State of West Virginia secondary Archives: on Tax Reform


Bill Cole: Work with legislature to reform our tax code

A mass endorsement from Republican lawmakers has given West Virginia Senate President Bill Cole a commanding lead in rallying political backers for his gubernatorial bid. The Bill Cole for Governor campaign announced that Cole has been endorsed by every state Senate Republican as well as 49 Republican members of the House of Delegates.

In response to the 67 endorsements, to combating our growing drug epidemic," he said. "I look forward to working with them to reform our tax code, improve our education system and strengthen our transportation network."

Source: Charleston Daily Mail: 2016 West Virginia gubernatorial race Jun 23, 2015

Bob Wise: Top-to-bottom review of business taxes & regulations

I will conduct a complete top-to-bottom review of the various tax incentives that have been developed for business over the past several decades. We need to see which ones work, and strengthen them; we need to see if any are ineffective, and direct those resources elsewhere. And we need to study the tax incentives available in other states and countries and see where we can be more competitive.

We will remove obstacles in state government to business start-ups. We will provide one-stop shopping -available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on the Internet - to entrepreneurs who want to do business in West Virginia. Most new businesses are started by people who already have a day job - and can’t afford to take time off to stand in lines at state offices.

I am also ordering a review of the state’s regulatory rules and practices. Regulation is important, and can be a shield against unfair practices - if it is effective, and if it is not burdensome.

Source: 2001 State of the State Address to West Virginia Legislature Feb 14, 2001

Don Blankenship: Stands behind Trump's agenda including the tax reform bill

Blankenship spoke about multiple political issues--from illegal immigration to tax reform--but all of his points went back to supporting President Donald Trump's agenda. This included building a wall on the United States' southern border to passing tax legislation.
Source: W.V. MetroNews on 2018 West Virginia Senatorial race Jan 18, 2018

Jim Justice: Increase fees, gas tax, and business tax to close deficit

Now, the truth is, it's time for gigantic decisions. The past 4 years, we've lived off Rainy Day. And we've lived off the low-hanging fruit that we could cut away. We've cut probably $600 million of waste.

Now, there are two ways you can get there. The first way is to just cut more. Are you willing to eliminate all of our state parks? Are you willing to eliminate all of your colleges and universities other than Marshall and WVU? Shut them down? Are you really truly willing to gut your seniors?

You gotta cut all that we can possibly cut. But 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. I've got to have our businesses pay 0.2% in a tax that would be equivalent to a B&O tax. And the last thing 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. You're dead beyond belief.

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

Jim Justice: Repeal income tax; increase sales tax 1 «%, add wealth tax

I am asking all of you to join me to repeal the income tax in the State of West Virginia.

We're going to have to raise sales taxes by one and a half percent. We need to look at putting an additional tax on cigarettes and soda. We need to bring into taxation our professional services as well. And then you need to have a wealth tax, a tax on those that are very, very, well to do, that can pay just pay just a little bit extra.

Source: 2021 State of the State Address to West Virginia legislature Feb 10, 2021

Joe Manchin III: Wealthy corporations got greatest benefit from Trump tax cut

Q: Support President Trump's tax cuts?

Joe Manchin (D): No. "The corporations get the greatest cuts, the wealthiest get the greatest benefits.The people that get the least amount.are the people that needed it the most"

Patrick Morrisey (R): Yes. "As a result, West Virginia families are seeing more money in their pockets, unemployment rates continue to drop, & many hardworking West Virginians are receiving bonuses & pay raises."

Source: 2018 CampusElect Issue Guide on West Virginia Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Michael Folk: Don't raise taxes on shrinking population

"At a time we are cutting taxes at the national level, in West Virginia, Jim Justice proposed the largest tax increase in West Virginia's history," Folk said in a news release. "It is bad economic policy to increase taxes on a shrinking population. We must forward policies that allow our citizens to live, work and raise a family with the expectation of being able to see their grandchildren without driving out of state."
Source: Herald-Mail on 2020 West Virginia Governor race Feb 5, 2019

Patrick Morrisey: Favors a flat tax

The current tax system is riddled with loopholes that rewards politically connected corporations at the expense of hardworking taxpayers and small business owners. A simpler, flatter tax system will kick-start economic growth and empower entrepreneurs to create new businesses and hire new employees.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senatorial website PatrickMorrisey.com Oct 1, 2017

Patrick Morrisey: Trump tax cuts mean West Virginians receive bonuses & raises

Q: Support President Trump's tax cuts?

Joe Manchin (D): No. "The corporations get the greatest cuts, the wealthiest get the greatest benefits.The people that get the least amount.are the people that needed it the most"

Patrick Morrisey (R): Yes. "As a result, West Virginia families are seeing more money in their pockets, unemployment rates continue to drop, & many hardworking West Virginians are receiving bonuses & pay raises."

Source: 2018 CampusElect Issue Guide on West Virginia Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Paula Jean Swearengin: Cut taxes for middle/working class

Our plan lowers taxes and provides tax rebates/refunds to working and middle class people. We will eliminate the need to file federal taxes, since, for regular W2 employees, the government already knows what you owe. We will bring U.S. corporate taxes into line with global norms, and slash tax loopholes and giveaways in the tax code which they overwhelmingly benefit big business.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com Jul 17, 2017

Richard Ojeda: Raise taxes on natural gas companies building pipelines

Ojeda hasn't been shy about wanting to raise taxes on corporations. He blasted former legislators for "giving away" the state to coal companies without getting anything in return for residents. He added that legislators needed to raise taxes on natural gas companies putting pipelines throughout West Virginia. "There will be billions pulled from our state," he said. "If we allow that to go, and do not think of the citizens of West Virginia, then shame on all of us."
Source: Vox.com on 2020 West Virginia Senate race May 9, 2018

Woody Thrasher: We are not in favor of tax increases

On economic development: "We are not in favor of tax increases," Thrasher said. "As a former commerce secretary who tried to go out and recruit businesses to come to West Virginia, we need to be rolling out a red carpet for those businesses. We're not proposing the largest tax increase in the history of the state. I think when you look at the real fundamentals, I am way more Republican than this governor ever thought he would be."
Source: The Intelligencer on 2020 West Virginia Gubernatorial race Oct 6, 2019

  • The above quotations are from State of West Virginia Politicians: secondary Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Tax Reform.
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2016 Presidential contenders on Tax Reform:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI)
Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023