Ron Stollings in 2020 WV Governor's race
On Budget & Economy:
Promote economic growth during coronavirus pandemic
Stollings said the state's cuts to public health departments are proving to be costly during the pandemic. He said the governor should be focused on effectively allocating federal resources that will be offered to the state government. "I think
the first dollar out should be given to our small businesses and entrepreneurs," Stollings said. Stollings also said the governor should be prepared to utilize the National Guard to help combat the crisis.
Stollings said he would promote economic growth by prioritizing small businesses, supporting entrepreneurs and expanding the state's technology sector. "This is something we have been working on
in the Senate for some time," Stollings said. Stollings also said he would establish a governor's office of grants and partnerships to take advantage of funding for recovery efforts following the coronavirus crisis.
Source: Marshall Parthenon on 2020 West Virginia governor debate
Mar 25, 2020
On Health Care:
Supports bill to cap monthly supply of insulin at $25
Stollings supported a bill that would put a $25 cap on a monthly supply of insulin. Currently some West Virginians can end up paying thousands of dollars a month for the drug. He also told WSAZ that the drug is necessary for type 1 diabetics, saying if
they don't have access to the drug they can die. Stollings says he fears if it does not move soon, it will die there. "The key is to get it on the agenda. If we can't get it on the agenda, it's dead and that's sad," Stollings said.
Source: WSAZ TV-3 on 2020 West Virginia gubernatorial race
Mar 2, 2020
On Health Care:
Coronavirus: $2m to prepare a plan now
Stollings, a doctor who is also running for governor, is looking for $2 million to help West Virginia's preparation for a possible coronavirus outbreak. "Where it comes from is not important," said
Stollings. "It's just that we get some money, even if it's the rainy day fund." "I think it's really important for us to allocate this $2 million so we can get ahead of this coronavirus," he said. "We need to do something now. We need a plan now."
Two million dollars is a conservative amount, Stollings said in an interview prior to the Senate floor session. "We absolutely need to be thinking and planning for this coronavirus," he said. "It's a virus that's going to get out into the public.
We can't stop it. There's no treatment for it. There's no vaccination for it. So mostly what we have to do is have a statewide plan and excellent communication system between all the health departments."
Source: W.V. MetroNews on 2020 West Virginia gubernatorial race
Feb 28, 2020
On Health Care:
Re-examine Medicaid reimbursement rates to medical providers
The state Senate quickly considered and passed Gov. Jim Justice's proposal to take $150 million out of current Medicaid funds to create a trust fund. Stollings asked whether the bill does anything to increase the reimbursement rates to medical
providers for government insurance. The bill does not. Stollings, a doctor who is running for governor, has said those reimbursement rates need re-examination as hospitals all over the state struggle financially.
Source: W.V. MetroNews on 2020 West Virginia gubernatorial race
Feb 25, 2020
On Health Care:
Invest in more mental health services & foster care crisis
Stollings said he wants to see more financial support of foster and kinship caregivers. West Virginia also needs to invest in more mental health services, which can help the foster care crisis by enabling more parents to be healthy enough to parent,
Stollings said. "These people with these diseases, particularly bipolar disorder, they aren't going to be good parents unless their disease state is in treatment," he said.
Source: Herald-Dispatch on 2020 West Virginia Gubernatorial race
Jan 8, 2020
On Education:
Invest in education; value our educators
We need to invest in education and value our educators. Not only do educators and school service personnel teach our children, but, in many cases, they make sure these children are not hungry and that they have a caring adult in their life.
What happens between 3 p.m. and 7 a.m. is critical to a student's ability to learn. Studies show having a certified teacher in the classroom, smaller class sizes and parental involvement will help improve education outcomes.
Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail on 2020 West Virginia Governor race
Dec 23, 2019
On Families & Children:
We need to invest in first 1,000 days of a child's life
Our family unit has been shattered as many of our children have lost one or both of their parents. They are being raised by grandparents or other family members. Many children face obstacles before they even show up for school. I worry about so
many children in our state. We have 10,000 homeless children, 7,000 foster children and 300 children who are missing. We need to invest in the first 1,000 days of a child's life, as we know that's critical in their future ability to learn.
Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail on 2020 West Virginia Governor race
Dec 23, 2019
On Health Care:
Affordable health care should include oral and mental health
We need to make sure West Virginians have access to
quality, affordable health care, including oral health and mental health care.
Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail on 2020 West Virginia Governor race
Dec 23, 2019
On Drugs:
Addiction is a disease; integrate recovery into primary care
Woody Thrasher's suggestion of applying capital punishment to drug deals that result in fatalities drew a swift rebuke from state Senator Ron Stollings, a Democrat and doctor who is also running for governor. "I just think it's ridiculous," Stolling
said. "We don't have a death penalty in West Virginia. I don't think it would curb a drug deal. These drug dealers are not fazed by punishment or anything like that. A lot of them are addicted also. The definition of addiction means you do crazy stuff.
Everybody wants to criminalize addiction and you can't. You have to treat addiction or substance use disorder as a chronic illness."Stollings and Thrasher each attended a public hearing to roll out a West Virginia Substance Use Response Plan.
Stollings emphasized integrating recovery programs into primary care, as well as strengthening services to support children affected by family drug addiction in the first few years of their lives. He also wants to focus on how settlement money is used.
Source: W.V. MetroNews on 2020 West Virginia Gubernatorial race
Oct 24, 2019
On Drugs:
Establish the Governor's Office of Substance Abuse
Stollings, a medical doctor, said he would establish the Governor's Office of Substance Abuse to focus on the impact of the opioid crisis. "How do we know how much we should receive in settlement dollars if we don't know how much prevention
and treatment programs will cost? This should be an effort coordinated by the Governor, in the Governor's Office," Stollings said in a news release.Stollings said, during an appearance on
MetroNews "Talkline," the state will continue to struggle to move forward until the opioid crisis is brought under control. "I do have potential input to right the ship here in
West Virginia," Stollings said. "I'm uniquely qualified with regard to the substance use disorder and its impact on businesses, the economy and the education system."
Source: W.V. MetroNews on 2020 West Virginia Gubernatorial race
Sep 23, 2019
On Technology:
Invest in infrastructure and site development
Stollings was first elected to the state Senate in 2006. He said his campaign will also focus on health care, expanding the economy and education. Stollings has been a proponent of redeveloping formerly mined property. "We need to
invest in infrastructure and site development," he said. "We continue to lose generations because there aren't as many jobs as there should be. We have to focus on jobs."
Stollings called Gov. Jim Justice "a likable fella" but said he should spend more time at the state capitol. Stollings said he would if elected governor. "I would be here, to be in that mansion, to be able to build relationships and to learn from
people," Stollings said. "I could see us having fireside chats from people that are experts in their field so we could use their knowledge to help fix things here in West Virginia."
Source: W.V. MetroNews on 2020 West Virginia Gubernatorial race
Sep 23, 2019
On Abortion:
For access to birth control; against age requirements
Health care providers criticized some lawmakers for requiring that only adult women be able to obtain birth control over the counter. Stollings had amended the bill in committee so that adolescent girls could also obtain birth control over the counter.
Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson amended the bill on the Senate floor so that it applies only to adult women. Stollings said the bill will allow women to plan their lives better but would have been a better bill without the age requirements.
Source: Herald-Dispatch on 2020 West Virginia Gubernatorial race
Mar 9, 2019
Page last updated: Dec 19, 2020