By Mary Lickert, WV CAG Member
(a version of this commentary was published in the Charleston Gazette-Mail on March 21, 2025)
With a lot of crowing about a financial surplus, our Super Majority and Jim Justice cut over 27% of West Virginia’s income tax revenue. Never mind that any surplus was based on low estimates of what would come in, along with temporary severance taxes and federal COVID funds. Never mind that, according to US News, we rank No. 48 on economy, education, and health care AND No. 50 for infrastructure! What an amazing disregard for degradation and fourth-grade math!
Just months later, we move on to austerity. The new governor, Patrick Morrisey, announces a deficit of $400 million for 2026. How about rescinding those tax breaks, going mostly to the high end? NO, he calls for “right-sizing” government. This seems to go along with the Elon Musk Department Of Government Efficiency. What a surprise. Nothing has been done about teacher shortages in math, science, and special education. Nothing has been done about foster care, PEIA, broadband, smooth secondary roads, safe bridges, clean water, and restoring funds to higher education or rural health clinics to combat drug use and provide basic medical services.
Instead of tackling big issues, here’s what the governor wants. We have two new bills from him to consolidate four Cabinet-level departments — HB 2008 and HB 2009. I read the Phil Kabler column and Mike Tony article published on March 1 about combining the Department of Commerce (already with 18 divisions) with the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Tourism with the Department of Arts, Culture and History.
These are very destructive! Where are the savings? Instead of balancing or righting the ship, they will redesign it without knowing if they’ll save money.
The following are questions and comments:
1. As a public employee for 35 years, I always had clear guidelines for qualifications, duties and conduct. I also had a grievance process to address problems on the job.
These bills eliminate civil service protections for many new mega department employees. WTH? The civil service has been there for many decades to ensure stability and quality of the workforce, not political hires.
2. Another blow to the strength of our workforce is a significant cut in job requirements. It looks like I can come out of retirement and apply to be State Library director – I’m certified to teach language arts and read books. No master’s degree or job experience required. How about the Chief of Archives and History? I could just know the right people or, maybe, the governor? Good GOD!
3. Why does taking a wrecking ball to these departments save money? With RIFs, once you get things in place? According to the governor’s general counsel, Sean Whelan, “This bill is an essential first step in right-sizing government.”
The bills undo the work of many West Virginians over decades. Mr. Morrisey, not a native of our state and elected with $6.9 million (mainly from out-of-state, I read), must return to real West Virginia issues before him. Do his billionaire sponsors expect payback? We did NOT elect a King Morrisey to choose a network for his own state government — that’s dangerous. He is usurping great privilege! He and our legislature do take healthy public salaries.
Folks, this demolition piece passed the House of Delegates on March 11. Please contact your Senators and tell them: Ditch this “right sizing,” your social agendas, and nonsense. Quit your diddling and destruction! You are more than HALFWAY through the SESSION. Get to the Big Stuff — jobs, public education, healthcare, foster care, roads, and more! Need more revenue? How about NO expensive special sessions because you didn’t get around to dealing with reality? And rescind those tax cuts that don’t do much for most of us, except wealthy sponsors!
No redo for our state government or King Morrisey!
Further Reading
Cecil Roberts: Workers’ rights on the chopping block (Opinion), Charleston Gazette-Mail, March 18, 2025.
Robert Beanblossom: Removing protection for civil service? (Opinion), Charleston Gazette-Mail, March 22, 2025.
“Civil service protections are essential because they safeguard employees from politically motivated dismissals — a common practice only a few decades ago. While the current administration claims they have no intent to engage in such practices, what guarantee do we have that they won’t? Future administrations could also behave differently. These protections ensure stability and fairness, regardless of political changes. The protections are also important for these employees who often must make difficult, politically charged decisions without the threat of losing their jobs.
“When House Bill 2008 was recently discussed, an amendment aimed at maintaining civil service protections for these employees was proposed but not adopted. Unfortunately, the debate largely focused on dismissing underperforming employees, as if this legislation would address poor performance across all of state government. The real issue lies in hiring adequate staff at competitive wages and benefits — a challenge exacerbated, not resolved, by removing civil service protections. Reforming the system to offer competitive wages would offer a more effective solution than stripping away rights.”