State of West Virginia Archives: on Tax Reform
Alex Mooney:
Signed "No New Taxes Pledge"
I believe our government has a spending problem. Tax increases are just an excuse for the spending addicts in Washington to spend more of your hard-earned money. That's why I signed
Americans for Tax Reform's "No New Taxes Pledge." As your congressman, I will vote against every attempt to raise taxes.
Source: 2014 W.V. House campaign website, MooneyForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
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
Earl Ray Tomblin:
Reduce, then remove, regressive & unfair sales tax on food
I call for a one-third reduction in our sales tax on food from 3 cents to 2 cents. Several years ago--in a responsible manner--we moved toward removing this regressive, unfair tax. And while we do not have the capability to remove it all at this time--
I believe we can make this fiscally responsible reduction. It is this type of broad tax relief that will help all those trying to make ends meet. Every little bit counts. It is my intention to eliminate the entire food tax over the next few years.
Source: 2011 W.V. State of the State Address
Jan 12, 2011
Evan Jenkins:
Tax relief instead of tax increases
Evan knows we must end the 'tax and spend' ways of Washington. Our nation's $17 Trillion deficit is mortgaging the future of our children and grandchildren and must stop.
He believes we must live within our means and tax relief, not tax increases, is what we need to get our country moving in the right direction.
Source: 2014 W.V. House campaign website, EvanJenkins.com
Nov 4, 2014
Jim Justice:
Don't tax people to death; rein in government by attrition
The way forward is to give West Virginians the opportunity to work. As governor, I will bring jobs to this state and grow our way out of this fiscal ditch. That's how we will end the budget crisis, not by passing raw milk legislation.We cannot
tax our people to death. Just like in the business world, we need to make responsible cuts. West Virginia must rein in the size of government by attrition--reviewing whether we need to replace government employees after they retire or leave.
Our state needs to find cost savings through modernizing government.
It's time that outsiders across the state get off the sidelines and get in the game to take back West Virginia. I am not running for governor to move the needle a tic;
I want West Virginia to be nationally competitive. If you like what you see happening in Charleston, then continue voting for the career politicians who can't even pass a budget. If you really want to turn West Virginia around, join me.
Source: 2016 W.V. Gubernatorial campaign website JusticeForWV.com
Jun 15, 2016
Joe Manchin III:
Don't mess with or increase taxes during a time of turmoil
Manchin is a popular governor serving his second term and known even by West Virginians who don't closely follow politics. To overcome that, the Republicans are trying to make the election a referendum on President Barack Obama.
Manchin is banking on his popularity and track record, telling West Virginians to trust he'll be an independent voice.Raese called the state of the nation's economy "almost catastrophic" and focused heavily on creating a pro-business environment,
saying he would push for less regulation and taxation of corporations. He also advocated making tax cuts for people who earn more than $250,000 permanent, arguing it would stimulate investment.
Manchin, however, said he wouldn't "mess with or increase" taxes during a time of turmoil and touted his own ability to cut taxes by $235 million since he took office.
Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate
Oct 18, 2010
John Buckley:
Lower taxes for everyone
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Higher taxes on the wealthy"?
A: Oppose. Lower taxes for everyone.
Source: Email interview on 2014 W.V. Senate race with OnTheIssues
Sep 5, 2014
John Raese:
Make tax cuts permanent, even for earners over $250K
Manchin is a popular governor serving his second term and known even by West Virginians who don't closely follow politics. To overcome that, the Republicans are trying to make the election a referendum on President Barack Obama.
Manchin is banking on his popularity and track record, telling West Virginians to trust he'll be an independent voice.Raese called the state of the nation's economy "almost catastrophic" and focused heavily on creating a pro-business environment,
saying he would push for less regulation and taxation of corporations. He also advocated making tax cuts for people who earn more than $250,000 permanent, arguing it would stimulate investment.
Manchin, however, said he wouldn't "mess with or increase" taxes during a time of turmoil and touted his own ability to cut taxes by $235 million since he took office.
Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate
Oct 18, 2010
Stephen Noble Smith:
Institute a lobbying tax
Institute a lobbying tax. Out-of-state corporations will pay a $10,000 lobbying license fee. Non-profit organizations and in-state companies will pay a $100 lobbying license fee.
The first $10,000 in lobbying expenditures will be taxed at a 10% rate. Every additional dollar will be taxed at a 100% rate.
Source: 2020 W.V. Gubernatorial campaign website WVCantWait.com.com
Jan 24, 2020
Stephen Noble Smith:
Shift tax breaks to small, local businesses
Shift tax breaks to small, locally-owned businesses, and away from their competitors. Work with the Department of Commerce to create a $75 million annual package of tax credits and incentives that are exclusively available to locally-owned small
businesses (100 employees or less). The exact package of tax credits would be determined by small business owners, with a particular focus on reducing costs to be able to afford a raise in the minimum wage to $15.
Source: 2020 W.V. Gubernatorial campaign website WVCantWait.com.com
Jan 24, 2020
Stephen Noble Smith:
Half-penny wealth tax over $2 million nonresidential assets
A half-penny wealth tax on people with more than $2 million in nonresidential property assets would generate enough revenue to build the best education system in the country (child care for every working family, teacher and school service worker
compensation to compete with neighboring states, higher education for every student, and debt relief for every West Virginian or out-of-stater working for the public good) and mount a world-leading response to the drug crisis.
Source: 2020 W.V. Gubernatorial campaign website WVCantWait.com.com
Jan 24, 2020
Stephen Noble Smith:
Wealthy should pay same cumulative tax rate as workers
This is the richest time in West Virginia history, in real GDP per capita. But that wealth doesn't stay here. That wealth is destined for the pockets of coal executives, Chinese investors and other out-of-state interests. If the wealthiest West
Virginians paid the same cumulative tax rate as the cashier at Dollar General, we'd generate $525 million per year (enough to pay for every West Virginia student in college, vocational school or an apprenticeship and have hundreds of millions left over).
Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail on 2020 W.V. Gubernatorial race
Jan 10, 2019
Jim Justice:
Reduce personal income tax by 50% over three years
Tonight, I am proposing the biggest tax cut in the history of this state. I'm proposing a 50% reduction in our PIT [personal income tax] across the board now. This thing, just saying if we do this, it will take us three years to pull it off.
But absolutely it is that aggressive pathway that will absolutely put unbelievable monies right back into all of our pockets.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the W.V. legislature
Jan 11, 2023
JB McCuskey:
Simply put, West Virginians need less taxes, not more
Simply put, West Virginians need less taxes, not more. J.B. McCuskey is a fiscal conservative. He is raising his own family and understands firsthand that lower taxes mean more money in the pockets of hardworking West Virginians, and in turn, better
economic growth. In the state legislature, J.B. McCuskey advocated for lower taxes. As State Auditor, he implemented a live databank where West Virginians can see exactly how their tax dollars are being spent.
Source: 2024 W.V. Gubernatorial campaign website McCuskeyForWV.com
Jun 22, 2023
Jim Justice:
The faster we drop taxes on individuals the better we'll be
We've cut taxes in West Virginia 23 times since I walked in the door. Twenty-three different times and delivered on the biggest tax cut, the biggest tax cut in state history, hands down.
I would tell you just this, the faster that we can get rid of the taxes on the individuals, the better we'll be. I'm proposing the total elimination of Social Security tax on all, On all.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the W.V. legislature
Jan 10, 2024
Patrick Morrisey:
Ensure we have the lowest income tax of the states we touch
I am renewing my call to ensure we have the lowest income tax of the states we touch. I want to work with you to make that a reality. Now, some may question why I want to lower taxes when the state has inherited a shortfall.
But the answer to fiscal constraints is not to raise taxes--it's to cut spending and grow our economy. We're going to make West Virginia the most attractive state to live, work, and do business.
Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the W.V. legislature
Feb 12, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026