State of West Virginia Archives: on Budget & Economy

Stephen Noble Smith: Invest in and simplify rules for small businesses

Patrick Morrisey: Supports Balanced Budget Amendment to protect taxpayers

With the country's debt spiraling out of control under President Obama, Morrisey wants to permanently curb Washington's appetite for spending. Morrisey supports a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to force Washington to balances its books just like West Virginia families do every day.

Don Blankenship: Republican control will eventually improve state economy

Jim Justice: Limit lawmaker pay to 5 work days for any special session

Justice wants to limit lawmaker pay to a total of 5 work days for any special session dealing with the budget and ban all fundraising while the legislature is in session. If it takes longer than 5 days to pass a budget during a special session, the lawmakers will not get paid for the extra time it takes.

"I am too impatient to watch the politicians bicker for months and months and see nothing get done," said Jim Justice. "The budget mess in Charleston proves that we need to impose a tighter timeline on the legislature because they wasted too much money and created uncertainty for our families. On the farm, I've put in many 18-hour days, and I think lawmakers should do the same."

Alex Mooney: Cut wasteful spending & entitlements so kids aren't burdened

We must cut wasteful government spending and eliminate expensive new entitlement programs like ObamaCare to ensure our children and grandchildren are not burdened with massive amounts of government debt.

I will stand up and vote "No" when President Obama and his liberal allies in Congress propose new wasteful government spending programs.

I support a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that will require the federal government to balance its budget every year. Currently, forty-five states, including West Virginia, require their legislatures to enact a balanced budget--Congress should be required to do the same.

John Buckley: Government "stimulus" is illusory

A: Oppose. Government "stimulus" is illusory, except for the favored few on the receiving end. The taxpayers are cheated.

Earl Ray Tomblin: Deficit borrowing just kicks the can down the road

It all starts with our obligation to adopt a budget [which] is balanced, with no new taxes. This time last year, we predicted a deficit that totaled nearly $400 million. Staying true to the hallmark of our fiscal responsibility, my administration began the task of closing that shortfall. Unlike the federal government, we did not kick the can down the road by borrowing money or allowing deficits to mount. We told our agencies, almost a year ago, to do more with less. We challenged them to be smart, be efficient, and be prepared to cut their budgets. In tightening our belts, we realized that some of our programs and services should not face budget reductions.

Earl Ray Tomblin: 2011 budget: balanced; no new taxes; no new fees

I am proud to present to you today a General Revenue Fund budget that is balanced.
• Not only is it balanced--but it contains no tax increases.
• It raises no fees.
• It furloughs no teachers or state employees.
• This budget neither cuts nor creates entitlement programs.
• It does not rely on any Rainy Day Funds.
• And, the budget I submit to you today, does not rely on any one-time stimulus funding from the Federal Government as a backfill to State operations.

Joe Manchin III: Constitutional amendment requiring balanced budget

John Raese: Constitutional amendment requiring balanced budget

Joe Manchin III: Balanced budget amendment except in national emergency

Both men called for a balanced budget amendment that would require Congress to balance the nation's books every year and not run up debt.

Neither candidate provided details about how they propose balancing a multi-trillion-dollar budget, but Raese said he favors giving presidents line-item veto power--something that Byrd staunchly opposed. Manchin said the only time the amendment should be suspended was during war or a national emergency.