Republican Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and Democratic Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, both vying to become West Virginia’s next governor, met Tuesday night for the first and only debate before Election Day.
The candidates agreed on issues such as cutting taxes and overhauling the state’s struggling public schools. But there were clear differences in policy and ideas as the two questioned how each other’s résumés qualified them to lead a state beset by substance exploit disorders and a foster care crisis.
The event, sponsored by MetroNews, took place at Fairmont State University in Fairmont, West Virginia and was moderated by Hoppy Kercheval. The event was not public.
Morrisey, who conducted polls and Fundraising In the race, he focused his answers on how he audited and analyzed state agencies and public education and cut regulations to make improvements. He said he would push for more tax cuts.
“One of the things I plan to do as governor is an audit and review of literally every agency and every program,” he said. “I’m not a tax and spend liberal. My values include upholding the constitution. I believe in narrow government: if you have savings, you give as much of it back to the people as possible.
Williams, who is in his third term as mayor, touted his time spent improving Huntington – a city that was once the epicenter of the country’s drug crisis.
“I believe in ensuring that local governments are empowered to sort things out themselves. Not all decisions have to be made in Charleston,” he said.
There have also been financial improvements in Huntington, Williams said, and he would support a tax cut if state finances could adequately fund child welfare, the state’s public insurance system, water systems and more.
“I’m the only one who cut taxes, and we cut taxes significantly in my city, but we did it and had a plan and a strategy to make sure that the way we were going to do it “Would actually create other economic opportunities,” he said.
Morrisey expects to push for further tax cuts if elected.
“I believe we can find the resources we need in West Virginia,” he said. “I think if we bring our energy resources together, and if President [Donald] Trump is winning, and if we stop all the Biden-Harris nonsense about our energy resources, we will be able to grow this sector of the economy and provide additional resources that will support the ability to diversify our economy and reduce our income tax. “
Candidates know public education is struggling, but disagree on how to fix the problem
The next governor, who will replace Gov. Jim Justice, will address the state’s troubled public education system, and debate on the issue took up much of the first half of the hour-long event.
Public schools, which serve the majority of the state’s children, are grappling with learning loss, teacher shortages and widespread student discipline problems in the wake of the pandemic, while also caring for thousands of children in foster care.
School budgets are in troubleAlso due to West Virginia’s rapid population decline, the decline in COVID-19 relief funds and students leaving schools to take advantage of the state’s education savings account program.
Morrisey, a mighty supporter of school choice, said further expansion of the Hope Scholarship — the state’s comprehensive education savings account program — would boost that low academic test scores. The Hope Scholarship provides families with $4,400 in tax dollars per student to exploit for private school, homeschooling and more.
“I want it to be the most comprehensive in the country so that it can show that the metrics are improving. Then the public schools will have a tough competition to follow and we will help fix the public schools too,” he said.
Williams rejected Morrisey’s response, pointing out that there is more than $300,000 in Hope scholarship funds were used in out-of-state schools.
“In the end, we will find that only the wealthy will attend Hope scholarship schools. Everything points to that,” he said.
West Virginia has that worst teacher pay in the country. While both candidates agreed that educators deserve a raise, Morrisey said the state Department of Education and teacher salaries are areas that need examination.
“There is a need for thorough and efficient training, and if you can get rid of some of the bureaucratic waste, then I think we can do that more effectively,” Morrisey said.
Williams was adamant that teachers needed a raise, telling Morrisey: “There are teachers who are looking at this right now and crying out loud because they remember during the strike …they remember you threatening to fire them or put them in jail. If you say that you stand up for the teachers, that doesn’t go over particularly well with the teachers.”
The PEIA funding debacle will be a challenge for the next governor
There could be another significant boost in health insurance costs for teachers, government and employees due to the rising cost of prescription drugs, according to the Public Employees Insurance Agency. The agency’s board suggested Increase bonuses by 14% for state employees and 16% for local government employees by next year.
Both state and county employees would see a 40% boost in their copay maximum, as well as an boost in copays.
Morrisey and Williams agreed that PEIA needs a indefinite solution, but neither candidate could say exactly how to do it.
Williams said he feared Morrisey would seek to privatize PEIA.
“I’m looking for a permanent solution,” Williams said. “The permanent solution is to fund it properly. If you think about privatization, about 20% goes into administration. Currently about 6 to 8% goes into administration,” he said.
Morrisey said the issue has not been properly addressed over the years. He said he worries about seniors on fixed incomes who won’t be helped by government pay increases to offset proposed premium increases.
“Medical costs are going up and we need to be even more aggressive with pharmaceutical company rebates, among other things. We can do this separately,” Morrisey said. “We need more competition overall within our healthcare system in West Virginia. One of the problems we’re seeing in our state right now is that we’re exacerbating the impact of Obamacare.”
The candidates disagree on the issue of abortion, but agree on protecting IVF
Abortion is one of the key issues that could affect voters in this election. State legislatures in 2022, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s repeal of Roe. v. Wade, passed one Abortion ban with few exceptions.
As part of his campaign, Williams proposed a ballot measure that would do this guarantee the right to abortion.
“I trust women to make their own decisions. My opponent doesn’t trust that women are capable of making these decisions and, frankly, that the state legislature is making these decisions,” he said. “Doctors are afraid of actually making decisions that will save a woman’s life and jeopardize her license.”
Morrisey, a staunch abortion opponent, pointed to a Constitutional referendum 2018 It states: “Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of abortion.”
“I think people knew what was at stake. I would also like to point this out when it comes to the question of abortion. Our legislature has been through this,” he said. “We have rejected some of the approaches taken by other states that would allow abortion literally up until birth. This is a very radical policy.”
Nine states and the District of Columbia have done so no pregnancy limits on abortions, but abortions after 21 weeks – which is considered tardy – rarely and account for only 1% of all abortions. Abortion “short of birth” is not legal in the United States
Access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) services has also become a campaign issue following the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling in February frozen embryos created during the IVF process could be considered children. The issue is deeply embedded in state abortion laws.
West Virginia’s abortion ban does not include IVF among its restrictions, and both candidates believed it should remain legally available to families who choose it.
“I don’t see that the state has any interest in interfering in the reproductive decisions of women and their partners,” Williams said.
Morrisey said his position is with Trump, who has sworn to protect IVF.
The candidates comment on Amendment 1
West Virginia voters will also consider Amendment 1, which would decide whether the state constitution should prohibit doctors and other health care providers from helping a patient die. Physician-assisted suicide is already illegal in the state; Change 1 would enshrine “protection against medically assisted suicide” in the state constitution.
Morrisey said he supported the amendment.
“I think we should protect our most vulnerable from physician-assisted suicide,” he said. “I realize it’s not currently on the books, but that means the Constitution provides further protection, so let’s move forward.”
Williams said it, like women’s reproductive rights, is a question of freedom.
“Freedom is on the ballot here, and if someone is faced with health decisions with their doctor, that’s their business,” he said. “It’s not the 134 members of the Legislature and the governor who need to intervene.”
Early voting lasts until November 2nd. For a complete list of early voting locations and times, visit the West Virginia Department of State website.
Election day is Tuesday, November 5th. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m
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