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Working for W.Va.

The recent imbroglio between Gov. Patrick Morrisey and Senator Jim Justice highlights the problems of West Virginia. Instead of offering a forward vision, Morrisey focused on the shortcomings of his predecessor. Not since Joe Manchin denigrated fellow Democrat Bob Wise’s record for declaring “help is on the way” in 2004 has an incoming governor criticized a member of his own party. The vision offered by Morrisey was ideologically conservative and devoid of ideas for moving the state forward. Morrisey claimed that the state was $400 million in debt, a figure that Justice decried ...

W.Va. on my mind as committee chairman

After the American people made their voices heard in November, President Trump is now back in the White House with a Republican majority in both chambers of Congress. In this new Congress, my role has expanded. For the first time, I will serve as the senior-senator from West Virginia, the Chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, and importantly, the Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The Environment and Public Works Committee, or the EPW Committee as it is typically called, is tasked with developing policies to address the infrastructure, ...

Using the power of nonprofits

Communities across Appalachia face many challenges, including job losses, economic struggles, and shrinking populations. In his book, “Building a Vibrant Community,” Quint Studer highlights the important role that nonprofit organizations play in making communities stronger. These groups help meet local needs, bring people together, and create new opportunities. In places like Elkins-Randolph County, nonprofits help preserve cultural traditions, boost the economy, and improve everyday life. One of the biggest ways nonprofits make a difference is by filling in the gaps where ...

American Dream fading

Like many Americans this week, my Facebook and text messages have been filled with sadness, stress and uncertainty as friends and neighbors express their disbelief at what is happening to public servants everywhere. These shared posts are filled with once-smiling Park Service employees and others whose employment has been unjustifiably and suddenly terminated. Their lives have been shattered. The long dedication to their jobs ignored. How could this happen in our country, they are asking. Since Inauguration Day, the daily barrage of executive orders signed with an oversized black ...

Saga of a Senator

If you are fascinated by history, this week’s column is for you. To be fully transparent, I ran this column in 2022 when I completed reading Oscar Lambert’s 1955 book titled “Stephen Benton Elkins.” The bulk of the content that follows is compliments of the author. Davis & Elkins College owes its name to two prominent West Virginia Senators: Henry Gassaway Davis and Stephen Benton Elkins. Senator Davis, who built Graceland on our campus, is the more widely known. His son-in-law, Senator Elkins, who built the campus’ Halliehurst mansion, lived a truly amazing life. The ...

Heart to heart

I’m writing this on Valentine’s Day, three days into the 60-day legislative session, and if Gov. Patrick Morrisey and some members of the Republican caucus in the House of Delegates have love for each other, I’m having a hard time seeing the floating hearts. Morrisey presented his first State of the State address Wednesday night to a joint session of the West Virginia Legislature, but even before he presented his legislative agenda, I was hearing consternation from House Republicans about pressure from those in the Morrisey administration. In fact, one thing I noticed Friday is ...