And than came our other local Delegate, one Frank Deem who advised on why Oil/ Gas pumping under any other name is a Blessing in disguise for those not working. Yet, many of the many openings in the Oil/ Gas/ Coal/ Trucking in and of itself are open because the folks cannot pass a drug test. Others are victims of an Educational System that has failed this State for Decades on a good count. Far too many who did learn to read, rite and reckon have fled to greener pastures as soon as they had the means. What is left is what in many other areas could be called the "flotsam and jetsam" of life.
We need desperately to deal with the drug abuse and the poor educational system. Neither can be fixed in weeks, months or years. School improvement will not show for at least a decade while the very young work through their school years and really benefit from the needed improvements. The drug issues will never be solved. We have had drug problems since man first learned that certain plants were for a short time better than sex. In the right sequencing for sure a great night and a thick head the next day.
I was truly astounded at the unbelievable number of Hydrocodone and Oxycodone shipped into West Virginia by at least three major pharmaceutical companies. Kermit WV., with a population of 392 receiving almost 9 million Hydrocodone pills in two (2) years. Kanawha County with a population of 190,000 people receiving 66 MILLION.
Yet as was noted in the above "Our Opinion" column, it appears DEA has been a bit slow in asking WHY? Kermit alone with 9 Million / by 365 days a year= almost 25,000 pills a day. Divide that 25,000., by 392 people= over 60 pills per person/day. How are any of those folks still alive? Simple, those pills went to Kermit and ended up all over the surrounding areas in lower West Virginia. Could we call it a "Distribution Center"? And State Medicaid paid for how much of this abuse? Who was minding the store?
The Drug Companies have had tremendous clout with the Government for years. The Lobbyist go around with Steamer Trunks full of cash to make "donations/ contributions/ gifts" as needed to get support for their programs.
And as I read more on the ongoing tussle in Charleston over a budget, our Legislative group I am all in for a solid budget but no more taxes than they feel are needed to support their supporters. So the infamous "I will give you this, if you will give me that" game is on. As I have said before, in the end the common folks will pay dearly for the "Solution".
And the Senate has taken mercy on us and only voted to raise the Sales Tax to 6.85% instead of the 7% we have been hearing for months now. Not so much as to run you across the river, but enough to get about all everyone wants. What was sad, were the four Senators who could not even be on hand to vote. Would it have made a difference? Don't see it in the numbers, but for sure see it for those Districts that got left out of saying a position? The Bill 1007 as noted in the Daily Blat seemed a bit foggy on what is going to be taxed and how much in Truth? The part on Telecommunications is apparently the new gold mine in this deal.
All the talk on reducing taxes for Retirees on their income seems confusing? We have unearned income at the Federal level like Pensions, Interest, Dividends and so on. Than we have what is usually the meat and potatoes part on earned income which for most are wage/ salaries. Now I know West Virginia does not appear to allow much for deductions, but am also nervous on how the unearned becomes mixed into the new bill? While the supposed push is to do away with the Personal Income Tax versus the Sales Tax, one must remember those on Pensions/ lower wages will suffer much more with a higher Sales Tax on purchases.
And as noted, the boys and girls called it a day for the third day without resolving the $500,000,000 Million (lot of damn zero's for a State with only 1,800,000 Million Population), budget shortfall just a short ways away. But only about $277.00/ each. Mr. Justice is sounding like Mr. Trump in blaming his guys for not supporting his tax increase bill. They just went and voted for their own version of a Tax Bill without telling him about it. Would think the "NO" vote would have been loud enough for Mr. Justice to hear clearly?
And finally one of the other bulls in the china shop is snorting. The raise in the Gas Tax to provide an expected $136 Million for infrastructure repairs / replacements.
The Parkersburg Area Community Foundation had an article that was dated 20 May 2017 and supposed to be in today's paper? Sure was not in MY paper this morning.
Parkersburg Area Community Foundation awards grants
May 20, 2017 From staff reports
[email protected] (Posted here 4:00 P.M., 20 May 2017)
The foundation awarded a total of $163,209 region-wide through its Community Action Grants Program to organizations within the foundation’s 11-county service region of Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Jackson, Mason, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood counties in West Virginia, and Washington County, Ohio.
Grant recipients gathered at the foundation’s office Thursday to celebrate their grant awards. Among the grants awarded in this cycle, several support programs designed to help those recovering from substance-abuse and addiction.
There was a long list of recipients (included I think $3500. for a Spencer Park in Doddridge County that had me a bit confused until I checked and found it), which thankfully did not appear to include the ever begging City of Vienna/ Mr. Rapp holding his tin cup routine, while having over $9 Million in Revenue this year. And that does NOT include the VUB budget which is now in motion.
There are SO many more deserving and needier groups that can use donations, grants, gifts and have few resources to obtain funds. I am very pleased at the generosity of so many for those activities and hope the recipients use their dollars wisely. 'nuff said'.