Posts by Gary Zuckett
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Newsletter article Gary Zuckett March 18, 2024
Bad Bills: Dead or Alive? (Mostly Dead)
The lawmaking process was designed to make it hard to pass legislation. That’s a 2-edged sword, but lately it has been working in our favor. More
Issues: Budget priorities, Discrimination, Energy, Environment
Bad Bills: Dead or Alive? (Mostly Dead)
The lawmaking process was designed to make it hard to pass legislation. That’s a 2-edged sword, but lately it has been working in our favor. More
Issues: Budget priorities, Discrimination, Energy, Environment
Newsletter article Gary Zuckett January 31, 2024
Too Many Bills, and Not Enough Good Ones!
Week four has seen the introduction of 1,388 bills in the House and 613 in the Senate as of today, Jan. 31, 2024. Your input is important! As you read through this update take a few minutes to send a personal note to your legislators on issues that resonate with you. More
Issues: Elections, Energy, Environment
Too Many Bills, and Not Enough Good Ones!
Week four has seen the introduction of 1,388 bills in the House and 613 in the Senate as of today, Jan. 31, 2024. Your input is important! As you read through this update take a few minutes to send a personal note to your legislators on issues that resonate with you. More
Issues: Elections, Energy, Environment
Newsletter article Gary Zuckett January 24, 2024
‘Bad Idea Factory’ in Full Swing
Some of the most harmful proposals deal with criminal law. Not only are they doubling down on the failed war on drugs, but two different death penalty bills have been introduced in the Senate. Not satisfied that they did enough harm to trans youth during the last legislative session, there is yet another bill (SB 194) aimed at further restricting access to care to life-saving care for these vulnerable young people. There's also a transphobic ‘bathroom bill’ (HB 4806) seeks to prohibit trans youth from using school restrooms associated with their gender identity. More
Issues: Discrimination, Education, Healthcare, Kids and families
‘Bad Idea Factory’ in Full Swing
Some of the most harmful proposals deal with criminal law. Not only are they doubling down on the failed war on drugs, but two different death penalty bills have been introduced in the Senate. Not satisfied that they did enough harm to trans youth during the last legislative session, there is yet another bill (SB 194) aimed at further restricting access to care to life-saving care for these vulnerable young people. There's also a transphobic ‘bathroom bill’ (HB 4806) seeks to prohibit trans youth from using school restrooms associated with their gender identity. More
Issues: Discrimination, Education, Healthcare, Kids and families
Newsletter article Gary Zuckett October 24, 2023
Kanawha State Forest Gas Well Tour
The purpose of this hike was to show the need for more DEP well inspectors, funding for plugging leaky orphaned wells because of the danger they pose to groundwater, climate, and the health of local residents. We’ll also be asking lawmakers to pass the "Orphaned Gas Well Prevention Act” for new and transferred wells, to require drillers to set aside money in the Treasurer's office as the well produces income to cover the eventual plugging costs when the wells stop producing (become "abandoned"). More
Issues: Gas Wells, Orphaned Wells, Pollution
Kanawha State Forest Gas Well Tour
The purpose of this hike was to show the need for more DEP well inspectors, funding for plugging leaky orphaned wells because of the danger they pose to groundwater, climate, and the health of local residents. We’ll also be asking lawmakers to pass the "Orphaned Gas Well Prevention Act” for new and transferred wells, to require drillers to set aside money in the Treasurer's office as the well produces income to cover the eventual plugging costs when the wells stop producing (become "abandoned"). More
Issues: Gas Wells, Orphaned Wells, Pollution
Newsletter article Gary Zuckett October 24, 2023
The Three Facets of WV Citizen Action
When I get the question, “What does WV Citizen Action do?”, it presents a challenge as we’re not a one-issue group, or a two-issue group, but a multi-faceted one, so I tell them this: We focus on three main issue or policy areas democracy, the environment, and health care for all, doing the work needed to make positive change in our state and nation. More
Issues: Clean elections, Clean Energy, Democracy, Environment, Healthcare
The Three Facets of WV Citizen Action
When I get the question, “What does WV Citizen Action do?”, it presents a challenge as we’re not a one-issue group, or a two-issue group, but a multi-faceted one, so I tell them this: We focus on three main issue or policy areas democracy, the environment, and health care for all, doing the work needed to make positive change in our state and nation. More
Issues: Clean elections, Clean Energy, Democracy, Environment, Healthcare
Citizen Action Group Blog Gary Zuckett August 19, 2023
You’re Invited to Our 2023 Awards Picnic & Fun(d)raiser Sat., Sept. 16
Join us to celebrate our awardees, reflect on the work we've done and what's to come, and spend time with old and new friends! Our 2023 Awardees are: Mike Tony - Don Marsh & Paul Nyden Public Service Award; Pam Nixon - Thomas A. Knight Excalibur Award; and Shalom Tazewell - Si Galperin In Defense of Democracy Award. I hope you can join us in September to lift up these awesome folks and their work. More
Issues: Democracy, Environment, Healthcare
You’re Invited to Our 2023 Awards Picnic & Fun(d)raiser Sat., Sept. 16
Join us to celebrate our awardees, reflect on the work we've done and what's to come, and spend time with old and new friends! Our 2023 Awardees are: Mike Tony - Don Marsh & Paul Nyden Public Service Award; Pam Nixon - Thomas A. Knight Excalibur Award; and Shalom Tazewell - Si Galperin In Defense of Democracy Award. I hope you can join us in September to lift up these awesome folks and their work. More
Issues: Democracy, Environment, Healthcare
Press Release Gary Zuckett August 16, 2023
PRESS RELEASE: West Virginians Celebrate First Anniversary of Historic Reforms to Lower Drug Prices, Lower Energy Costs and Make Tax System More Fair Inflation Reduction Act is already saving millions of Americans money, even as drug corporations and their allies in Congress try to repeal it
To commemorate the first anniversary of the enactment of the historic Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Gary Zuckett, Executive Director, of WV Citizen Action, issued the following statement: More
Issues: Healthcare, IRA, Medicare, Prescription Drug Prices
PRESS RELEASE: West Virginians Celebrate First Anniversary of Historic Reforms to Lower Drug Prices, Lower Energy Costs and Make Tax System More Fair Inflation Reduction Act is already saving millions of Americans money, even as drug corporations and their allies in Congress try to repeal it
To commemorate the first anniversary of the enactment of the historic Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Gary Zuckett, Executive Director, of WV Citizen Action, issued the following statement: More
Issues: Healthcare, IRA, Medicare, Prescription Drug Prices
Press Release Gary Zuckett August 14, 2023
MEDIA ADVISORY: IRA Anniversary Press Conference – Landmark Law Makes Real Progress On Reducing Rx Drug Prices And Addressing Climate While Creating New Jobs & Restoring Tax Fairness For Big Corporations
Press conference with local healthcare, labor and energy advocates to discuss the historic Inflation Reduction Act, its successes and potential on the one-year anniversary of this landmark legislation. More
Issues: IRA, Jobs, Medicare
MEDIA ADVISORY: IRA Anniversary Press Conference – Landmark Law Makes Real Progress On Reducing Rx Drug Prices And Addressing Climate While Creating New Jobs & Restoring Tax Fairness For Big Corporations
Press conference with local healthcare, labor and energy advocates to discuss the historic Inflation Reduction Act, its successes and potential on the one-year anniversary of this landmark legislation. More
Issues: IRA, Jobs, Medicare
Press Release Gary Zuckett May 24, 2023
MEDIA ADVISORY: Republicans Put West Virginia Millionaires Over State’s Workers, Children & Seniors
U.S. House Republicans Voted to Strip $8.3 billion of Federal Funding from West Virginia To Give Corporations and the Ultra-Wealthy Another Tax Cut More
Issues: Fair taxation, Infrastructure, Jobs, Kids and families, Medicaid
MEDIA ADVISORY: Republicans Put West Virginia Millionaires Over State’s Workers, Children & Seniors
U.S. House Republicans Voted to Strip $8.3 billion of Federal Funding from West Virginia To Give Corporations and the Ultra-Wealthy Another Tax Cut More
Issues: Fair taxation, Infrastructure, Jobs, Kids and families, Medicaid
Citizen Action Group Blog Gary Zuckett May 1, 2023
Tax Cuts: Truth & Consequences
The more than $750 million tax giveaway (mostly to the rich) passed by the Legislature, is trickle-up economics at its worst. Check out one of the WV Center on Budget and Policy’s upcoming community meetings called “More Money for Who?” on “how state tax changes undermine schools, libraries and healthcare,” to participate in an interactive discussion on how the recent tax changes can affect vital public services. More
Issues: Budget priorities, Fair taxation
Tax Cuts: Truth & Consequences
The more than $750 million tax giveaway (mostly to the rich) passed by the Legislature, is trickle-up economics at its worst. Check out one of the WV Center on Budget and Policy’s upcoming community meetings called “More Money for Who?” on “how state tax changes undermine schools, libraries and healthcare,” to participate in an interactive discussion on how the recent tax changes can affect vital public services. More
Issues: Budget priorities, Fair taxation
Press Release Gary Zuckett March 23, 2023
PRESS RELEASE: WV Citizen Action Group Celebrates 13th Anniversary of Affordable Care Act, Calls for Universal Affordable Coverage to Finish the Job
After 13 years of non-stop attacks and sabotage from opponents, the ACA has not only survived but thrived, hitting record enrollment in 2023 by providing quality, affordable coverage to over 28,325 West Virginians and improving coverage for over 100 million Americans nationwide. More
Issues: ACA, Medicaid
PRESS RELEASE: WV Citizen Action Group Celebrates 13th Anniversary of Affordable Care Act, Calls for Universal Affordable Coverage to Finish the Job
After 13 years of non-stop attacks and sabotage from opponents, the ACA has not only survived but thrived, hitting record enrollment in 2023 by providing quality, affordable coverage to over 28,325 West Virginians and improving coverage for over 100 million Americans nationwide. More
Issues: ACA, Medicaid
Newsletter article Gary Zuckett March 14, 2023
Gary’s Wrap-up: The Final Daze
Our state employees will be using most, if not all, of their $2,300 pay raise to pay for the increases in premiums and co-pays on their PEIA health plans... But hey, let’s give away $700 million in tax revenue and make state workers spend their raise on healthcare… More
Issues: Budget priorities, Criminal Justice, Discrimination, Fair taxation, Health Insurance, Healthcare, Incarceration, Medicaid
Gary’s Wrap-up: The Final Daze
Our state employees will be using most, if not all, of their $2,300 pay raise to pay for the increases in premiums and co-pays on their PEIA health plans... But hey, let’s give away $700 million in tax revenue and make state workers spend their raise on healthcare… More
Issues: Budget priorities, Criminal Justice, Discrimination, Fair taxation, Health Insurance, Healthcare, Incarceration, Medicaid
Newsletter article Gary Zuckett March 7, 2023
Crossover Chaos
The House passed 264 of their bills and the Senate sent 235 over to the House. Bills that never moved across the aisle are now in the recycling bin, that is unless they get amended into another bill that’s still moving. Now the race continues until midnight this Saturday, when all activity of the 2023 legislative session grinds to a halt. More
Issues: ARPA, Budget priorities, Fair taxation, Health Insurance, Healthcare, Medicaid, Oil and Gas, Pollution, Prescription Drug Prices, water quality
Crossover Chaos
The House passed 264 of their bills and the Senate sent 235 over to the House. Bills that never moved across the aisle are now in the recycling bin, that is unless they get amended into another bill that’s still moving. Now the race continues until midnight this Saturday, when all activity of the 2023 legislative session grinds to a halt. More
Issues: ARPA, Budget priorities, Fair taxation, Health Insurance, Healthcare, Medicaid, Oil and Gas, Pollution, Prescription Drug Prices, water quality
Newsletter article Gary Zuckett February 28, 2023
Working Through the Weekend
The Legislature worked over the weekend to move bills ahead of Wednesday’s crossover deadline. As has been the case these past sessions, more bad bills are moving than ones we’d like to see pass. More
Issues: Discrimination, Fair taxation, Healthcare, Inequality, Kids and families, Medicaid, Pollution, Poverty, Prescription Drug Prices, Solar Power
Working Through the Weekend
The Legislature worked over the weekend to move bills ahead of Wednesday’s crossover deadline. As has been the case these past sessions, more bad bills are moving than ones we’d like to see pass. More
Issues: Discrimination, Fair taxation, Healthcare, Inequality, Kids and families, Medicaid, Pollution, Poverty, Prescription Drug Prices, Solar Power
Newsletter article Gary Zuckett February 21, 2023
Coal Taxes That We All Pay
Coal may keep the lights on in WV (our state still burns it to produce 90% of our electricity) but it also keeps paying less and less taxes and costs us more and more on our power bills. It also costs us taxpayers more and more in making up for the taxes coal isn’t paying. More
Issues: Clean Energy
Coal Taxes That We All Pay
Coal may keep the lights on in WV (our state still burns it to produce 90% of our electricity) but it also keeps paying less and less taxes and costs us more and more on our power bills. It also costs us taxpayers more and more in making up for the taxes coal isn’t paying. More
Issues: Clean Energy
Newsletter article Gary Zuckett February 21, 2023
Either Tax Cut Plan Will Put WV Underwater
Last Monday, Governor Justice held a pro-tax cut roundtable at the Culture Center with none other than Grover Norquist who’s famous quote is, "I'm not in favor of abolishing the government. I just want to shrink it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub." More
Issues: Budget priorities, Fair taxation
Either Tax Cut Plan Will Put WV Underwater
Last Monday, Governor Justice held a pro-tax cut roundtable at the Culture Center with none other than Grover Norquist who’s famous quote is, "I'm not in favor of abolishing the government. I just want to shrink it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub." More
Issues: Budget priorities, Fair taxation
Newsletter article Gary Zuckett February 14, 2023
The Big Disconnect
Talking with a reentry advocate about the myriad problems in our prison system this week, it hit me that too many in the majority party controlling the Legislature right now are basically disconnected from real solutions needed to address many of the critical problems facing our state. More
Issues: Incarceration, Reform
The Big Disconnect
Talking with a reentry advocate about the myriad problems in our prison system this week, it hit me that too many in the majority party controlling the Legislature right now are basically disconnected from real solutions needed to address many of the critical problems facing our state. More
Issues: Incarceration, Reform
Newsletter article Gary Zuckett February 7, 2023
Remarks at Public Hearing for HB 2883 on Allocation of ARPA Funds
According to the U.S. Department of Treasury’s final rule, ARPA Fiscal Recovery Funds are intended to “provide state, local, and tribal governments with the resources needed to respond to the pandemic and its economic effects and to build a stronger, more equitable economy during the recovery.” More
Issues: ARPA, CARES Act, Fair taxation
Remarks at Public Hearing for HB 2883 on Allocation of ARPA Funds
According to the U.S. Department of Treasury’s final rule, ARPA Fiscal Recovery Funds are intended to “provide state, local, and tribal governments with the resources needed to respond to the pandemic and its economic effects and to build a stronger, more equitable economy during the recovery.” More
Issues: ARPA, CARES Act, Fair taxation
Newsletter article Gary Zuckett February 7, 2023
Small Government?
As I was having a drink with veteran statehouse reporter Phil Kabler ... In essence he said something like, “It's strange how the party of so-called ‘small government’ keeps inserting itself into the bedrooms and doctors offices of our citizens.” More
Issues: Fair Courts, Healthcare, Inequality, Medicaid, Pollution
Small Government?
As I was having a drink with veteran statehouse reporter Phil Kabler ... In essence he said something like, “It's strange how the party of so-called ‘small government’ keeps inserting itself into the bedrooms and doctors offices of our citizens.” More
Issues: Fair Courts, Healthcare, Inequality, Medicaid, Pollution
Citizen Action Group Blog Gary Zuckett February 1, 2023
Regal Apt Fire Fundraiser – Feb 11th, 6PM
Join friends and neighbors to raise support for community members recovering from the Regal apt fire. This fundraiser event will be located at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 520 Kanawha Blvd W, Charleston, WV and will include a potluck dinner, raffle, and a 'cake walk'. More
Issues: Fundraiser
Regal Apt Fire Fundraiser – Feb 11th, 6PM
Join friends and neighbors to raise support for community members recovering from the Regal apt fire. This fundraiser event will be located at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 520 Kanawha Blvd W, Charleston, WV and will include a potluck dinner, raffle, and a 'cake walk'. More
Issues: Fundraiser
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