Opinions
Judges without judgment
“We were kind of busy being judges and not paying attention to administrative things,” said West Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Margaret Workman in response to the latest uproar over the most recent exposure of two justices' abuse of public funds to accommodate themselves in the extravagant style to which they wanted to become accustomed.
Standing up for West Virginia's seniors
CHARLESTON – Every West Virginian has basic human rights, regardless of age, to be protected from unlawful harm and suffering.
West Virginians have stopped singing the blues
The song "Happy Days," written at the outset of the Great Depression, became the campaign song for Franklin Delano Roosevelt's first presidential bid in 1932, but it could have been applied to Donald Trump's campaign 84 years later.
Confidence and optimism for small businesses in tax season
Tax season tends to bring out a sense of dread. Whether you’re a business owner gathering a year’s worth of receipts in a file box for your accountant or a family scratching out formulas at the kitchen table, the paperwork and the ever-nagging fear that you’ve forgotten something makes mid-April our least favorite time of year.
Solution: revise HB 4009 and pass it again
House Bill 4009, capping the amount of settlement funds that the state Attorney General’s office can keep in its consumer protection fund, passed both houses of the Legislature by overwhelming margins, but was vetoed by Gov. Jim Justice.
With the foundation in place, state's future is limitless
CHARLESTON – Now that the dust has settled, and the static has quieted a little, I think there’s an opportunity to reflect a little bit about the past couple of months in terms of wins and losses for our state’s taxpayers.
Wins for all: W.Va. royalty owners, counties will benefit from this session
CHARLESTON – The second session of the 83rd Legislature of West Virginia concluded on March 10, and while the session was dominated by the teachers strike, there were several important pieces of legislation passed to benefit the citizens of West Virginia.
Going in the right direction, long way to go
Last month we trumpeted a progressive development in West Virginia: a new and growing effort to change direction and make our business climate a more friendly one.
West Virginia sues DEA, reforms national drug policy
CHARLESTON – Every aspect of the pharmaceutical supply chain bears responsibility for the havoc and senseless death unleashed upon West Virginia – and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is no exception.
Someone should put a safety cone in front of that speed bump!
“The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly,”said British philosopher Herbert Spencer, “is to fill the world with fools.”
West Virginia has reasons to be hopeful for the future
CHARLESTON – As we take some time to reflect upon the conclusion of the 83rd Session of the West Virginia Legislature, there is an opportunity to remember the accomplishments of the previous year, think about areas where we could improve, and look toward the long-term progress of our wonderful state.
Share, share, share, share your booty
Picture the bank runs of the Depression. Financial institutions could accommodate the small number of nervous customers wanting to withdraw their savings and close their accounts, at first. As the number of withdrawals increased and panic set in, cash reserves rapidly dwindled until one by one the banks were shuttered.
The Second Amendment must be respected, period
HUNTINGTON – There is no population in America more adamant about protecting our constitutional rights than West Virginians, and chief among these God-given rights is the Second Amendment. As a candidate for Congress in Southern West Virginia’s third district, my promise to the voters is this: I will always defend your right to keep and bear arms, and I pledge to be a tireless voice for our pro-gun values on every possible occasion.
One Sheets to the wind
A dozen roses, a heart-shaped box of chocolates, dinner at a fancy restaurant – those are some of the more common gifts given and received on Valentine's Day. Joshua Sheets of Danville might have settled for a cute little card signed in crayon by a secret admirer asking him to “Be Mine.” That would have been preferable to the unique Valentine's present that the Boone County attorney did receive this year.
West Virginia leading on national stage in election security
CHARLESTON – Imagine a geo-strategic judo match. All the power, strength, momentum, and confidence we have happens to be confronted by a failing, weak, corrupt regime. How does the weaker challenge the stronger? Use the mightier’s strengths against him. It’s classic judo. We are up against a corrupt Russia, but it’s led by a black belt, martial arts expert. This is precisely what Putin and the Russians are doing to the U.S. Allow me to explain.
'Justice Robin Jean Davis cordially invites you to join her for a Cocktail Buffet ...'
Have you ever been invited to dine at Justice Robin Davis' home? No? Neither have we. We hear she lays out a sumptuous spread, though, as exemplified by the dinner she hosted for circuit court judges at her home in the fall of 2013. Among the many delectable buffet items to nosh on were asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, artichoke tartlets, seared tuna on sesame crackers, pork tenderloin with apricot chutney, roasted red pepper and mushroom and artichoke pasta, and leek and pancetta and mushroom panzanella.
Peter should not pay for the sins of Paul
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A fundamental of our legal system is that each person is responsible for his or her own conduct, not that of another person. This same principle applies in the area of product liability law in that a manufacturer should only be responsible for its own product, not that of a competitor.
Winking at McGraw, scowling at Morrisey
Ever since the departure of the previous state attorney general, whom they let do as he pleased for 20 years, the West Virginia House of Delegates has feigned concern that the reformer who replaced him might run amok. “Ironic” doesn't half describe it.
Supreme Court spending controversy triggers shake-up
MORGANTOWN – West Virginia MetroNews statewide correspondent Brad McElhinny reported last Friday, “a rumor has been circulating in recent days that federal authorities have been interviewing (State Supreme) Court officials.”
West Virginia is going in the right direction
“We all want progress,” C.S. Lewis once observed, “but. if you’re on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.”