by Ron Gregory
ronjgregory@gmail.com
Charleston — Governor Jim Justice continued his message to West Virginians that the state’s budget crisis is not being reasonably addressed by the Republican legislative majority.
Justice, a Democrat, ordered the emergency lantern in the capitol dome turned on until a budget is approved. He invited legislative leaders to meet in his conference room to resolve the issues in controversy. Justice said he would see that the doors are locked so leaders can concentrate on their duties.
West Virginia has sunk deeper into debt and now faces a $500 million deficit next fiscal year, beginning July 1. Most blame the downturn on a decline in the coal industry.
Republican leaders last week produced a proposed budget that many say is “unreasonable.” The GOP members proposed an eight percent tax on “food for home consumption.” The state’s food tax was abolished under previous Democrat governors Joe Manchin and Earl Ray Tomblin.
The GOP proposed additional taxes and fees on such items as professional services. Justice and the Democrat minority have criticized Republicans on the budget. A number of GOP legislators signed a “no new tax” pledge as part of their recent political campaigns.
Nineteen of the 22 Republican senators signed on to the “Tax Reform Bill.” Only GOP members Donna Boley, Mike Hall and Patricia Rucker were not announced proponents of the measure.
In denouncing the Republican effort Tuesday, Justice said members of the majority party are trying to hide specific budget cuts they are planning. The Governor said the “cuts will be so painful, they want to ‘cut and run’ — make the cuts and then run for the hills.”
Justice highlighted how much pain would be inflicted to West Virginians if the Republicans follow through on their pledge to cut at least $50 million from the Medicaid Program under the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR). He stressed that GOP lawmakers haven’t offered specific cuts because they don’t want to level with West Virginians on exactly who will be on the chopping block.
“The Republicans don’t want to share the concrete specifics of their budget cuts because they know how much they’ll hurt people,” he said. “The other side says they want to cut at least $50 million from Medicaid so they should man up and tell the people what they are doing. Playing these kind of political shell game is what created this budget crisis, and it’s not right.”
Justice assumed office in January, following Tomblin, who was term-limited from serving again.
The Governor called the total projected GOP cuts of $150 million “a fantasy.” He said the amount is closer to $267 million. As an example, Justice said $50 million cuts in Medicaid will lose at least $185 in federal matching funds.
After completing his remarks the Governor ordered the emergency lantern on top of the capitol dome be turned on until the budget crisis is resolved. He called it “a full scale emergency for the state’s most vulnerable citizens who count on programs funded through DHHR.”
A gubernatorial spokesman said the Governor sent a letter to House Speaker Tim Armstead and Senate President Mitch Carmichael “honoring their request for further clarification on his budget adjustments.”
Justice concluded by saying he is offering the executive conference room in his office every day at 9 am to assemble his team and members of the legislature to meet concerning the budget. He said he would order the doors locked until the crisis is resolved.
One legislator said, after examining the GOP budget proposal, that he agreed with Justice. “They (Republicans) want to tax services if you build a house,” he said. “Their budget shows eight percent on labor and building materials and then backs part of that expense out by crediting the building material portion. That would not happen at the time of closing, however. The party building the house would have to pay the entire eight percent and later, perhaps, be reimbursed for the building material portion. That’s smoke and mirrors budgeting.”
Summer camp tuition, primary opinion research and other professional services would be taxed under the Republican plan.
Justice has been touring the state, promoting his budget recommendations.