Opinions
THEIR VIEW: McGraw fails to step up
HARPERS FERRY -- In the ongoing legal fights against unchecked federal government regulation and authority, a state's Attorney General should be on the front lines. From a constitutional perspective, an Attorney General is supposed to uphold the rule of law as the top legal officer and leading law enforcement official of a state. A successful Attorney General should be actively engaged in interpreting and challenging laws.
THEIR VIEW: Myths about appeals court legislation continue
CHARLESTON -- By now, readers of The West Virginia Record likely are numb to personal injury spokesman Michael Romano's outrageous hyperbole. However, his continued misstatements call for a correction.
THEIR VIEW: Taking the Mountain State to the world market
CHARLESTON -- Recently I had the privilege of awarding the Governor's Commendation for International Market Entry to 49 West Virginia companies.
THEIR VIEW: Davis opts to stay home
MORGANTOWN -- State Supreme Court Justice Robin Davis has made current and aspiring officeholders of her own Democratic Party -- and a few Republicans -- breathe a little easier.
THEIR VIEW: Private sector growth is vital
CHARLESTON -- In recent weeks, I had the opportunity to meet with hard working West Virginians who are growing our state's private sector.
THEIR VIEW: Losers always want another chance
Romano CLARKSBURG -- We all hate "tit for tat," but the recent article by Richie Heath, director of the so-called Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA), again demanding the state expand government by creating an intermediate court of appeals, begs a response.
THEIR VIEW: International trade comes with certain risks
CHARLESTON -- West Virginia businesses are working hard to compete on the world stage. Our abundant natural resources -– coal, timber, metals –- actually allow our Mountain State to realize an almost-unheard-of trade surplus.
THEIR VIEW: CEOs low ranking of W.Va. not good for business
MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia has gotten yet another bad business ranking. This time it comes from Chief Executive Magazine, which recently published its list of the best and worst states to do business in 2011.
THEIR VIEW: Personal attacks aimed at protecting profits, not justice
CHARLESTON -- As head of the West Virginia Association for Justice (WVAJ) — the official name of West Virginia's personal injury lawyers — Michael Romano continues to do his best to demagogue the issue of appeals court legislation.
THEIR VIEW: Folks who have everything always want more
CLARKSBURG -- Ever notice that the more folks have, the harder it is for them to recognize how good they have it. Like rich folks who seem to have everything, they whine and stomp their feet until their own delusional view of the world comes crashing down on them.
THEIR VIEW: The time is now for deficit reduction
WASHINGTON -- Last week's announcement by Standard & Poor's that it was cutting the outlook on our nation's long-term rating from stable to negative for the first time in 70 years was a cold, hard reality check -- we need to get our fiscal house in order sooner, rather than later, or suffer the consequences.
THEIR VIEW: More government contracting opportunities for small businesses
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. -- Before I was appointed to this position a few months ago, I spent more than 20 years in the small business contracting community. In the short time I have been serving as Regional Administrator, one thing has become clear -- this Administration is serious about expanding government contracting opportunities for small businesses.
THEIR VIEW: School choice victory
MORGANTOWN -- School choice advocates won a significant victory recently in the U.S. Supreme Court.
THEIR VIEW: Chamber has it wrong about need for court
CLARKSBURG -- Steve Roberts and his West Virginia Chamber are at it again -- bad mouthing West Virginia, hoping to scare legislators into eliminating more of our hard-earned rights.
THEIR VIEW: Judicial system is hurting West Virginia
CHARLESTON -- Senate Bill 307 - legislation to establish an intermediate court of appeals in West Virginia - passed overwhelmingly in the State Senate this past legislative session. Gov. Tomblin supported this effort and encouraged passage of the bill.
THEIR VIEW: Reducing the food tax
CHARLESTON -- "A penny saved is a penny earned." With that, Benjamin Franklin added to a growing collection of wise words to share with a very young nation. These wise words still apply today.
THEIR VIEW: Session shows need for leadership
CHARLESTON -- The recently adjourned legislative session reinforces my belief that West Virginia is in dire need of true leadership.