I continue to listen/ read as Mr. Justice exhorts the people of the State to rally around his $450 Million in Tax Increases while cutting so little as too not matter. $27 Million would be a cheap tip in an eatery for that type of a bill.
He recently berated the huge number of people at the Department of Education to monitor ever fewer students by ever increasing State Employees. Somewhere in the number of 230 too many he noted. Yet, in his culling of the ranks, it seems no one on the DOE dole are on the way out the door. Yes, three of the DOE mug wumps are out and that may or may not be a good thing? Remember, sometimes the cure is worse than the disease.
If the good Governor cannot come up with $300 Million in cuts/ reductions in the bloated (his/ their words) budget, than he should go back to running his Casino and Coal Mines. It is there, ripe for the picking. But only then, come with his hand out to the Legislature for more tax increases.
He is beginning to sound like Mr. Obama in his first eight years and his extension along with Mr. Rapp for the surrogate four years beginning 1 Jan 2017. Tax and Spend while ignoring the dire needs not of just of the State/ City, but more so the people of the State/ City shouldering the burden versus each level of Governance.
While it can be hoped that the Legislature will use a jaundiced eye to look at his attempts to further pick the pockets of the poor versus eliminating the unnecessary well of State employees who are awaiting their retirement dates? Time will as in most things out the Truth?
As we know, the BOE has for a plethora of reasons voted down the Fenton Glass Site for the new Elementary Grade School in Williamstown. Now the mugwumps of that fine town are out rounding up support to get a new school. NO one I have seen or heard has denied the need for the new school or even the High School changes. The processes/ procedures are what seem to have run afoul of those entrusted to spend every tax dollar wisely or not.
Is their a legitimate concern for the remediation issue for the site? Could have been resolved if Mr. Fenton was so sure of its safety by giving the extended guarantee to cover any future remediation that might come up. As I noted before, it was a no brainer; promise something knowing it was not likely to need to happen. Case Closed; instead a refusal that seemed to panic some BOE members into a NO vote?
Than like people after my own heart, go after the BOE for what was the word used against them? Oh, yes; "Cowardice". Takes more stones to vote NO in the face of a mob than to roll over immediately. And so the hunt will continue to find an acceptable site if there be one?
I would hope that the research group did in actuality do their due diligence and find the best of the worst if that was the choice open to them. But would also hope that it was really the best of the choices of several possible good sites to choose from? People are mad, hurt, screaming for blood and heating the tar and cutting the poles against the BOE for their vote. How about a couple of weeks to re-examine the data and what it really says? Then AGAIN ask Mr. Fenton for an extended guarantee on remediation. His answer at that time would probably indicate his faith in the safety of the property or his knowledge that is is not safe? He is the one who holds the key to the kingdom at this time.
And was there really that much surprise that the P'burg City Council approved the "Brunch Bill"? I was surprised at Ms. Kuhl being so openly against it so fast, but she did campaign a bit on not going for it. In the article covering the Council Meeting on the approved first hearing, it was "casually" noted that Vienna had voted it down. Ignored by the P'burg folks due to the Political pressures of the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau (GPC&VB), plus the powerful businesses pushing for it. It showed the usual lack of city resident participation that could be hoped to turn out? In Vienna the only folks to say anything pro or con was the above noted GPC&VB plus one resident. I was not in favor of the 10:00 A.M., opening time but knew I would be hard pressed to speak so just listened and watched.
And as I have previously posted, the Council voted the City versus the City Governance that by and large refuses to recognize there are more than 2000 people living here. This will of course come up again and as I have noted, which of the four no votes will get rolled?
The effort to redo the way Delegates are chosen sounds a bit like the Repubs want to try and break the for decades long control the Dem's had over that House and in actuality the whole Legislative body. On the surface the infamous "one man, one vote" is the end result. I believe that Wood County with its unwritten but cast in concrete belief that it must have a Senator no matter what the rest of the District may choose to run and from where is more of an issue than the one for the Delegates. Last Election, it turned out that Mr. Ashley from Roane County lost his seat because of the Political pressure to ensure Wood had its very own Senator. He squared off against the powerful Ms. Boley and got his head handed to him. A sweet State job now as a reward? When we have the Democans and the Republicrats as our only choice each Election and they both vote to protect themselves from any disclosure when caught abusing their position, power and authority, it is a sad commentary on State Politics. 'nuff said'.