the center. “That’s too small for most families to notice or for it to make a difference in their lives. Contrast that with the paralysis this has caused at the Legislature and the collective impact on the state budget is huge while it’s so minimal for our families.”

To date, no replacement revenue stream has been created or announced to help fill what will end up being a decline in the state’s income due to these cuts. The tax cuts that are already set to take place — and the larger ones the governor said Monday he wants to see — will also occur permanently year over year, presenting a long-term decline in the state’s largest general revenue stream.

“There are still so many needs that are going unmet in this state and now, to promise additional tax cuts when that is still happening, well it’s reckless,” Allen said.

In his announcement Monday, Justice said he would also ask lawmakers in any special session call to — “first and foremost” — pass the child care tax credit he proposed during this year’s regular session. The proposal would create a tax credit equal to 50% of the allowable federal child and dependent care credit. It would benefit more than 16,000 families, according to the governor’s office. 

“It was $4.2 million,” Justice said. “It’s next to nothing. But do you not understand that really and truly what we need in this state now is young people? We need people with young families that go to our schools and all that stuff.”

For Allen, the governor calling for the child tax credit while simultaneously lauding a tax cut that could total less than $50 annually for most families and asking for another cut presented somewhat of a disconnect between himself and the needs of the state.

“It struck me that there is all this work being done to get Medicaid back to pre-pandemic levels, to ensure child care doesn’t lose ground and many other things,” Allen said. “It’s hard to focus on those things and prioritize them while talking about tax cuts.”

Senate Finance Chair Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, said in a statement Monday that the state is “on track” with spending forecasts and that he “expect[s]” to see further tax cuts come in the future. He did not comment specifically on whether doing so would be feasible in a special session this year.

“Regarding the Legislature, controlling spending growth and investing in ourselves has been the practice that helped us here, and will continue to decrease demand on West Virginia tax payers,” Tarr said. “I’m beyond excited to see so many of our ideas and efforts validated by West Virginia’s growth.”

Justice urged state lawmakers to not “be afraid” about enacting the further cuts. 

“I’m going to challenge you in every way to find some way, somehow, if it can be done and still minding the store in absolutely the most prudent way we possibly can,” Justice said. “But for God-sakes-a-livin’, don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid.”

Justice acknowledged that work will need to be done later down the line to “stabilize ourselves and keep ourselves going” if legislators do increase tax cuts or dip into the state’s income tax reserve fund to do so, which he specifically outlined as an option on Monday.

That work, however, and any of the repercussions that come with it will likely not be faced by Justice as he is seeking a six-year term in the U.S. Senate.

“The governor is on his way out the door so any consequences of current and additional tax cuts will really be borne by the next governor and the next legislature,” Allen said. “This governor has a history of not paying enough attention to the future impacts of policy decisions … we haven’t seen a six-year spending forecast in years, and that used to be the norm. Legislators are now being asked to enact additional tax cuts without any future information on the spending needs of the state.”

Justice said the special session call could come in August or September. It would be the second one called since the regular legislative session ended in March. 

In May, Justice called lawmakers for a special session to address budget issues. During the three-day session, lawmakers passed a bill giving more than $180 million to the Department of Human Services. Child care was not included in the call for that session. 

In a statement, state Democratic Party Chairman Mike Pushkin criticized Justice for not saying where the additional 5% in income tax cuts would come from. He said that the state needs “real, actionable solutions to the state’s most pressing problems rather than short-term political maneuvers.”

“Jim Justice is using tax dollars as if they were an extension of his campaign committee,” said Del. Pushkin, D-Kanawha. “He has no plan for how to come up with the money it would take to further reduce taxes, he just feels like there’s a way to do it. This isn’t a tax cut; it’s an attempted bribe.”

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WTAP)—The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (WV DCR) announced an increase in special hiring rates that will take effect on July 1.

According to the release, the State Personnel Board (SPB) approved implementing a special hiring rate for Correctional Officer 1 through Correctional Officer 7 positions at the WV DCR facilities across the state. In addition, Correctional Officer 1 and Correctional Officer 2 positions will receive an increase after the first six months.

The starting salary for a correctional officer will now range from $40,000 to $42,900. By their second year of service, the salary will be $49,400.

“The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation is dedicated to fostering a resilient and skilled workforce,” said WV DCR Commissioner William Marshall. “These pay raises are a testament to our commitment to attracting and retaining qualified professionals who are passionate about ensuring public safety and upholding the standards of our correctional facilities. These enhancements recognize the hard work of our current employees and position us to draw in top talent, further fortifying our mission to protect and serve the Mountain State with integrity and excellence.”

The WV DCR oversees West Virginia’s 11 prisons, 10 regional jails, 10 juvenile centers, 13 Parole Services Offices, 22 Youth Reporting Centers and three work-release sites. For more information about employment opportunities with the WV DCR, go to //dcr.wv.gov/careers.

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