Tomblin Should Announce Veto Intent
TOMBLIN SHOULD ANNOUNCE VETO INTENTState GOP Chair Says Tomblin Rhetoric Should Match Actions
CHARLESTON, WV – West Virginia’s Legislature enters its final week of the regular session. As of today, not a signle dollar has been cut from the state budget but hundreds of millions in new spending over the next ten years has been put forth. West Virginia maintains a pension system that is in debt by approximately $8 billion.
“It is truly Christmas in March at the Legislature," said Mike Stuart, Chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party. “If pork was good for you, the liberal Democrats in the Legislature would be the healthiest legislators in the country. While regular folks are being whipped with higher energy, gasoline, and food costs, the Legislature is focused on pay raises as the solution to our problems. Where are the tax cuts? Where are the jobs? Republicans want to eliminate the food tax but the liberal Democrats would rather give pay raises to their friends.”
“West Virginia’s unemployment rate has increased to 10.3%, a full 1.4% higher than the country as a whole. More than ten West Virginia counties have 14% or higher unemployment and 25 are higher than 12%. In addition to the startling upward trend in unemployment, West Virginia government workers earn higher average pay and benefits than private sector workers and, according to the State Auditor, government jobs continue to grow,” said Stuart. “All the while, the liberals in the Legislature are trying to solve our problems with payraises, tax and fee increases, and new regulations. We are in debt, every Democrat leader is running for Governor, and nobody is watching the cash register.”
“Tomblin has publicly stated he is worried about the pay raises but he has wavered on the irresponsible actions of his friends in the Legislature,” continued Stuart. “It is time Tomblin’s actions match his rhetoric. Tomblin needs to veto any spending increase that crosses his desk and he needs to make his intent clear to the Legislature today. If Tomblin wants to be Governor, he should make clear that, as Governor, he would not be a puppet of liberal special interests or liberal Legislators. He talks about fiscal responsibility and now he can prove it.”
“So far, despite our massive debt, not a single dollar has been cut from the state budget this year. The Legislators have passed hundreds of millions in massive new spending for government workers over the next ten years while ordinary families get nothing – no cut in the food tax, income tax, or gasoline tax,” said Stuart. “Ordinary families are suffering while Legislators are handing out raises as favors to the special interests,” concluded Stuart. “Tomblin needs to decide where he stands and the voters will decide where he sits.”
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Paid for by the WV Republican Party
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