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CHARLESTON -- Gov. Jim Justice dismissed the support by West Virginia's two U.S. House of Representatives members for Amendment 2 on Wednesday, accusing one of a conflict of interest and the other of barely being a West Virginian.
In a joint statement released Tuesday, 2nd District Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., and 3rd District Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va, came out in support of Amendment 2 on the Nov. 8 ballot that would give the West Virginia Legislature the authority to exempt six categories of tangible personal property taxes from being collected.
"We support Amendment 2 because businesses in West Virginia should not be at a competitive disadvantage due to an antiquated tax system of our own state," Miller and Mooney said. "Passing Amendment 2 will help create jobs, keep our neighbors employed, and bring people to the Mountain State."
During a virtual briefing with reporters Wednesday afternoon from the Capitol shortly before a community conversation on Amendment 2 in South Charleston, Justice said Amendment 2's real goal was to centralize control of counties in Charleston. Justice has spent the last several weeks traveling around the state to oppose Amendment 2.
"When it really boils down to it, it's nice to sit back and say this is going to drive more and more and more people to West Virginia, more growth to West Virginia, and it's an antiquated law and this and that," Justice said. "If we're truly Republicans and we're very fair, we're giving up county local control … so Charleston can control all that is going on in those counties. You've got to be kidding me."
Mooney and Miller are the only incumbent Republicans on the November ballot for Congress. Population loss after the 2020 U.S. Census caused the state to drop from three congressional districts to two.
"West Virginia is experiencing a population decline that leaves our congressional delegation with just two seats in the United States House of Representatives," Mooney and Miller said. "This is a clear sign that we should be doing everything possible to encourage new economic growth and business expansion in West Virginia."
Justice accused Miller of having a conflict of interest in supporting Amendment 2. Miller's family owns the Dutch Miller chain of car dealerships in southern West Virginia. Miller's son, Chris Miller, is a company executive at Dutch Miller and a Republican candidate for governor in 2024. Justice said eliminating the tangible personal property taxes on machinery/equipment and inventory would benefit automobile dealerships as well as coal companies owned by Justice himself.
"I think that Congresswoman Miller may have a real live conflict," Justice said. "If I were out actively supporting getting rid of the machinery and inventory tax, basically I'd be saying 'get rid of this tax and everything because it's going to bring me millions of dollars,' but I'm the one saying don't do it. Just ask yourself, the automobile dealers; does Congresswoman Miller have a conflict? Are they going to get real live money? They sure are."
Justice also attacked Mooney, whom he opposed in the 2nd District Republican primary. Mooney defeated 1st District Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., in the race for the new northern 2nd District. Both Justice and McKinley have attacked Mooney, who was previously a Maryland state lawmaker and political official before moving to Charles Town and winning election to House seat in 2014 previously held by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
"I'm not throwing any rocks at Congressman Mooney, but I've been here six years and I've barely seen Congressman Mooney one time in six years," Justice said Wednesday. "Does Congressman Mooney even know West Virginia exists?"
Mooney faces Democratic candidate Barry Wendell in November. Miller faces Democratic opponent Lacy Watson and independent Belinda Fox-Spencer.