Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail

The difference in opinion between Republican lawmakers and the Democratic governor on how to fix state government came through distinctly Thursday in talks to reporters by the Speaker of the House and the governor.

House Speaker Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha, and Gov. Jim Justice, along with Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, each addressed an assembly of reporters and editors at the West Virginia Press Association’s Legislative Breakfast.

Carmichael was his jovial self, starting with a humorous note that made fun of himself and the governor’s continual namecalling of Republican legislators. Pointing to the video screen that showed his photo encased in a tight square, Carmichael joked: “I’ve been called a blockhead recently, and there I am — a blockhead.”

Carmichael then described four pillars he said Republicans are seriously focusing on to grow the state: reforms in regulation, education, civil justice and taxation.

Armstead too spoke of the need for the state to adopt policies that will help West Virginians grow the economy.

“We need to give teachers flexibility. We don’t need to micromanage business … We are trying to free up the creativity and entrepreneurial sprit of our people and our teachers throughout the state,” he said.

Armstead referred to a Justice talk in January when the governor graphically described the state’s budget problems. “We have a patient laying there and blood is shooting to the ceiling,” Justice told a Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce luncheon. “All in the world we can do is trim the toenails.”

But Armstead sees it differently: “The patient isn’t state government,” he said. “The patient is the economy of our state and every man, woman and child in West Virginia. Spending more money and growing state government is not solving our issues.”

Countering another of the governor’s previous statements, Armstead said it takes true courage by lawmakers to look at what government should and should not be and not simply continue to grow it while the state’s population and its business base shrinks.

Justice walked in a few minutes later and, as if on cue, criticized legislators for “not having the courage” to pass his proposed tax increases.

Justice also said that he believes he is more in tune with the average West Virginian than Republican lawmakers, forgetting how many Republicans state voters have put into office the past two elections.

Armstead is right. It doesn’t take courage to grow state government. That’s what lawmakers did for generations and you see where that has got the state and its economy.

The real courage will be shown by those who ask the tough questions of what programs do we really need, what policies and programs actually help the state grow, and how much government can West Virginians really afford.

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