Capital Eye Vol. 16, No. 11: Continuing the Fight for Democracy, the Environment and Health Care for All

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WV Citizen Action and our many friends and partners have been hard at work this summer and fall. Our multi-faceted approach to positive change is building momentum. Keep reading to find out more. Be sure to check our events calendar for more opportunities for learning and action, and follow our blog for additional updates between newsletters.

Please consider becoming a supporting member of WV Citizen Action or making a tax deductible donation to our Citizen Action Education Fund so we can continue to fight for democracy, the environment and health care for all in Charleston and in DC, doing the work needed to make positive change in our state and nation.

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.
Tagged: Clean elections, Clean Energy, Democracy, Environment, Healthcare

Thursday, October 26th: “Lunch Out Loud” Webinar Series Continues, Followed by “No Time to Fail” Virtual Watch Party
Join us this Thursday, October 26th at noon for the next webinar in our Lunch Out Loud series. Takeiya Smith and student leaders from Young West Virginia will be hosting a discussion on the challenges that youth face in our democracy. On Thursday evening, join us and our friends at Public Citizen for the premiere of “No Time to Fail,” a powerful film that gives voice to the unsung heroes of the 2020 election - election administrators.
Tagged: Clean elections, Democracy, Voting Rights

An URGENT Call for Aetna Claim Denial Stories
We have an URGENT need for health care stories about the Medicaid insurer Aetna Better Health of WV and what happens to people when their Doctor prescribed care has been denied. Help us fight denials on their behalf by bringing to light their struggles, making it public, and presenting these cases to Aetna. PLEASE SHARE YOUR STORY.
Tagged: Health Insurance, Healthcare, Medicaid

WV Citizen Action’s 2023 Awards Picnic: Meet Our Awardees
On Saturday, September 16th we gathered at Coonskin Park to celebrate our awardees, reflect on the work we’ve done and what’s to come, and spend time with old and new friends. We wanted to take another opportunity to lift up our amazing awardees and their work, especially for those who were unable to join us. Special thanks to our attendees and sponsors for making this day and our work possible.
Tagged: Awards, Democracy, Education, Environment, Healthcare, Inequality, 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").
Tagged: Gas Wells, Orphaned Wells, Pollution

Medicare Drug Price Negotiations & the First 10 Named Drugs
For my father, and for millions across our nation, skipping medications is a life threatening way to make it to the end of the month. In the richest country in the world, That Ain’t Right! We can do better. Fortunately, we're making progress, but the fight for making medications affordable for all continues.
Tagged: Medicare, Prescription Drug Prices

WV CAG and Allies Urge Advancement of March-in-Rights to Lower Drug Costs
WV CAG and allies wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, urging them to advance the interagency review of march-in rights without delay. I can’t help but think that we might have helped in nudging the HHS and President Biden in the right direction.
Tagged: Prescription Drug Prices

United Vision Project Training- November 2023
Our best days will not come from our division, but our unity and our ability to come together across differences. Join us for another United Vision training session Nov. 15th and 16th and be a part of helping to heal the divide.
Tagged: Community Organizing, Democracy, Inequality

Southern WV’s Renewable Revolution
The West Virginia New Jobs Coalition has embarked on a journey across Southern West Virginia. Our mission? To promote the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and provide invaluable assistance to towns in securing crucial federal funds for transformative projects.
Tagged: Clean Energy, Economy, IRA, Sustainability

Health Care for All WV – Oct. 2023 Update
WV Medicaid Summit this Wednesday, digital activism training, a webinar on Care Over Cost, volunteer meetings and much more! Our team has been out connecting with the community, gaining new contacts, and storytellers. We're eager for more volunteers to join us in this work.
Tagged: Healthcare, Medicaid, Resilient Activism

Celebrating Sustainability: A Look Back at the Inaugural “Sustainability in Motion” Event
The first-ever "Sustainability in Motion" event, held at Slack Plaza in Charleston, brought together environmental enthusiasts, local businesses, and community members, all united under a common cause - sustainability and climate justice.
Tagged: Climate Justice, Sustainability

ARCH2 – an Update
Communities in Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley continue to bear the brunt of the economic and ecological effects of extractive industries in the wake of last week's approval of up to $925 million in funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the Appalachian Regional clean hydrogen Hub (ARCH2).
Tagged: Climate Justice, Energy, Environment, Fracking, Pollution