In presidential elections, Virginia may have finally improved its standing over West Virginia. But at every other level, West Virginia still leads.
On most major economic matters, West Virginia's laws remain among the more progressive in America. West Virginia's activist conservative contingent also remains weaker than in Virginia.
But West Virginia Del. John Overington - a Republican - wants to change all that.
Overington has a cockamamie plan that he says would completely revolutionize the Mountain State. He's proposing a 1-page bill that would substitute Virginia's entire legal code in place of West Virginia's - almost verbatim.
"We would just adopt Virginia's statutes," Overington bragged.
In doing so, West Virginia would gain an oppressive work-for-less law and anti-consumer tort "reform."
John Overington and other Republicans tried this same gambit several years ago. Needless to say, it didn't pass. But he didn't learn, I guess.
When Overington's bill fails again this time, he plans to offer a specific work-for-less bill - which isn't likely to pass either.
The irony is that West Virginia was carved from Virginia during the Civil War largely because of political differences with Virginia. You've got a hell of a way to unwin the war, Ovie.
Uh, John? You're in West Virginia. Kindly act like it.
(And yes, Overington's physical resemblance to Captain Kangaroo has been noted.)
Friday, February 13, 2009
Lawmaker doesn't know what state he's in
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Considering West Virginia is the second or third poorest state based on incomes, while Virginia's household incomes are near the top, I'd say West Virginia could stand to learn a few things from its southeastern neighbor. West Virginia's economy relies heavily on coal mining, an industry President Obama has vowed to "bankrupt." Virginia is the nation's leader in technology jobs. If West Virginia's so-called "progressive" policies have worked to its people's detriment, what progress is being made?
ReplyDeleteWait a minute there Scheffy you got it all wrong...
ReplyDeleteWV has the laws it has _because_ it is poor...not the other way around.
VA has the laws it has because it is rich...not the other way around.
The United Mine Workers (plus the coal miners of southern IL) supported Obama BTW.
BTW this meme about Obama saying he'd "bankrupt" coal was a smear put out by the media just before the election.
ReplyDeleteIt didn't work in Southern IL, judging by the election results there.
No … Say what you will about labor laws, but employers set up shop in Virginia because its laws are among the business-friendliest in the country. High tech companies are always going to locate in places where the cost of operating is lowest. That includes many factors, but labor costs are a big one.
ReplyDeleteUsing Obama's own words against him is not a smear, but I was not attacking him. The point is, given the current administration's commitment to "clean" or "green" energy, burning coal is going out of style. That's going to hurt W.Va. if it is unable to attract new industries.
Employers set up shop in VA because they purposely try to depress wages.
ReplyDeleteThey apparently haven't been too successful in suppressing wages because the average income in Virginia is the 9th highest in the country. Meanwhile, "progessive" West Virginia consistently ranks in the bottom three in average income.
ReplyDeleteList of some more work-for-less states: AL, MS, AR, LA
ReplyDeleteList of some NON-work-for-less states: CT, NH
Any questions?