State of West Virginia Archives: on Principles & Values

Woody Thrasher: I've learned a lot from President Donald Trump

Patrick Morrisey: Prohibit government from violating our God-given rights

That is why Patrick Morrisey is looking out for you every day, as West Virginia's Attorney General. He has fought to defend the Constitution with the vigilance and courage we need during these trying times. Morrisey takes seriously his duty to stand up for the US and West Virginia Constitution and the individual liberties these documents protect.

John Buckley: Smaller state means less separation-of-church issue

A: Neutral. I'm comfortable with the recognition of God in the public sphere, but I favor a much smaller public sphere in the first place, so small that it ought not to accomplish much or matter much whether any aspect of religion is recognized in the public sphere.

Joe Manchin III: We can only fix things by coming together

Earl Ray Tomblin: Priorities: business climate; education; reinvent government

It is my hope that we can agree on these three priorities as we move forward.
1. Our top priority must be to continue to improve our business climate to attract, retain, and create good paying private sector jobs.
2. We must improve and reform our entire educational system to better prepare our citizens for the jobs of tomorrow.
3. We must reinvent, simplify and make government more efficient and responsible to the people and businesses of our state.

Joe Manchin III: My forte is creating jobs; I'll bring spirit of capitalism

Raese, the millionaire heir to a powerful company in the state, repeatedly cited his business acumen, promising to "bring the spirit of capitalism to the United States Senate."

"My forte is creating jobs," he said.

Joe Manchin III: To Raese: Mr. Obama's name will not be on the ballot!

Manchin emphasized his opposition to parts of the president's health care overhaul and said he would be "independent" from his party in Congress. Asked by one of the debate moderators to name a policy advanced by Democrats he agreed with, Manchin named Social Security, Medicare and the minimum wage--avoiding any of the major bills Obama and the Democrats have passed over the last two years.

Nonetheless, businessman John Raese, who has surged in the polls by linking Manchin to Obama, assured the audience that the president and governor "are together" on most key issues.

"I hate to inform my opponent, but Mr. Obama's name will not be on the ballot," Manchin said after Raese had linked him once again to the president.

"The bottom line is President Obama or President Bush, I'm an American, I want my president to succeed," Manchin said.

John Raese: OpEd: TV ad with hick actors hilites part-time WV residency

What perhaps makes the "hicky" insult stick is that Raese seems to many to be only a part-time West Virginian. Raese and his wife, Liz, own a mansion in Palm Beach, Fla. Mrs. Raese and their two daughters spend most of their tim in Florida. At least one of their daughters attends a private school in Palm Beach.

The Raeses take a $50,000 tax credit on their Palm Beach house that is available only to Fla. permanent residents. It appears they get away with this by having Mrs. Raese registered as a Fla. resident, while Mr. Raese is registered as W.V. resident.

It is unclear whether Raese pays West Virginia state income tax. The Raeses have thus far refused to make their tax and residency records public.

Joe Manchin III: Duty as governor to work with the president

Raese claims Manchin would be a "rubber stamp" for the administration. Manchin said it is his duty as the state's governor to work with the president.

The Obama administration's pursuit of a cap-and-trade policy for greenhouse gases has not gone over well in coal country.

John Raese: No rubber stamp for the Obama administration

Raese claims Manchin would be a "rubber stamp" for the administration. Manchin said it is his duty as the state's governor to work with the president.

The Obama administration's pursuit of a cap-and-trade policy for greenhouse gases has not gone over well in coal country.