Considering Looking at Long Term Costs in Budgeting Rather Than Simply the Original Price of a Project

Too often when elected officials approve infrastructure projects they do not plan for the long-term cost (the life cycle budget), which leads to wasteful spending at all levels of government. Current infrastructure projects frequently are not cost-effective and often lead to crumbling infrastructure.

Ultimately these projects become more expensive to repair and maintain. If they were constructed and priced out correctly from the beginning (looking at the entire cost of the initial project, including the maintenance and repairs in the future) we would have a better idea of the costs and benefits in the long term instead of the original price of the project. In the long run this type of budgeting would save taxpayers money.

A road, for example, is not simply a road. Does it pass through higher elevations where we can expect more stress and wear from freezing temperatures and more salt treatments? Will it have more wear and tear because of its proximity to industrial areas that will require a lot more truck traffic? How many bridges will be built on a long stretch of highway? These factors all go into the long term considerations of cost. When we think about these issues, we might be able to even come up with alternative specifics that could cost more in the short term, but pay off over time.

A lack of transparency in infrastructure spending is creating budgetary uncertainty, which only furthers the fiscal challenges facing state officials. This kind of shortsighted infrastructure budgeting is jeopardizing economic growth

Congressman Nick Rahall (Democrat-WV03) should consider this new way to look at the funding of infrastructure projects. Below are a couple of examples where government leaders have scrapped projects or hidden the true cost of projects.

— In California, a study conducted by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments found that routine repairs cost roughly $20,000 per mile of road per year. When roads break down, reconstruction is needed, costing up to $2 million per mile per year.

— In New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie canceled a highly publicized transit tunnel project because he discovered the full costs of the project would exceed projections by as much as $5 billion. The tunnel would have eased traffic congestion among commuters in the nation’s most densely populated state.

When we fail to account for the maintenance costs from the start, repairs aren’t paid for and we are forced to spend more on major reconstruction earlier in the life of the road.

Today, we think it is imperative that governments consider the full life cycle cost of any investment it makes. That means not just how much something costs to build, but also how much it costs to operate and maintain decades into the future.

It is worth noting that the Congressional Budget Office reports that life cycle accounting will produce more cost effective infrastructure projects. According to the non-partisan CBO, accounting for the total cost of a project over its life cycle – that is, taking into account the initial costs as well as the long term operation and maintenance costs – is a key to ensuring that infrastructure projects are cost-effective.

With government doing more with less at every level, we urge Rep. Rahall and his colleagues in Congress to adopt this form of budgeting.

From the Secretary of State's Office: Final List of Candidates For Governor

Clark
Barnes Republican 106 S. Kanawha St., Buckhannon, WV 26253 Randolph 304-472-5608 cbarnes1950@yahoo.com
Earl Ray
Tomblin Democrat PO Box 11530 Charleston, WV 25339 Logan info@earlraytomblin.com

Rick
Thompson Democrat 4625 Route 152 Lavalette, WV 25535 Wayne 304-551-7425 Info@RickThompsonWV.com
Arne
Moltis Democrat PO Box 8373 South Charleston, WV 25303 Kanawha 304-395-0214 arne@suddenlink.net
Natalie E. Tennant Democrat P.O. Box 1063 Charleston, WV 25324 Kanawha 304-993-0874 info@natalietennant.com
Betty
Ireland Republican 948 Ridgemont Road Charleston, WV 25314 Kanawha 304-343-5033 votebettyireland@gmail.com
Mark A.
Sorsaia Republican P.O. Box 361, Hurricane, WV 25526 Putnam 304-546-3477 mark@sorsaiaforgovernor.com
Larry V. Faircloth Republican P.O. Box 558 Inwood, WV 25428 Berkeley 304-267-3949 faircloth4governor@frontier.com
John D.
Perdue Democrat 608 Virginia Street E Charleston, WV 25301 Kanawha 304-414-0880 John@johnperdue.com
Cliff
Ellis Republican 104 Sunset Drive Westover, WV 26501 Monongalia 304-680-5332 gellis104@comcast.net
Mitch B.
Carmichael Republican 2 Colonial Drive Ripley, WV 25271 Jackson 304-372-4667 mitch.carmichael@frontier.com
Ralph William Clark Republican Monongalia rclark376@comcast.net
Jeffrey V. Kessler Democrat 607 Wheeling Ave. Glen Dale, WV 26038 Marshall jeff@jeffkesslerforgovernor.com
Bill
Maloney Republican PO Box 18189 Morgantown, WV 26507 Monongalia maloneyforwv@gmail.com

PRECANDIDATES: Have filed a Precandidate Form and are authorized to raise and spend money for the 2011 election for Governor. Listed in the order in which received by the Election Division.
Name Party Mailing Address County Phone # Email Address
Jesse
Johnson Mountain Kanawha jesse4wvgov@yahoo.com
Patrick
Lane Republican Kanawha
Bob Henry Baber Mountain 526 Kanawha St. Glenville, WV 26351 Gilmer 304-462-0320 mayorbobhenrybaber@yahoo.com

From the Secretary of State's Office: Final List of Candidates For Governor

Clark
Barnes Republican 106 S. Kanawha St., Buckhannon, WV 26253 Randolph 304-472-5608 cbarnes1950@yahoo.com
Earl Ray
Tomblin Democrat PO Box 11530 Charleston, WV 25339 Logan info@earlraytomblin.com

Rick
Thompson Democrat 4625 Route 152 Lavalette, WV 25535 Wayne 304-551-7425 Info@RickThompsonWV.com
Arne
Moltis Democrat PO Box 8373 South Charleston, WV 25303 Kanawha 304-395-0214 arne@suddenlink.net
Natalie E. Tennant Democrat P.O. Box 1063 Charleston, WV 25324 Kanawha 304-993-0874 info@natalietennant.com
Betty
Ireland Republican 948 Ridgemont Road Charleston, WV 25314 Kanawha 304-343-5033 votebettyireland@gmail.com
Mark A.
Sorsaia Republican P.O. Box 361, Hurricane, WV 25526 Putnam 304-546-3477 mark@sorsaiaforgovernor.com
Larry V. Faircloth Republican P.O. Box 558 Inwood, WV 25428 Berkeley 304-267-3949 faircloth4governor@frontier.com
John D.
Perdue Democrat 608 Virginia Street E Charleston, WV 25301 Kanawha 304-414-0880 John@johnperdue.com
Cliff
Ellis Republican 104 Sunset Drive Westover, WV 26501 Monongalia 304-680-5332 gellis104@comcast.net
Mitch B.
Carmichael Republican 2 Colonial Drive Ripley, WV 25271 Jackson 304-372-4667 mitch.carmichael@frontier.com
Ralph William Clark Republican Monongalia rclark376@comcast.net
Jeffrey V. Kessler Democrat 607 Wheeling Ave. Glen Dale, WV 26038 Marshall jeff@jeffkesslerforgovernor.com
Bill
Maloney Republican PO Box 18189 Morgantown, WV 26507 Monongalia maloneyforwv@gmail.com

PRECANDIDATES: Have filed a Precandidate Form and are authorized to raise and spend money for the 2011 election for Governor. Listed in the order in which received by the Election Division.
Name Party Mailing Address County Phone # Email Address
Jesse
Johnson Mountain Kanawha jesse4wvgov@yahoo.com
Patrick
Lane Republican Kanawha
Bob Henry Baber Mountain 526 Kanawha St. Glenville, WV 26351 Gilmer 304-462-0320 mayorbobhenrybaber@yahoo.com

Military Dictatorship In Egypt?

Unrest in Egypt is getting worse and not better. What is unclear is which groups stand to gain if, or more likely when, Hosni Mubarek is forced to step aside. We would love to see true democracy, but should be concerned about the Moslem Brotherhood (backed by Obama, of course.) Egypt has tried to retain a secular government in the face of a tide of dangerous fundamentalism. Inviting a religious group to the table is a bad idea. Just because they came does not mean they should get to sit or speak.

History shows us that revolutions such as the one brewing in Cairo tend to turn out badly much of the time. Radicals shove aside moderates and spill blood when they consolidate power. Radicals want to control the people body, mind, and spirit. Radical Islamofacist terror will be bad for Egypt, Israel, Europe, and the United States.

In 1933, German democracy selected Communists and Nazis overwhelmingly in elections for the national legislature (Reichstag.) Its system required the President to choose a government from the dominant political parties. The President selected what he thought was the better of two evils, the Nazis. Of course the Communists had already killed thousands and wrecked Russia. The Nazis had not done as much yet, although they eventually would. The best case scenario for that desperate nation would have been a temporary seizure of power by the military.

Is that what is best for Egypt? If the Moslem Brotherhood or any other Islamic front group try to seize power, the military needs to step in and shove them aside. We need no more radical religious groups running nations in the Middle East. It is not a great result, but better than a lot of alternatives if true democracy cannot be established.

This all being said, that military government (as we have seen this morning actually take over the country) needs to put together a transition plan to democracy that reflects the secular nature of the country and respects all of its religious groups. It needs to promise to prevent terror as well. Hopefully, temporary military rule will result in real democracy and positive change for Egypt.

Feral Pigs and Such

On Tuesday, Fox News ran a story about the growing menace of feral pigs. Farmers complained about the destruction to crops. Suburbanites are upset about their lawns. The United States Department of Agriculture and state governments are concerned as well. The population of feral pigs around the country is approaching 4 million, according to expert estimates. So it's pretty obvious what ought to be done. Michigan has a new policy that allows anyone with a hunting license to shoot them at any time since they breed so quickly and in such large humbers.

Fox had to dig up the animal rights expert, though. He protested the "persecution of pigs" and suggested that someone go out and neuter them instead of hunting them. This was his best, serious suggestion.

This is animal rights at its worst. Armchair thinkers who have never been around an animal larger than a golden retriever or more dangerous than a kitten. Imagine trying to actually catch a pig in a sty to neuter it. Now imagine doing it to a feral pig in the woods. How dangerous is that? How much does it cost? The armchair left isn't interested.

What is amazing is that this very same group likely supports free range chickens as opposed to those cooped up. Wouldn't these be "free range pigs?" Wouldn't it be better to get your pork from wild hogs than those kept on a farm, from an animal rights point of view?

Just a typical statement made without thought by the animal rights movement.

GOProud At CPAC Is the Right Call

CPAC is facing strong criticism from social conservatives due to its inclusion of the group GOProud in its upcoming event.

CPAC is a conference that operates on many levels. There is an elite level where very important folks mingle, drink, eat, and celebrate conservatism. For those without several hundred to spend, there are speeches and a floor with hundreds of booths. This is probably where GOProud will be.

GOProud is a group like the Log Cabin Republicans. In other words, they are gay conservative Republicans. That may sound like a contradiction, but it isn't. Republicans and conservatives are split between those who are predominantly socially conservative and those whose interest lies more in economic liberty. The latter are more likely to be socially libertarian. Additionally, this is where most young conservative/libertarian, Republican voters are.

The Republican Party and conservative movement are moving strongly towards positions of liberty and rights. This will tend to alienate old social conservatives, but revitalize the Republican brand among the younger. Personally, I see a contradiction between the concept of less government interference while using the law to prevent legal connections between gays. Civil unions for all couples, gay or straight, would best reflect these values of limited government in people's lives.

Our combined enemy is statism that can evolve into mercantilism, fascism, or socialism. Obama's vision could send us down any of those three paths and none are good for America. We need to bind together and fight for liberty, rights, and less government. If that means that gay couples end up with civil unions or that people end up being able to grow and smoke pot on their own private property, so be it. I don't care about what people do in private on their property or in their bedrooms. I want the government less involved in all of our lives.

What About Henry Gassaway Davis, Stephen Elkins, or Harley Staggers Day?

State legislators can come up with some good ideas and some not so good ideas.

In this year's session, eleven have decided to sponsor a meausre to make Senator Robert Byrd's birthday a state holiday.

Byrd had one paramount cardinal virtue. Show up for work every day that you possibly can. His efforts to get to votes in his advanced age approached the heroic. How ironic that some want to honor that dedication with giving folks a day off.

Also, let's not forget that Senator Byrd has not been our only legislator of note on the national stage. Harley Staggers served his congressional district faithfully for decades and helped to save railroads in the late 1970s. Henry Gassaway Davis and Stephen Elkins served in the U. S. Senate and helped to build the industrial base that sustains our state today. Arthur Boreman and Francis H. Pierpont risked capture and execution as traitors against the Commonwealth of Virginia to stay loyal to the Union and help create the Mountain State.

I'd like to say that Senator Byrd would be against this, but the man did like having his name attached to stuff. Despite the possibility that he would be elated by this kind of honor, it would be better to recognize his memory at the beginning of every session by having a reading of the United States Constitution and a pledge that each member will have it be his guide. That was Senator Byrd's other sincere political love. Remember him with something productive, not inactivity paid for by the taxpayers.

Rolling the Dice: Natalie Tennant

Natalie Tennant tossed her hat into the gubernatorial ring last week, confirming long held suspicions of her ambition.

Tennant was the first female Mountaineer and is well-known as a newscaster in the Charleston-Huntington market. Her hometown is in Marion County, giving her connections with two of the largest centers of population in West Virginia. She rode that name recognition as well as a winning personality to victory in the Secretary of State race. Now she is taking a serious gamble.

Earl Ray Tomblin, current acting governor, has the advantage of semi-incumbency and a long career behind him in the State Legislature. However, his southern West Virginia base could hurt him in the eastern counties. It is also difficult for long term legislators at any level to compete for statewide office because of their lengthy voting record. It's easy for opponents to highlight votes and stances at different points out of context. Tennant's lack of experience means that she has very little to attack, outside of her lack of experience.

And that in itself is dangerous. With uncertain economic times and our state economy under attack by the federal government itself, we need a governor who will stand up to the feds and protect our jobs and interests. There is no evidence that Natalie Tennant has any track record at all in fighting for this state. Republican candidates and Earl Ray Tomblin himself understand that coal is a vital part of our state economy. What has Tennant done in her career that has shown support for state jobs?

Democratic voters need to think about experience when they head to the polls, as opposed to personality.

The Muslim Brotherhood Must Be Excluded

In recent days, Obama has been pushing Egypt to find a role in a new government for the Muslim Brotherhood. This is an international front for Islamofascism who tries to make fundamentalist Islam look acceptable, much like the Nazi moderation campaigns in the late 20s and early 30s.

Make no mistake, especially y'all on the liberal side of things. These are people who have no problem with the execution of gays and the mutilation of rape victims, especially if that rape destroyed their virginity. These are the Middle East version of the Westboro Baptist (non)Church in their basic beliefs. They should be allowed nowhere near any power structure anywhere.

Revolutions usually begin with democratic leaning moderates in control and radicals asking just for a place at the table. Over time the radicals use ruthless means to intimidate and shove their way into dictatorial control. The American Revolution was an example of the opposite. Radicals were weeded out or chose to drop out and the moderates too over. In Russia and France, radicals seized control with terrifying and bloody results.

To avoid bloodshed in the increasingly inevitable looking scenario of change in Egypt, we must push for the exclusion of the Muslim Brotherhood. They are terrorists who will kill and maim the weak and vulnerable if their sick interpretation of Islam is given any credibility or influence.

We want a moderate and secular democracy in Egypt that opens up the economic system to a more free market orientation. We do not need terrorists who have temporarily decided to look moderate.

What Is Going On in Egypt?

"May you live in interesting times."

Egypt is living out this ancient Chinese curse as thousands have taken to the streets to protest, confront government forces, and/or loot. People on the outside have a difficult time making out precisely what they stand for, although it is easy to see that they are definitely against the current president Hosni Mubarek. Counter demonstrations have zealously supported Mubrake and his administration which has generally been non hostile to Israel and the United States while strongly opposing Islamofascist terrorism. That being said, under his governance, there has been corruption and the suppression of democracy.

If this falls into a real revolution, it could follow a pattern set for hundreds of years. Moderates take control first with the desire to right the wrongs of the old regime. They are quickly shoved aside by ruthless radicals whose aim is power and control. They will shed blood and lives to get what they want. Radical Puritans in Britain in the 1600s, France in the 1700s, Russia in the 1900s are the most well-known examples. We must watch for the same pattern here.

If radicals do seize power in Cairo, we must be ready. A coalition of countries led by the United States, but including African and Asian countries must be ready to seize the Suez Canal and place it under international control. Not United Nations control, but a temporary trusteeship. India, South Africa, and other non traditional powers should be party to this, but ready to move quickly if Islamofascists gain control of Egypt.

This is dangerous and could spread quickly. Where was our president at the beginning? A star studded party. Where is our Secretary of State?

We need the experienced hand of a Condoleeza Rice right now. Or a George H. W. Bush. Obama is once again in over his head and needs to ask for experienced help to try and prevent the worst from happening.

Skinned

MTV will likely pull the plug on its import show "Skins" under pressure from viewers, advertisers, Congress, and the Department of Justice.

Executives at MTV held long discussions to determine whether or not U. S. law and the American market would accept a television program that is entirely about sex and drug use among teenage children. They apparently forgot that even simulated sex among child actors and actresses is a federal crime, punishable by prison sentences. To me, if you are having that discussion, the show is probably inappropriate.

"Skins" originated in Great Britain on the BBC. Parents should be warned that the show is on BBC America, which is available on satellite and cable. It probably will not be shown very much longer based on the adverse reaction to its showing on MTV.

The show's creators and backers sell it as a "frank" portrayal of teenage life. They claim that those who think teenagers behave otherwise are foolish and deluded. Generalizing about any lareg group leads to dangerous inaccuracy. Lots of teens indulge in sex and use drugs. Lots of teens are afraid of sex and avoid drugs. In any event, one can get the point across on a fictional show that teenagers are doing these things without breaking federal child pornography laws. At a certain point, the show's creators must admit that they are trying to stimulate other things than a frank discussion about teenage behavior.

Fortunately we have an appropriate market response to the show. Not only are advertisers abandoning the show, so are viewers. Even on the most coarse, envelope pushing network offered in America, viewers are not accepting of what has been offered. MTV will likely pull the plug on the show not long after assuring its creators that the market and the law would be permissive of this type of programming.

People my age are nostalgic for the days when you saw music on Music Television (as MTV was once known.) As far as I am concerned, Jim Morrison sang something that resonates very well here "when the music's over, turn out the lights . . ." Apparently, the Department of Justice might do the same. Personally, I think the government should back off. MTV's lawyers looked over this show with a fine toothed comb. They will either prove that they did not violate the letter of the law, or hide behind deniability, claiming they didn't know how far the show would go. I doubt that a costly investigation will reveal any technical wrongdoing by MTV. The market has spoken and rejected it. No need to go any further.

Democratic Delegates Deal Delay to Bill That Will Return Miners to Work

Delegate Stan Shaver has had an interesting week. He is sponsoring a bill to charge seniors $25 for hunting and fishing licenses (they are currently exempt) while also trying to keep West Virginia coal miners out of work.

The bill (HB 2854) to create the new class of license for the elderly (because we don't want to miss out on this lucrative source of fee income) will be first read on Monday and probably pass the House and be sent to the Senate by the end of the week, according to the Boone Examiner.

In all honesty, this is not a measure that I have too much of a problem with, so long as the money goes back into state supported outdoor recreation, or gun classes, or something else useful. If other citizens have to pay fees, people over sixty five should as well.

However it is interesting that Delegate Shaver's bill to raise these fees will probably sail through the House while he is helping to stall the Intrastate Coal and Use bill (HB 2554. See link http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb2554%20intr.htm&yr=2011&sesstype=RS&i=2554 ) Delegate Shaver (D-46) and Delegate Larry Barker (D-18) both represent areas that benefit from coal mining (Tucker, Preston, and Boone counties) yet have worked to keep HB 2554 off of the committee agenda. This will eventually prevent the bill from even being sent to the full House of Delegates for a vote.

The importance of HB 2554 is two fold. It would block mines that only sell to West Virginia customers from any federal oversight. Several mines whose operations have been prevented or suspended by the EPA can come back online with state permission. In the past, the EPA could be trusted to objectively make decisions solely based on environmental issues. The current administration has repeatedly stated its desire to end the coal industry and is using the EPA to further that end. When Congress refused to create limitations that will harm the coal industry, Obama's administration signalled its willingness to ignore Article 1 Sectioon 1 of the Constitution ( http://www.house.gov/house/Constitution/Constitution.html ) and write its own law.

The passage of the Intrastate Coal and Use Act would put West Virginia miners back to work and result in the collection of more tax revenues. Since our state needs to extra income gathered from elderly hunters and fishermen, it could certainly use the revenue from coal miner incomes and coal operations. Additionally, West Virginia and other states need to send a message to Obama and his federal cronies that they are violating the Constitution by overstepping legal limits on their power. States must defend their prerogatives under the Tenth Amendment.

HB 2554 has bipartisan support and will put West Virginians back to work if passed by both houses of the Legislature. If our state needs more revenue and jobs, let's push through a bill to create work and business as quickly as we push through a bill to charge seniors fees to hunt and fish. Miners and others who support jobs in this state need to ask their legislators a question. Do you support Barack Obama's War on Coal, or do you support West Virginia and its coal miners and operators?

Which side are you on?

West Virginia Needs a Primary Election

Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee Chair Melody Potter on Facebook Tuesday endorsed a primary election to determine party nominees for governor before the special election.

I agree 100%.

Two alternatives exist. One would just be a wide open election where every contender was on the ballot at once. This opens the door for false candidates to try and siphon votes from actual ones. More likely would be a party convention where each of the three parties that generally run candidates for governor would select their nominees and put them on the ballot. However, this might reinforce the perception that West Virginia politics is basically a good ol' boy show.

A primary election is good for Republicans for a few reasons.

First, it is the more democratic way to operate. Candidacies are open and the people get to vote. That is the expectation of the voters in the 21st Century. They want to choose. Second, the race between the various GOP candidates will bring media attention to these individuals that will create name recognition for the general election. Some major candidates are better known west of the mountains and in southern West Virginia, some are better known to the east. It is important that registered Republicans and other voters across the entire state get to know all of the potential Republican candidates so that they can make an informed Republican vote in the fall.

The Republican Party is advancing a very experienced and capable set of candidates this time, most notably State Senator Clark Barnes and former Secretary of State Betty Ireland. Both of these candidates are exceptional campaigners, so a primary election plays to both of their strengths.

A primary election can help our party build a case for its nominee in the general election.

Congressman McKinley Introduces Bill to Limit EPA Attacks On Coal

For Immediate Release:January 26, 2011Contact: Katie Martin, 202.525.0589 Katie.Martin@mail.house.gov

McKINLEY INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO STOP EPA FROM VETOING EXISTING PERMITSBi-partisan bill co-sponsored by West Virginia’s Capito & Rahall, other coal-country repsPresses administration official on outrageous EPA power-grab at subcommittee hearing
Washington, D.C. – Rep. David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-WV) filed legislation (H.R. 457) Wednesday that would remove the EPA’s authority to retroactively veto an existing Section 404(c) Clean Water Act permit. The bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) to explicitly prevent the EPA from revoking a permit under the Act after one has been issued by the Secretary of the Army.
McKinley’s first piece of legislation is co-sponsored by Reps. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Bill Johnson (R-OH) and Bob Gibbs (R-OH), and would be retroactive to January 1, 2011 – thereby reinstating the Spruce Mine No. 1 permit in southern West Virginia revoked two weeks ago by the EPA. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has announced plans to file a similar piece of legislation soon.
“For years, the EPA has been bullying coal companies and the workers they employ,” said McKinley. “But this isn’t just about the Spruce Mine. If their new policy of retroactive revocation is allowed to stand, dozens of heavily-regulated industries and hundreds of thousands of American jobs hang in the balance. Businesses will not invest in new projects and create new jobs if they know that regulatory agencies can ignore existing permits and arbitrarily pull the rug right out from under them. This has to stop.”
Also Wednesday, McKinley pressed the chief White House regulatory official on the EPA’s decision on Spruce Mine. At the request of Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, McKinley asked chief White House regulatory official Cass Sunstein a series of questions at a hearing of the subcommittee. Under the congressman’s questioning, Sunstein acknowledged that the U.S. Supreme Court has generally frowned upon retroactive regulatory action and promised to follow up with more information on the EPA’s actions and the propriety thereof.
Earlier this week, McKinley sent a letter to Stearnsrequesting that the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee call the EPA in front of the panel to directly answer questions about the chilling effect its decision would have on the American economy.
McKinley concluded, “We have a long way to go in this fight. This is just the first step. But the Obama administration and the EPA are now on notice that we will not sit idly by while their arrogance kills West Virginia jobs and threatens thousands more across the country.”

###

World Health Organization to Waste Time Attacking Free Speech

The World Health Organization is calling a summit to propose a worldwide ban on junk food advertising to children, comparing it to limitations on the advertising of tobacco.

This is yet another United Nations stunt to grab headlines and reduce freedom while doing nothing effective. Couldn't the money spent to wine and dine world health officials be better used to pay more doctors to go to the Third World. I imagine that the starving young people in Sudan could not care less about fast food marketing to children. But they would probably like medicine and the attention of a doctor. Unfortunately such efforts have support int he United States from people like Mike Huckabee and Michelle Obama.

What the UN probably doesn't know is that there is no law against tobacco advertising. They pulled their ads as part of a court settlement. Laws that would ban such advertising would violate the First Amendment to the Constitution. Also, how would you differentiate between ads directed at children and those directed at adults. A gray area does exist, especially since lines blur when you consider media like adult oriented cartoons.

We need to save money. Consider kicking the UN out of our country and ending our participation.

Once Again the President Fails to Grasp Reality

We saw some interesting proposals in last night's State of the Union Address. Well, I didn't actually watch it, but read it this morning.

He wants to "out educate" the world, whatever that means. I asume that he will want to spend more money to implement more crackpot federal ideas that interfere with local direction and real teaching. Federal interference and spending has pushed schools into a downward spiral since the Department of Education was created. More of the same will create worse results.

Even the Associated Press questions the stated commitment to cap spending coming in the same speech as promises to spend more on a large number of his own initiatives.

Obama also called on Congress to unify together. Obama already had a Congress unified behind his agenda and the people got rid of it. We need a Congress unified behind the idea that federal spending and activity need to be considerably reduced. We need to expect less out of government and it needs to try and do less for special interests and feel good liberals.

He also doesn't get it on economics. The Adjunct Instructor in Chief still thinks that government must create conditions for job growth. The best thing government can do is keep taxes down, deregulate, and get out of the way. How does he think that a huge fee charged to banks is going to help free credit? Business often needs credit to expand operations. Obama clearly does not understand basic economics. His answer has always been to spend more money than the created jobs would actually pay.

Obama showed in this speech that he is a one trick pony. When you need jobs, spend. When you want to educate, spend. When you want to feel good, spend. If he were a private citizen, he'd be a shopaholic and a hoarder.

He must face the reality that we are running into serious trouble. We need massive debt reduction and he is proposing spending reduction measures that would equal an average wagerearner putting aside a quarter a month while increasing our burdens elsewhere. If nothing else, Obama has given the Tea Party new ammunition to build on its efforts in this non election year. Because he just does not get it. Therefore, he needs to be replaced with a fiscally responsible president in 2012.

Intrastate Coal and Use Act Gets Bipartisan Support

Delegate Gary Howell (R-49th) last week introduced a bill designed to limit the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency over West Virginia coal mining operations. It will enable mines that only sell to West Virginia customers to ignore the EPA and only deal with state officials. Though the number of mines affected by this bill are few in number, it represents an effort to assert state rights under the tenth amendment against the expansion of federal power. This bill is very similar to gun manufacturing laws passed last year in Ohio and Montana.

The EPA has withdrawn permits assigned to mines, putting thousands of West Virginians out of work. Both Obama and Biden spoke about ending the coal industry in the United States during the 2008 presidential campaign. Despite the antipathy of the national Democratic Party to coal, Democrats in the Mountain State have signed on to co-sponsor the bill.

Delegates Linda Sumner (R-Raleigh), Ray Canterbury (R-Greenbrier), Carol Miller (R-Cabell), Kelli Sobonya (R-Cabell), John Ellem (R-Wood), Mitch Carmichael (R-Jackson), Walter Duke (R-Berkeley), Finance Chairman H.K. White (D-Mingo), Economic Development and Small Business Chairman Steve Kominar (D-Mingo) and Rupert Phillips (D-Lincoln).

Time to Fix the Law

Speaker of the House Richard Thompson belives that the Legislature has a mess on its hands and he places the blame on one man, Earl Ray Tomblin.

Thompson argues that Tomblin should have spent most of his time as Senate President and only acted as governor when absolutely necessary, according to his interview on MetroNews Talkline. He still refuses to meet with Tomblin and work with the select group of lawmakers and Tomblin who are trying to set up the Special Gubernatorial Election.

This sounds like old fashioned politics. This situation is admittedly bizarre and the crafters of the Constitution of 1872 planned poorly for this type of situation. However, the decision has been made by the Supreme Court to mandate the election and it is time to make that happen.

The Legislature needs to put together an amendment to the state constitution that will address this problem and preserve the concept of separation of powers envisioned in 1872. It may also be time for a commission to be appointed to study the state constitution. Any other hidden contradictions and ambiguities should be addressed if they exist.

Historic Moment For United States Senate

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation to repeal Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid's health care plan.

Will the Senate follow suit, or will Democrats keep the issue from even coming to a vote?

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky fired out on You Tube that the Democrats were working hard to prevent a vote on repeal in the Senate. He assured that there would at least be a vote. Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina will introduce the bill to the Senate this week.

Why not vote on repeal? The people spoke last November and said that they did not want Obamacare. If the Democrats are so confident that this policy will work in the long run, they should stand up and vote again to keep it. They should affirm their stand before history and the voters. They should trumpet to the nation that they believe that Big Bureaucracy will save our health care just like it did in Great Britain (where prostate cancer has a 45% higher death rate than the United States.)

If the Democrats do not allow a floor vote on the repeal of Obamacare, it betrays the fact that they do not have confidence that it will succeed. They know the voters will punish them again when it fails miserably.

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Congratulations to the team from Keyser High School that won a Constitution competition in Charleston yesterday. They also went to the Capitol and met their legislative representatives. National competition will come in April. We are sure Keyser will do well again.

How to Manufacture An Image of Popularity

The Associated Press last week was all a titter! They cited polls and proclaimed that Barack Obama would trounce the Republican competition were the election held today.

Sounds pretty sad until you read the story.

The polls matched him up against Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, and Mike Huckabee. Two of these people would have trouble getting Republican votes. Romney supported government health care in his state and Mike Huckabee likes nanny state policies to promote fitness. Neither one of them are going to do well in the new Republican Party.

Sarah Palin has the same issues as Newt Gingrich or Hillary Clinton. She is popular, yet polarizing. Great for fundraising, but a lot of baggage, some of which is not her fault. I like Sarah Palin, personally, but she probably does not give us our best shot in 2012.

The pollsters picked these three because they didn't dare put Obama up in a hypothetical race against Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry, or another strong and popular GOP governor. Obama might look good against a campaign has been like Romney, but probably not a rising star like Jindal.