- What are your plans to create jobs in your district? Are there any particular industries you would like to bring into your district? What kind of legislation would you create in order to bring in out-of-state companies into the district?
- The role of government is not to create jobs, but to create a business climate that will allow businesses to grow and compete. Our state must be competitive nationally in our tax structure, legal and businesses climate.
We must also be competitive in areas that have new technology such as Coal Liquefaction and Biotechnology and continue to compete in fields that are experiencing occupational shortages such as Health Care, Engineering and Teaching. In order to do this, we must continue to support our higher education such as Marshall University and the Marshall Community and Technical College
With the Prichard Intermodal Facility, we have to allocate the proper resources so that it may develop properly such as funding for maintaining and further developing our infrastructure.
- With less tax revenue expected to come in to the state, what should be done with the state tax system? What are your thoughts on state taxes, and do you have any plans to increase/decrease taxes in your represented district?
- Our state tax system is in desperate need of reform. By cutting the property tax levied on businesses, equipment, machinery and inventory, it would allow our businesses to have more investment for their companies. Business would be able to creating more jobs, and apply capital improvements that would help their business grow.
The reason WV has a surplus year after year is because our state government over-taxes us. One role of responsible government is not to find ways to spend a surplus, but how to return it back to the tax payers and create a balance.
With West Virginia having a surplus, it is the opportune time to cut regressive taxes to stimulate the economy. The excess funds can be applied in the short-term to balance the reduction in tax revenue.
Our state has to be competitive nationally. Most importantly, we must be competitive with our surrounding states to keep jobs in WV and to attract more businesses.
- With crime, especially drug abuse, becoming a bigger problem in the area, what do you think should be done to cut down on drug activity in the district? Are there any pieces of legislation you would like to create to combat the rising local drug epidemic?
- Our law enforcement must receive the funding and the technology needed in order to combat drugs.
We also need tougher penalties for those that traffic drugs, and send a message that their activities will not be tolerated.
Drug recovery option are also necessary such as the Healing Place locations that have been proposed.
It is not enough just to persecute those that partake in this activity, but also to give recovery options.
- Over the past 10 years, the housing stock in several cities has been slowly declining. What could you do, as a legislator, to create/improve housing in the area? Should the problem be solved locally or on the state level?
- As a Real Estate Agent, I see the need for housing increase as families continue to grow and want to own their own homes. Areas in which the legislature can help include developing current first-time homeowner programs and assistance to lower income families who wish to purchase their homes.
With foreclosures increasing on the national level, it is becoming more difficult for banks to underwrite loans and are requiring to have a larger down payment. If we develop our state and local programs to give assistance in the areas of closing costs, down payments, etc more and more citizens will be able to own and home and take pride in their property.
- What type of health care initiatives are you interested in introducing as a legislator? Do you believe the system is being utilized to its full potential, or can improvements be made? If improvements could be made, what are they?
- Many of West Virginia’s healthcare problems can find solutions in continuing tort reforms. By capping liability payables and regulating the actions of Personal Injury attorneys, we will see the cost of performing healthcare in West Virginia decrease. The direct results would include reducing malpractice lawsuits and allowing our medical professionals to focus on patient care rather than courtroom drama.
By embracing consumer-driven healthcare as opposed to government controlled and regulated healthcare, it would allow the patients have control over their healthcare and reduce the burden of healthcare costs.
Adopting State Income Tax credits for individuals paying into private medical insurance would create incentives for individuals paying into their medical coverage. Additional credits should be given to individuals participating in Health Savings Accounts; a cost saving medical coverage plan that doubles as a retirement plan giving peace of mind for both current medical concerns and future retirement plans.
We must also continue to fund and the CHIPS program to ensure our youth has the medical coverage they need.
- Marshall University regularly has to compete with other colleges in the state for research funding dollars. Do you believe research and the furtherance of higher education in your district is important? Why? What do you plan to do to bring more funding dollars to MU? What would you do to ensure that MU would have the opportunity to continue its research initiatives?
- Higher Education plays a role in our state's ability to be economically competitive. For economic development to take place, new technologies such as Coal Liquefaction and Biotechnology must be developed. West Virginia must also compete the fields that are experiencing occupational shortages such as Health Care, Engineering and Teaching.
Marshall University has been developing academic programs to support our educational needs so that we can be competitive in these fields so that we can compete and attract new technology and to retain our current jobs by offering the best trained and educated workforce possible.
In order for Marshall to continue this progress, the Legislature must also be supportive in its funding. We must ensure that all funding that is dispersed to our higher education is fair and I will always do what is necessary in the Legislature to ensure that Marshall receives the funding it needs in order to continue to grow and develop.
- What are the conditions of the roadways in your district? Are there any pieces of legislation you are interested in introducing to improve local roads?
- The roads in Wayne County need improvement. With the Prichard Intermodal Facility development, we must also ensure that Wayne County receives the necessary funding in order to support the infrastructural needs.
- How do you plan to work with the state's Division of Highways to improve roadways in your district? What road and bridge improvements need to be made?
- By working with the local County Commission, Engineer, and Mayors to stay abreast of the infrastructural needs.
Wayne County also needs representation that when federal funding is allocated the state matching funds are brought to Wayne County so that the projects and developments can take place.
- How do you plan to improve recreational activities in the area? Are there any parks, trails or playground projects you would like to focus on? How would these new recreational activities benefit the communities?
- Wayne County has great parks to include: Beech Fork, East Lynn, Cabway Lingo State Park and Camp “Mad” Anthony Wayne. Safety and Beatification efforts must continue in order for these parks to continue to thrive. They are an important part of our Tourism and promotion of health life styles.
Clean, healthy parks and recreation facilities are crucial to attracting our youth to our areas and are an important tool for our wildlife and conservation efforts. We must ensure that our playground areas are safe for children to play in and that our lakes are well maintained to support our growing interest in fishing and wildlife.
- What areas of interest do you plan on focusing on as a legislator? Have you planned any legislation to be introduced?
- Areas that are of interest to me is bringing the necessary reforms to put our state back on track. We must make our state nationally competitive and competitive with surrounding states.
Too many businesses are locating in our border states rather than right here in West Virginia. We offer a loyal, well educated and excellent workforce, but in order to attract these businesses we must have the business climate conducive to economic development.
We must eliminate the taxes on businesses equipment, inventory and machinery so that our current businesses can thrive by using the funds to improve/update their machinery and equipment for a safe work environment that is efficient and so that they may have the necessary inventory to service their customers. Those funds can also be applied to better employee benefits and allowing companies to have more revenue to expand and create more jobs.
We must also cap our gas tax. As the cost of fuel continues to increase, so does the revenue the state receives. Our state will continue to receive its budgeted revenue, but as the fuel prices continue to escalate, our state will see another area of surplus. Our citizens need relief now.
As the fuel prices increase so the cost of food, another basic necessity. Our state rather than eliminating this immoral tax, they saw fit to gradually role back its food tax. Meanwhile, citizens continue to shop in border states for food and other items causing even more revenue to be lost.
We must also improve our legal climate. Through elimination of our Joint and Several Liability, and replacing it with direct liability, we would grow more confidence not only in our medical facilities but also in private business. It would also promote personal responsibility rather than relying on plaintiff’s attorneys and the current legal lottery system.
By capping liability payables and regulating the actions of Personal Injury attorneys, we will see the cost of performing healthcare in West Virginia decrease. The direct results would include reducing malpractice lawsuits and allowing our medical professionals to focus on patient care rather than courtroom drama.
We must also move forward with Sunshine Laws to bring more transparency to our state government. Information of how our state operates/ spends tax dollars and awards state contracts should be easily accessible to all of our tax payers. We must bring accountability to our elected officials and one way to begin is by allowing our citizens to have complete access information that pertains to state government operations.
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: What do you think the Legislature can do to improve work force development?
- The Legislature can begin by expanding high school education to include vocational training, maintaining the PROMISE Scholarship, and working with the business community to provide funding for training programs where shortages in the workforce exist. To improve work force development, we must have trained, qualified workers to fill employment needs.
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: Many West Virginia cities are struggling with their long-term municipal pension obligations. What do you think the state should do to help cities deal with municipal pensions?
- The state should return a percentage of the sales taxes municipalities collect to go toward unfunded liabilities, pension obligations and other areas cities may fall short in their budgetary needs.
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: Students in West Virginia generally lag behind other countries in education. Do you favor more instruction days, adding merit pay for teachers, improving math and science instruction or some other option to improve education?
- We must provide students with the best quality of education to prepare them for the workforce and/or higher education. Year-round education, improving math and science instruction is only a beginning. We must also have certified and very qualified teachers in every area of education.
