×

Justice won’t veto or sign budget

WHEELING — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice will not sign the $4.228 billion budget bill passed by the Legislature, but he will allow it to become law without his signature.

“I can’t possibly put my name on this,” Justice said during an announcement Wednesday morning. “I think we have a travesty.”

Justice, a Democrat, said he would like to veto the budget, which the Republican-controlled Legislature eventually passed after weeks of debates and negotiations. However, he said he would decline to use the veto, citing the potential of shutting down the government after June 30 in the absence of a new budget.

“There is no way that this should not be vetoed, but there is no time,” Justice said. “We can’t shut the government down.”

After more than a month in special session — while also discussing the matter throughout this year’s entire regular legislative session — the House and Senate agreed to a $4.228 billion budget and needed road revenue measures late Friday.

In Justice’s view, the budget will hurt the state’s coal miners, teachers, veterans, seniors and anyone involved with festivals or tourism.

“We can’t seem to get it. We just don’t get it,” he said. “How bloomin’ dumb can we be?”

Justice said he knows some blame him for the budgetary dilemma. He said this is not fair because he just started this year.

“I didn’t cause this mess. I tried to fix a mess,” Justice said.

House of Delegates Speaker Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha, said the budget passed Friday “reflect the economic realities” West Virginia faces.

“I believe the governor is doing the right thing in ensuring we avoid a government shutdown and easing our employees’ and citizens’ state of mind,” he said. “We knew coming into this year that we would have to make tough decisions to balance this budget, and we heard the message from our citizens that they couldn’t afford the massive tax increases the governor originally sought.”

Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, said he’s thankful that Justice plans to allow a budget to become law that “places no additional tax burden” on residents. He also urged his legislative colleagues not to abandon efforts to revise the state’s tax code, on which the House and Senate could not reach agreement after weeks of debate.

“West Virginia’s dire financial situation will force us to make a choice in the future: We will have to continue making cuts to programs and services, or we must pass meaningful, comprehensive tax reform,” Carmichael said. “It’s my hope that this responsible budget serves as the starting point for a conversation that will prove that tax reform can bring our state tremendous benefit.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $3.92/week.

Subscribe Today