CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey condemned California's ban on state-funded travel to West Virginia and 16 other states.
Morrisey strongly criticized California's ban and called in an affront to the respect that the Constitution affords each state to govern as the constituents deem fit.
“States should not penalize other states because of policy differences,” Morrisey said. “The economic coercion demonstrated by California is an affront to the dignity of other co-sovereign states and amounts to legislating across state borders in an effort to force the radical world view of large states onto those living elsewhere."
Morrisey's comments were in response to California's decision to ban state-funded travel to West Virginia, Arkansas, Florida, Montana and North Dakota, as well as 12 other states that were already on the ban list. California AG Rob Bonta announced the new states being added to the list June 28.
West Virginia was added to the list because of recently passed legislation related to single-sex participation in interscholastic athletic events.
“Federalism works best when individual states can pursue policies supported by their own constituents, and in West Virginia, our office will defend the state’s efforts to protect the integrity of women’s sports," Morrisey said. "Title IX opened many opportunities for girls and women across the Mountain State and beyond. This legislation preserves fair competition. It is simply wrong for other states to exert financial pressure in such a manner."
Morrisey urged people to visit West Virginia.
“West Virginia is a beautiful state, and I continually urge everyone – in California and elsewhere – to experience its magnificent hills, streams and adventure, as well as its loving people,” he said.
Earlier this month, Morrisey said his office would intervene in defense of the newly passed law in a lawsuit filed against West Virginia and the state Board of Education by a transgender child. That lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.