Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee Chair Replies to Charleston Gazette Charges

Those type of attacks are the same old tiring message from those who are uninformed. The Kanawawa County Republican Executive made a wise decision after much discussion and fact finding.
Our two main concerns:1. How much will this cost the taxpayers of our county?We were told lots of figures, anywhere from $85,500.00 to $900,000.00 and everything in between Never anything in writing which makes good business sense, although I requested the estimates in writing.
2. Will this increase voter particpation? This was asked of our county clerk and Commissioner Shores. They did notknow if it would or not. But, County Clerk Vera McCormick said on several occassions that Early Voting has not overall voter turnout. This has been place since 2002. Voting figures support this.Voters can vote in their precincts on election day, vote by absentee ballot, vote early (have 20 days prior to election day), and if in hospital, clerk's office has people who will take ballot to hospital to let those people vote.The last election in Kanawaha County cost taxpayers $500,000,00.
The KCREC did not think it fiscally responsible to ask taxpayers of ALL parties to pay an estimated addtional 20% for an experiment at a time when the county is cutting the budget and using an emergency account to pay bills. I am very proud of our committe for having the courage to make a good decision. There are far too many people in politics who do not speak up because of their own self interests. We are setting the standard and will lead if others refuse to. You cannot go wrong by standing on principle

Kanawha County GOP UNfairly Attacked By the Charleston Gazette

Today's Charleston Gazette contains an editorial blasting the Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee for its refusal to agree to the establishment of costly satellite polling stations for early voting. The editorial implies that voters will only have the choice of voting at the courthouse and fails to mention the fact that voting can be done in convenient precincts on Election Day itself.
The Kanawha County Republicans, I would imagine, are concerned about wasting taxpayer money in these very uncertain times. The Gazette does not even share their side of the story, but accuses them of restricting voting.

Of course the Gazette specializes in these kinds of hatchet jobs. We can counter this unwarranted attack through letters to the editor or comments directly on the editorial's webpage, link included here. http://wvgazette.com/Opinion/Editorials/201001060434

A Chilling Look At the Mindset of an Abortion Advocate

In yesterday's Charleston Gazette, WV Free director Margaret Chapman Pomponio leads her commentary with the following:
I work for a reproductive justice organization. That means that for almost 10 years, I’ve been advocating for West Virginia families to improve education on reproductive decisions, increase access to affordable birth control, and protect personal decision-making, including decisions about whether or when to have a child. This means that we at WV FREE support access to abortion care because it’s what women sometimes need as part of their basic health care.

This is part of a plea on behalf of including abortion services into any government run health care operation. Think of what she says for a second, though. She claims that abortion is part of "their basic health care!" (I added the ! of course.)

In what universe is the killing of a child, along with the harsh psychological consequnces suffered by many of the mothers, on a par with getting a broken bone set or getting antibiotics for an infection? That is what most people consider "basic health care."

They would love for us to look at abortion as routine, something between getting a splint for a broken thumb and removing an appendix. We need to continue to fight this attitude on every level and remind people of what abortion really is.

It's not a "fetus," but a living and breathing child of God.

It's not a "procedure," but the vacuuming away of a viable human life, piece by painful piece.

And women don't "need" it except in rare, life threatening cases. The vast majority of mothers made a conscious choice to engage in behavior that created the child. If they made the choice to take that action, then they have the responsibility to live with the consequences of those actions regardless of age or circumstances. That responsibility runs at the very least to bringing it to term and delivering it alive. The law says that after that, you can drop it off anonymously at certain prescribed spots and never deal with the child again. At least the child is alive and the mother is not traumatized by murdering her baby inside of her. Our law and society have created scenarios where all the mother has to do, if she is completely unfit or unable to take care of the baby, is let it live and we take care of the rest. That baby could cure cancer, create a unified field theory, or compose wonderful music. Unfortunately the law also gives her the option to murder as well so we might never get the benefits of those unknowable lives. I agree completely with providing birth control to the poor as well as education on how and when to use it. Killing a child when one does not have to goes way beyond the pale of acceptable behavior.

I saw my first child born at 19 and despite all the trouble and sacrifice, would never, ever wish away one second of her existence to make my life more convenient, or to extend my college "fun time."

At some point, we will all have to reckon in some way with the horror of what our law has allowed to happen for almost four decades now.

The Return of Jerry Mezzatesta?

Because of the relevance of the saga of the fallen former Hampshire County Delegate Jerry Mezzatesta to the Eastern Mineral County and the Potomac Highlands, I have re-posted the following from my post at the Think Tank this morning:

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The Return of the Mezz?

Well, hopefully not.Former Delegate Jerry Mezzatesta is trying to get old job back at Hampshire County Schools. The Daily Mail reports:

Bailey urged Taylor to uphold the grievance board's decision, while Bruce asked that Mezzatesta be allowed back in his previous position and awarded back pay, Bailey said.

Back pay? Does this fellow have ANY shame?

Aside from diverting $35,000 in education grants to a local fire department, the Mezz and his wife pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of destroying and altering legislative computer records in Kanahwa County in 2004.

And of course, the Mezz wanted the taxpayers to foot the bill for his trip to the magistrate as Eric Eyre reported back in December of 2004.

Former House Education Chairman Jerry Mezzatesta wants the state to reimburse him nearly $1,000 for a three-day visit to Charleston during which he cleaned out his office, said goodbye to friends, and pleaded no contest to a criminal charge in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.Mezzatesta has requested "duty day" pay for this past Saturday, Sunday and Monday at $150 each day. He also put in for $115 in expenses for each of those days, and $192 for mileage to and from his home in Romney.

If you don't recall or weren't around for the fall of the mighty former House Education Chairman (who was also former Speaker Bob Kiss' right hand man), you can read about it here in this award winning series by Eric Eyre at the Charleston Gazette.