Gary Howell files his candidacy papers

Gary Howell files with the West Virginia Secretary of State's office making his candidacy for the 49th Delegate seat official.

The Candidate stated "West Virginia is a great state but we also have some challenges that we need to solve. The most important of our challenges is getting the states economy moving again. People are hurting as they struggle to make ends meet. They're worried about their future, and that of their children and grandchildren. I want to ensure that we leave them a West Virginia that is economically stronger and independent with a superb educational system. "

Howell will be seeking the state being vacated by Bob Schadler.

WVGOP Senate Caucus response to Gov. Manchin State of State Address

As Governor Joe Manchin prepares to deliver his State of State address to the people of West Virginia this evening, Senate Minority Whip Clark Barnes urges West Virginians to not get caught up in the governor's rhetoric. With unemployment hovering at 10% jobs are leaving West Virginia at a rate faster then they can be created and Obama and the EPA have all but declared war on West Virginia prosperity.

Republicans are worried that the democratic leadership is just covering up the problems until they become unfixable. Senator Barnes is urging state law makers to return back to basic conservative values that can save the state from a fiscal, energy, and taxation crisis.

Idiots?

A long time ago, a music enthusiast told me that the last place anyone should look for a reasonable opinion on music would be Rolling Stone. According to this source, the magazine specialized in slamming most good to decent new acts when they surfaced, only to love them after they were past their prime. Led Zeppelin was only one band that got this treatment. The magazine occupied a position hopelessly reactionary and establishment vis-a-vis the music and entertainment field.

So if they fail so completely at music, why on earth should anyone listen to them when it comes to politics or science? Luckily most people don't, which is why right thinking individuals need not feel concern over their dramatic cover this week. It has the big red word "idiots" on the cover, and announces that it is listing the most dangerous people to the planet. Of course the topic is global warming.

An idiot would be someone who takes political and science advice from a music magazine, in my opinion. The dramatic, attention getting cover looks like a desperate act to beg people to convert to their anti-capitalist environmentalism that functions more like a religion than a science. They know they have just about lost this war. Luckily, Rolling Stone only preaches to the choir. Not many folks pay attention to their views on these issues.

I do not want to leave out the fact that this issue happened to appear only a week after Miami saw its temperatures plummet to thirty degrees. Augusta, Georgia saw ten degrees and snow falling (to the utter delight of my brother.) Around here we still have a snow blanket that was a week old at Christmas. God always seems to have His own answer for global warming advocates when they appear to issue dramatic warnings. Most Al Gore speeches come with unseasonably cold temperatures regardless of the season. The Copenhagen conference nearly had people freeze to death waiting to get in. And now this. Not to mention the fact that the top global warming scientists and institutions have engaged in full scale fraud to undermine any opposing points of view.

We are probably close to seeing this movement shift gears. Soon they will urge us that we have to act to prevent an ice age, not a global rise in temperatures. It's happened before, that's what these same people were saying in the 1970s.

We have to ignore these fools and

Capito Floored by W.Va. Report on Health Bill’s Cost to State

State DHHR Estimates Hundreds of Millions in New Costs for West Virginia Taxpayers

WASHINGTON – West Virginia taxpayers could face hundreds of millions of dollars in additional costs under federal health care legislation according to new tallies from officials at the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR). The new figures were included in a response to a request from Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., for an official estimate on how federal health care legislation’s expansion of Medicaid would impact the state budget.

The results are in and they’re not pretty. DHHR officials suggest that West Virginians could face at least $147 million or as much as $725 million in new costs under legislation approved by the Senate and House respectively.

“I’m completely floored by these numbers,” said Capito. “For a program that’s already bending under the prospect of huge deficits, this legislation will break it in half. I simply don’t know how our state can absorb such a massive new liability. State budgets are busting across the nation, and now Congress – under the guise of health reform – is asking them to add hundreds of millions of dollars in new costs. It’s irresponsible and it’s not sustainable.”

“We’ve already seen Nebraska exempted from this new burden, and now we know why,” she added. “How can we ask West Virginians to stand by and accept such an unfunded mandate?”

Capito made her request to the administration of Governor Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., in November, raising concerns about how expanding Medicaid – a program jointly funded by federal and state dollars – could force the state to raise new taxes or make cuts in services to come up with the funding.

Supporters of the Democratic health care bills often argue that expanding Medicaid will lead to cost savings from uncompensated care, but DHHR officials took such savings into account in their estimates and still project enormous new costs for West Virginia. If those savings aren’t realized, new taxpayer costs could balloon to more than $857 million.

“I know Secretary Hardy and her team have worked hard to come up with these estimates, and I applaud their hard work,” said Capito. “Yet these numbers must serve as a wake-up call to Democratic leaders in Congress. West Virginia taxpayers simply can’t afford to foot the bill for the Democrat plan.”

No More Mr. Tough Guy. No More Mr. Mean

Looks like US troops will have to get new rules of engagement that include Miranda rights, tasers instead of M 16s, and sensitivity classes.

A federal judge has tossed out most of the government’s evidence against a terrorism detainee on grounds his confessions were coerced, allegedly by U.S. forces, before he became a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay.
In a ruling this week, U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan also said the government failed to establish that 23 statements the detainee made to interrogators at Guantanamo Bay were untainted by the earlier coerced statements made while he was held under harsh conditions in Afghanistan. (Hat tip to Redstate.com)

This is what happens when you let a community organizer run the war. He takes military decisions completely out of their normal context and creates an absurdity that will endanger American lives. Obama has no experience, no knowledge, no will to win in our conflict with terror. He acts as if we started the war because he issues apologies. It is time for him to step up and be a president or step down and let someone with guts take over the job.

We no longer need a weenie in chief, we need an American who will defend our nation, not set our enemies free.

Oh, and Judge Thomas Hogan probably needs a primer on warfare as well. Good thing he was not at Nuremburg. He would have set Goering and Goebbels out on the street.

Healthcare Experiment

Looking Ahead to the State Legislative Session

What would you rather West Virginia do? Democrats, in this election year, have chosen to "hold the ball" as they put it. That means to keep taxes and spending at current levels, saving the unofficial $168 million surplus for any problems that could come up. Republicans plan to move aggressively in proposing that at least some of that money go back to the people in the form of tax cuts.

Honestly, it is your Legislature. These people go there because you picked them. It is fair enough to expect them to do as you wish, so e mail or call them and let them know what you want before they get down to business.

Democrats like to paint tax cuts as an all or nothing deal, that if you cut taxes, you lose the surplus and then if something happens we do not have the money. Responsible tax cuts can occur that will benefit business and citizens while maintaining the surplus. I really cannot argue too much with how our state has handled the recession, except to point out that we should not rest on our laurels, but try to expand our growth. Governor Manchin has stuck to the formulas of the old Republican Party of several decades ago. This stopped losses, but is not a formula which will aggressively push for growth in this new decade.

West Virginia needs a game plan for growth, not just in a few counties or economic segments, but across the board. That means tax cuts for the business sector, especially small entrepreneurs. Should those cuts eliminate the entire surplus? No. Start now with what we can do and signal the outside world that we are becoming business friendly. We can accomplish a lot because other states would rather raise taxes for revenue than cut their budgets. Business will naturally gravitate to more friendly areas.

It is up to you, the voters. Let your legislators know what you want.

Post War Recessions Job Losws Compared

Job loses in Obama Recession as compared to previous post World War II recessions.

Public Service Commission of West Virginia Grants Siting Certificate for Pinnacle Wind Farm at NewPage

January 11, 2010 -- The Public Service Commission (PSC) of West Virginia granted a Siting Certificate for the construction of the Pinnacle Wind Farm at NewPage. The project, developed by Pinnacle Wind Force, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of US Wind Force, LLC, is the product of a joint development agreement between US Wind Force and Edison Mission Group (EMG).

"Pinnacle is delighted that the public service commission has granted the permit. While we have not yet had the opportunity to review the entire order, we are ready to put skilled West Virginians to work building this clean, renewable energy project. We anticipate that construction will likely begin once the terms of a power purchase agreement are finalized", said Dave Friend, vice president of US Wind Force.
The 23 turbine Pinnacle Wind Farm at NewPage will be located on Green Mountain, near Keyser WV, in Mineral County. The turbines will generate approximately 55 megawatts of power, which is enough electricity for over 14,000 households. The cost to construct the project is estimated at $130 million. County property taxes are projected to average more than $433,000 annually, placing it among the county's largest taxpayers. Additionally, Pinnacle has voluntarily committed to establish a community benefit fund that will provide locally controlled financial resources for community projects throughout the life of the project.

NewPage Corporation, the largest coated paper manufacturer in North America, is partnering with the project by placing six of the turbines on NewPage property near the company's Luke, Maryland facility. “NewPage is proud to partner strategically with US Wind Force, especially during a time when our country is facing significant energy challenges. This partnership is an example of our commitment to support the growth of sustainable energy and is consistent with our goal to continuously explore renewable energy opportunities for our facilities," said David Bonistall, vice president, environmental, health and safety for NewPage.

As part of the project planning process, a Community Advisory Panel (CAP) was established to create an ongoing dialogue with community members from the Keyser, New Creek, Piedmont, and Elk Garden areas. Members continue to meet to discuss the project and its progress. In addition to meeting with CAP members, US Wind Force has met with local civic and service organizations in Mineral County and conducted open house events. Friend added, "[W]e appreciate the tremendous amount of support the project has received from stakeholders in the local community and their willingness to provide valuable input throughout this phase of the process."

To learn more about the Pinnacle Project, please visit the US Wind Force website at www.uswindforce.com. Project area residents may stop by one of the community information repositories located at the Keyser Public Library, the Elk Garden Community School, and the Piedmont Public Library to see a copy of the application. A toll-free project line, 1-866-929-4429, is also available to anyone with questions about the project.
US Wind Force, LLC, based in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, is a privately held developer of utility-scale wind energy projects.

EMG companies rank as the seventh largest developer of wind energy projects in the United States with a current portfolio of 27 wind projects capable of producing more than 1,500 MW of electricity in operation or under construction in 10 states, including two projects in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. EMG also operates a power generating facility in Grant Town, West Virginia, which uses waste coal to generate electricity. EMG is headquartered in Irvine, California and is a subsidiary of Edison International.

Double Standard

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was in trouble before this week, trailing in the polls to any of his three possible Republican challengers. His race is one of at least five between the special election in Massachusetts coming up and November in which Republicans have a strong chance of seizing a seat currently held by a Democrat.

The came the revelation that Harry Reid made disparaging racial remarks about Obama during the campaign of 2008. He stated that Obama did not have an authentic "Negro (yes he used the word "Negro") dialect" except in private conversation. I suppose Senator Reid expected something out of Uncle Remus. Reid later said he was bowled over by Obama's eloquence. Of course all liberals are impressed by the ability to say nothing with absolute style.

This remark says a lot more about Harry Reid than Obama. As far as the issue of "dialect" is concerned (maybe Reid meant accent? I am not sure if he knows what the word "dialect" means) the turning on of an accent in private conversation that you would not use otherwise is not uncommon. It's not deceptive, it reflects the fact that most people act differently in nonprofessional situations as opposed to professional. Most West Virginians can identify with this dichotomy.

Can Harry Reid? I am still anxious to know what he means by "Negro dialect." This phrase, for which he apologized, reflects his mindset. You cannot apologize away such a stupid statement. What's more, Reid rode the bandwagon on a "Lott" of Republican race misstatements over the years. He was, of course, curiously absent on Joe Biden's remark on Obama being articulate. This comes just in time for Martin Luther King Day, too.

Once said, it cannot be unsaid. What's more, if you ladled out grief for something, you should expect it in return. Harry Reid will not resign, but he will likely lose his election this fall. One more sign of the coming collapse of left wing rule.

Ray Stevens - We The People

Dehumanizing

They are coming. Obama's people have gone to Spain to look into the controversial body scanners now used in some European airports. James Carville, Democratic strategist, complained about their photographic accuracy in a typically vulgar way, but he raised a good point. Transportation Safety Administration officials, with these scanners, can (when the scanners are brought in) examine the nude bodies of men, women, and children to their hearts content. We would like to expect 100% professionalism, but let's be realistic. Some bodies will be ogled, others laughed at. That is human nature and allowing ourselves to sink to this condition is disgusting. I would rather drive eighteen hours to a destination than allow mine and my children's bodies to be illuminated for the edification of TSA employees. We are human beings.

That is the point. Obama's change, when you see the big picture, promotes dehumanization. Health care deform emphasizes cutting Medicare costs. How do they do that? By rationing health care to the elderly because their lives mean less. Who says that? Obama's own advisors!

Obama's health and economic plans require each working citizen to give up more and more of their hard earned reward for work. Why? So it can go to people who did not earn it, or to reward groups that support Obamunism. Each individual has the right to the rewards for his work or risk,justly earned. Obama and the left do not believe that you have the right to keep it. It belongs to the collective mass. Decisions are to be made by them of course.

Abortion rests on the premise that children in the womb have no worth. Their deaths are meaningless to the Left.

Kevin Jennings, Obama's appointed czar of safe schools, encouraged a minor child to have sex in a bus station with a much older adult. He wrote that in his own autobiography. The humanity of this child was stripped by a radical left winger who did not see fit to give him reasonable advice. And now he makes policy to guide the school that educate small children!

Body scanning strips away human dignity by exposing its nudity. And it makes us no safer. Terrorists will have a harder time blowing up airplanes, so what? They can carry bombs into crowded terminals, football games, shopping malls, etc. Full body scanners will only perpetuate the ripping away of the dignity of each individual. It will also destroy what is left of the air travel industry. Sure some have to fly, but fewer and fewer will choose it when they have other options.

The Left wants to erase all vestiges of individuality and rights. They believe in the collective. If we believe we have no rights and no dignity, they believe they can impose upon us what they see fit. Obama and the Left have systematically attacked many aspects of our individual humanity in their evil radical plans. It's time for freedom loving Americans to push back hard and strip them of their authority instead of allowing them to strip us of our humanity.

1/9/10 Weekly Republican Address: Rep. Pete King (R-NY)