Here’s to breathing easier now that Governor Jim Justice has put forward his personal income tax elimination proposal.
Happy days are just ahead for the state once that tax is gone, the governor says and we rejoice to believe him. After all, when has he ever been wrong? Or led us astray?
If Gentleman Jim says it, you can take it to the bank. He’s a man of his word. Just ask his creditors.
Justice says when the personal income tax is eliminated “this state will grow like you’ve never seen.” One should hope that the red-headed aunt who has been the black sheep of the family and lives out of state doesn’t hear the tax is gone. She’ll be back at your house for Sunday dinner in less than a week. That’s how it works.
Additional toll takers will have to be hired to handle the incoming traffic on the turnpike. Out of staters, unfamiliar with our crooked roads, will increase wrecker traffic 200%, making it more difficult to travel around the state.
Talk about paradise. The Garden of Eden had nothing on us. Except for maybe that one tree but I digress.
Highway signs entering the state will drop “Almost.” From now on, we’ll accept the title, “Heaven.” I’m still digressing. I have a habit of that
Here’s my non-digressive, non-sarcastic opinion: dropping the personal income tax will do nothing to boost the economy.
But this lame duck governor will get his wishes from the obedient legislature.
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Marilyn Monahan says she’s running for Congress in District Two. There’s no indication she’s registered her candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. Unless she’s raising money, that’s probably not a problem.
But on social media, Monahan is a liberal firebrand with plenty of criticism for incumbent Republican Congressman Alex Mooney and former President Donald Trump.
I’ve been posting a daily tally of the number of Covid deaths since President Biden took office, which drives socialists to distraction. I point out that I’m simply continuing the tradition that they began under Trump.
Monahan took exception to my practice, launching into a tirade about Trump.
As I told the equally liberal Senator Bob Beach while he was running for Agriculture Commissioner, it’s difficult to see the political wisdom of attacking Trump when he got 70% of the vote. That’s especially true when one is not running against the ex-president.
For what it’s worth, Monahan blocked me for defending Trump.
She’ll go far by displaying the usual liberal tolerance for the views of others.
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Those hoping for a bright Republican future are coming together behind former State GOP Chair Conrad Lucas for a return to his former job.
Apparently four candidates will be vying for the position left open with the recent resignation of Melody Potter. Either of two of them would make outstanding improvements to the state party. But it appears Lucas has the clear advantage over the other potentially strong choice, Wood County Chair Rob Cornelius.
Not satisfactory would be the other two: Acting Chair Roman Stauffer and Raleigh County Chair Mark Harris.
If we were to ignore Stauffer’s dictatorial reign symbolized by the unconstitutional selection of a House of Delegates member of his — but not the district’s — choice, he’d still be a poor selection. His past driving record makes him unqualified, if nothing else did.
As for Harris, he is simply too far right for even right wingers. He’s also a medical doctor who apparently hasn’t practiced since being ousted at the Beckley Veterans Hospital during the height of their sex scandal a few years ago.
Let me be quick to say hospital officials insisted that Harris’ termination had nothing to do with the sex problems but the timing could have been better.
On Harris, I’d suggest potential committee delegates follow him on social media to see how far right he is.
Meanwhile, Stauffer has been a continued destructive force for the GOP, igniting a raging dispute with the Wayne County committee regarding the House seat. He also is a demonstrated opponent of transparency and seeks to run the party like a fiefdom.
Then there’s the Driving Under the Influence charge from 2013, not demonstrating the highest of values or judgment.
Lest anyone think I’m the only one pushing Lucas for a return to his old job, both Senate President Craig Blair and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw have endorsed him. They have vested interests in the future of the state party.
Committee members should listen to their wise advice.
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Lucas is asking the committee to endorse his choice of Kanawha County Delegate Dianna Graves as Co-Chair and Putnam County Commissioner Andy Skidmore as Treasurer. All vestiges of the dictatorial Potter-Stauffer reign would end if the Lucas slate is chosen.
It’s time to come clean, Republicans.
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There’s nothing like experience to judge a person. I can testify that Lucas always dealt with the press and public openly and honestly as chair. There was no hiding and holding secret meetings as is the norm for Potter and Stauffer.
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Credit should go to Republican Cabell Delegate John Mandt Jr. and his Stewart’s Hot Dog locations. Mandt and family have busily donated water and hundreds of hot dogs to victims of recent flooding in Cabell and Wayne counties.
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I’m often asked about local news colleagues. Most recently, I have no idea why the Associated Press and H-D Newspapers chose to report that Governor Justice agreed to pay former Delegate Isaac Sponaugle’s legal fees in the residency writ case.
The court order clearly didn’t say that. It actually cited law that cleared the way for taxpayers to foot legal charges for both sides. Nowhere does it give any impression that Justice is paying anything out of his pocket.
But that’s what AP and H-D newspapers insisted. Feeling some loyalty to H-D, I emailed the editor to point out that the reporter got it wrong. They did not change their story. Sponaugle appeared on two talk radio shows and confirmed that the taxpayers are paying. No change to the story.
The only possible motivation would be that they didn’t want to deal with an enraged public if the truth was known.
So much for the late Gazette Publisher Ned Chilton’s “sustained outrage.” They lost it years ago.
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I’ve long since forgotten most of the testiness we endured during my tenure on the Lincoln Public Service District board.
Now, apparently, all the district’s field workers walked off the job.
I knew 20 years ago that there was only one real solution for that PSD’s troubles. It isn’t financially feasible. It should be sold to West Virginia-American Water without delay.
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Some people are amazing. A former Parkersburg councilman joined short time Wayne County Delegate Derrick Evans in being charged in the January 6 rally at the U.S. Capitol.
Eric Barber was charged with entering a restricted area, disorderly conduct and theft. A judge set his bond at $10,000 unsecured.
Barber was elected to Parkersburg City Council in 2016. He lost for reelection in November 2020.
Apparently eloquent and a top-notch grammarian, Barber is best known for his Facebook post, ”Better Get You’re Coathangers Ready Liberals,” after Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed by the Senate for the Supreme Court in 2018.
Gosh. No wonder our stereotype is always so positive.
Ron Gregory is a regular political columnist and government reporter for lootpress.com. Contact him at 304-533-5185 or ronjgregory@gmail.com.
