by Ron Gregory
If the goal of State Senate Republicans is to destroy any chance of maintaining a majority for another 80 years, they are doing a marvelous job.
If, on the other hand, they have some desire to continue controlling the state legislature, it is time to change directions.
For years, West Virginia Republicans, generally, could not stand the thought of actually WINNING an election. Instead, they pounded the streets and villages to tell citizens their biased views on abortion and other social issues. They stayed in a solid minority.
West Virginians are, in my view, generally conservatives. They have likely ALWAYS been in much agreement with the GOP agenda. But nobody needs this agenda driven down their throats — even those who may agree with the points of view.
Now, while still somewhat focused on abortion, etc., the newly-discovered Republican legislative leadership has decided to drive two controversial positions down voters’ throats. First, Politics 101, it is NEVER productive to start a major legislative war during an election year. Legalization of marijuana could likely be passed if it wasn’t an election year. Since it is, there’s no chance.
Someone in GOP legislative leadership might want to be advised that ALL voters do not support right-to-work. There is not 100 percent agreement that the prevailing wage rates should be eliminated. Those are widespread Tea Party/right wing button pushers. They do not sit as well with liberals or moderates.
Actually, I think right-to-work is a positive initiative for economic development. I would not try to pass it in an election year, though. Let me guarantee you that not one of my union friends thinks it’s a good idea. Few anywhere do. Right-to-work is simply not a vote-getter and making it their top legislative priority is a horrible GOP mistake, politically.
The Republicans currently hold a slim 17-16 margin in the Senate, with the stay that prohibits Governor Earl Ray Tomblin from naming a replacement for former Senator Daniel Hall’s position. Republicans have only to lose two seats to be back on the minority side. If right-to-work and prevailing wage rate are the best they can do, the packing might as well begin.
Most voters have no idea whether they favor eliminating the prevailing wage rate or not. But they want their leaders to figure out how to turn the state’s pitiful economy around. Even friends of coal want to see the economy diversified. Spending hours driving home right-to-work and eliminating prevailing wages does not light up the electoral billboard.
GOP leaders perhaps have a death wish. I don’t know about that. I do know they are behaving as though they don’t want to remain in the majority.
If right-to-work and eliminating the prevailing wage rate are their major 2016 accomplishments, they are doomed to electoral defeat. Tell everybody you read it here in January. Stick a fork in them; they’re done.
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A couple of items remain to be clarified from the 21st Delegate District Executive Committee meeting in Gilbert that recommended replacements for Delegate Harry Keith White, who resigned.
First, I have seen no conclusive proof that anyone in the room that day is a convicted felon. I don’t see that it matters anyway but rumors that one member of the committee was convicted on felony gambling charges in Abingdon, Virginia, simply don’t seem to be backed up with conclusive proof. Believe me, if it was, you would have read it here first. I would have no hesitation in telling readers all about it. I have no trouble telling you about Bigfoot, if I ever see him or her.
Second, social media arguments that the chairman of the meeting, County Commissioner Greg “Hootie” Smith, simply ran the meeting like a dictator are debatable at best — or worst.
Do I believe those assembled met earlier or somehow communicated that Smith should be there to chair the committee of a meeting he was not a member of? Of course. Does Smith have to be ON the committee to be elected chair. Absolutely not and we could cite dozens of examples.
Now, Smith assumed control of the meeting when he was elected chair. That is what he is supposed to do. He even made brief opening remarks and appeared calmly in control of his position, as far as I could tell.
Now here’s where it gets sticky. I was there. I am not absolutely sure what Smith’s intentions were after the committee immediately selected Phyllis White as one candidate to replace his wife.
I DO know this. There was a clear pregnant pause before a second name was placed in nomination. Jeremy Blankenship had voted against Phyllis White’s nomination. Friends of Smith say the Commissioner fully expected Blankenship to nominate Gilbert Mayor Vivian Livingood, who is now running against Phyllis White for H.K. White’s seat in the Primary election. Those friends say Smith was “surprised” when Blankenship did not step up with Livingood’s nomination.
Blankenship basically says there was no opportunity for him to nominate Livingood, since the Committee quickly named two other candidates. He also pointed out that since he was the only vote against White, he likely could not have garnered a second even if he HAD nominated Livingood.
I will now have to say this: there was a noticeable pause between Phyllis White’s selection and the next name. I may be much quicker than Blankenship, but I guarantee you I would have had TIME to nominate Livingood in that period of time.
Like Blankenship, I might have decided not to nominate the Gilbert Mayor, figuring I would not get a second but I doubt it. It would have made some kind of statement for Livingood to at least be nominated whether there was a second or not.
Blankenship is also totally correct that forms were pre-printed with the names of the three eventual nominees on them. The papers were held up by H.K. White when he and Blankenship discussed the issue after the meeting. H.K. White said there was also a blank sheet provided if others had been nominated. He held it up as well.
The simple fact of the matter is that the meeting highlighted the continuing division of Mingo Democrats. It’s a good thing they have huge registration majorities or they might suffer as statehouse Republicans are.
Those are the facts. That IS how it happened. Hootie Smith did NOT rush into the second nomination; he paused. I don’t know if he paused long enough or not, but he took a break. Anyone there could have seen that.
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No, I have not joined Team Mingo, the faction identified as corrupt by the federal government. But, as I have always promised you, I will tell the truth. My account of how the nominations took place is honest and truthful. And Hootie and I ARE on the same Marshall University team.
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The fiasco known as Senator Daniel Hall continues as we enter week two of the great principled vanishing act.
Hall, the Republican-turned-Democrat-
Now, such unbiased, non-partisan souls as Attorney General Patrick Morrisey have entered Supreme Court arguments about whether Hall’s replacement should be an R or a D. As Friday drew to a close, the Court entered an order prohibiting Tomblin from unilaterally naming a new Senator as he planned to do Saturday. Never mind that Tomblin is constitutionally (constitution? what constitution?) empowered to make such appointments. Let’s hope the Supremes don’t decide to prohibit the Governor from raising and lowering flags. He’ll be ready to retire to Chapmanville early, if that happens.
Anyway, the Court entered a stay to stop Hall’s replacement from being appointed by Tomblin. They will hear oral arguments in the case before them Tuesday and likely rule quickly. Meanwhile, Justice Brent Benjamin, running for re-election, recused himself from the case.
Rightly, as I have said many times, the voters of the Ninth District did NOT elect a Republican Senator. Hall’s replacement should be a Democrat.
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Your comments, story idea, rumors and predictions of the success of the right-to-work platform are always welcome. Use my email address listed or call my cell, 304-533-5185.