State of West Virginia secondary Archives: on Corporations

Earl Ray Tomblin: Saved businesses $548M on taxes and workers' comp

We overhauled workers' compensation and companies operating here have saved more than $323 million since the program was privatized in 2006. We've enacted gradual reductions in our business and consumer taxes, and since I took office, we've saved employers and West Virginians more than $225 million. We rank higher than each of our neighboring states in this year's Business Tax Climate Index. Source: 2016 State of the State speech to West Virginia legislature Jan 13, 2016

Jim Justice: Raise business B&O tax, sales tax, state fees, & gas tax

I truly from the bottom of my heart hate tax increases. Hate them. I really do. But I want to show you the most painless way that I think you can get out of this mess.

Here's what you gotta do. You gotta cut all that we can possibly cut. I've got to have everybody in this state pay a half of a penny in additional sales tax. There is no way around it. I've got to have you pay instead of $30 in DMV fees, I've got to have you pay 50.

The other thing is this, in trying to be fair, I've got to have our businesses pay two-tenths of one percent in a tax that would be equivalent to a B&O tax. It is a tax that Ohio charges 25 hundredths percent. We would charge 20. And the other last thing I will talk to you about is I've got to have ten cents a gallon on gasoline. Now, I am telling you: If you don't do this, you're dead.

I want to sunset them: three years, you can get rid of this.

Source: 2017 West Virginia State of the State address Feb 8, 2017

Jim Justice: Just Cut Taxes And Win: start with business taxes

I'm going to call something JCTAW. And it's going to stand for Just Cut Taxes And Win. What I want to start with is the elimination of the tax on manufacturing machinery and equipment and manufacturing inventory. Source: 2018 West Virginia State of the State address Jan 10, 2018

Jim Justice: Eliminate business inventory and machinery tax if we can

Jobs in this state are good. There's no question that they're moving in the right direction and they're good. Here's something that I want everyone to know. The business inventory and machinery tax is holding us back in some areas. We need to try to find a solution to where we can either get on a glide path or quickly get on a better glide path to eliminate that tax if we can. Source: 2020 West Virginia State of the State address Jan 8, 2020

Joe Manchin III: 8 goals for Open for Business commitments

Running state government like a business
Developing a seamless education system
Providing quality, affordable healthcare to our citizens
Encouraging regions to work together
Promoting our workforce development efforts
Preserving our small businesses
Investing in our Infrastructure & Environment

Improving our Overall Business ClimateThese 8 goals are a great beginning in meeting my Open for Business commitments. Source: 2005 State of the State Address to West Virginia legislature Feb 9, 2005

John Buckley: I'm for limited government and free enterprise

I'm the third candidate in the race. I don't fit the narrow mold of most political commentators. They just don't know what to make of me.

I'm for limited government and free enterprise; I'm also for peace and civil liberties; I support the freedom to marry as well as the freedom to carry. I believe in "live and let live."

Source: Charleston Daily Mail on 2014 West Virginia Senate race Aug 12, 2014

John Raese: OpEd: Sounded alarm in 2010 on international competitiveness

Raese noted the effects of higher taxes and higher regulations on private sector job growth. As a businessman who keeps close tabs on foreign competitors, he frequently asserted that such hindrances to business here in the U.S. made it nearly impossible to compete against foreign countries.

So it is that the United States, who a generation ago was the economic master of all it surveyed following World War II, now finds itself struggling to compete against a rising cadre of new economic powers. John Raese, businessman, sounded that alarm, too, in 2010 and 2012. Clearly, he wants us to be able to compete effectively on all fronts again.

That's tough to do when our government has to pay so much of our budget just to pay the interest on a $16 trillion national debt--another Raese deeply-felt concern. Raese's perspective is as valid today as it was then. Given our ongoing economic problems today, his words ring true even more.

Source: Huntington News editorial on 2014 West Virginia Senate race Nov 21, 2013

Michael Folk: Shouldn't have taxes that drive business out of state

On taxes: "What prevents jobs from happening in the state of West Virginia? It is the lack of our competitiveness with neighboring states," Folk said. "I could look just across the river and see all kinds of economic development. West Virginia is one of 10 states that has the equipment and inventory tax that makes businesses go across the river. We shouldn't have that." Source: Martinsburg Journal-News on 2020 West Virginia Governor race Jan 13, 2020

Stephen Noble Smith: Help shift who has wealth and political power in our state

Q: What about using the line-item veto as power over the budget?

A: We will use whatever power we have, including the line-item veto, in our to shift wealth and political power towards working class people.

Q: Which gubernatorial power do you personally consider the most important?

A: The two main responsibilities of West Virginia's governor should be to help shift who has wealth and political power in our state. For too long, Governors have served as the agents of out-of-state land companies and CEO's. It's time for our state to be put in the hands of the people.

Source: Ballotpedia.org on 2020 West Virginia gubernatorial race Apr 4, 2020

Don Blankenship: Corporate media empires divide Americans with untruths

Q: What is the most important policy issue none of your competitors are talking about?

A: Americans must be made aware that they cannot rely on the media for truthful information. The media is simply an extension of the two major political parties. Political parties are in partnership with corporate media empires that all seek to divide Americans with untruths. Corporations need to exert less control over American media organizations so that we have more access to truthful sources. Corporate support of Congress and their PACs hide the truth in America and what Congress does to harm average Americans.

Source: Candidate Connection on 2024 West Virginia Senate race Nov 1, 2020

The above quotations are from State of West Virginia Politicians: secondary Archives. Click here for definitions & background information on Corporations. Click here for other issues (main summary page).
*2024 Presidential contenders on Corporations:*
	*Candidates for President & Vice-President:* V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA) Chase Oliver(L-GA) Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA) Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL) Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH) Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN) Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)	*2024 presidential primary contenders:* Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE) N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R) N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R) Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R) S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R) Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R) Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN) U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN) Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH) S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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Page last updated: Feb 06, 2026