CHARLESTON — Americans for Prosperity - West Virginia has released its 2021 Legislative Agenda that it hopes will pave the way for more freedom for West Virginians.
Jason Huffman, the state director for AFP-WV, said they will have a full-fledged grassroots push for their priorities in 2021.
"Our number one priority is going to be enacting education savings accounts for every kid in West Virginia," Huffman said in an interview with The West Virginia Record. "There's been a lot of contention over the last couple of years with regard to the future of K through 12 education and the state."
Huffman
Huffman said that special interests and organized labor went out and spent millions of dollars to try and defeat champions of educational freedom. He said the legislature needs to make changes to reimagine education in the state.
"The best and most prevalent way to do that is by adopting education savings accounts," Huffman said. "Essentially, what those do is allow parents to access the portion of their child's education funding to totally customize their child's education."
Huffman said the education savings accounts will allow parents to tailor their child's education to their needs.
Huffman said AFP-WV has a very comprehensive agenda.
"It's really meant to act as a road map for lawmakers if they are truly wanting to put West Virginia on a path of prosperity and really doubling down on breaking down the barriers that stand in the way of West Virginians reaching their potential."
Huffman said AFP-WV also hopes lawmakers will work to reimagine healthcare in the state.
"One of the main priorities we have in that regard is to make Gov. Justice's executive orders on healthcare scope of practice permanent through statute," Huffman said. "Ending practice restrictions on nurse anesthetists, ending prescribing restrictions on advance practice registered nurses, things of that nature that remove barriers from medical practitioners who are trained in this scope of practice to be able to administer those services to West Virginians."
Huffman said it is imperative that those executive orders are made permanent.
AFP-WV has been publishing a legislative agenda every year since 2018.
Huffman said he hopes the incoming legislature will swiftly enact sweeping reforms for West Virginia to put it on the path of opportunity.
"Voters have now made their intentions clear," Huffman said. "They rejected the appeals of those who would rather defend the status quo than risk losing some of their power."
Huffman said voters re-elected lawmakers who have supported real change in the state.
"When the legislature returns in February, leaders should view this mandate from the people as encouragement to be bold and unafraid in charting a course that makes West Virginia a better place to live, work, and raise a family," Huffman said.
