A BASE jumper plummets toward the New River after jumping from the New River Gorge Bridge during the 45th annual Bridge Day on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Photo by Chris Dorst/Charleston Gazette-Mail)
bridge day, West Virginia’s largest one-day festival, will go on Saturday even if the federal government is still closed, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Tuesday.
The state is paying nearly $100,000 to keep its national parks — New River Gorge and Harpers Ferry — open despite the federal shutdown. That agreement ends Friday evening, Morrisey said.
Morrisey said Tuesday he intended to extend that agreement with the federal government if federal operations have not been resumed by then. If necessary, he would extend the agreement until the end of the month, he said.
Last year, the state’s tourism industry had an economic impact of $9.1 billion, Morrisey said. Last year, 1.8 million people visited New River Gorge National Park. More than 200,000 people visited the New River Gorge in October alone, he said.
Bridge Day, held annually on the third Saturday in October, draws tens of thousands of people to New River Gorge National Park to watch BASE jumpers skydive from the structure on the only day it is legal to do so. Last year, 325 certified BASE jumpers reportedly took part in the event. BASE stands for building, antenna, span (e.g. a bridge) and earth.
“So this wasn’t the right time to close,” Morrisey said.
Becky Sullivan, president of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, said more than 300 BASE jumpers from 39 states and four countries had registered for Bridge Day as of Tuesday. More than 200 repellers.
More than 500 people from 26 states also signed up to take part in a 5K race on the bridge Saturday morning, she said. Over 200 vendors from multiple states will also participate in the festival.
“Bridge Day has a tremendous economic impact on Fayette County and our surrounding region,” Sullivan said. “The entire New River Gorge region benefits from Bridge Day. It’s a big event for our state. It’s a big event for our region.” She thanked Morrisey and Tourism Minister Chelsea Ruby for making this year’s event possible.
The federal government closed at midnight on October 1st after Congress not approved a financing bill before the start of the novel financial year to keep the services running. It’s about increased health subsidies that particularly affect West Virginia residents. Democrats in Congress want these subsidies included in the spending bill. Republicans don’t.
The expanded subsidies — which apply to plans purchased on the health insurance marketplace — are expected to expire at the end of the year. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the expiring subsidies are expected to cause 4.2 million Americans to lose their health insurance by 2034.
Particularly thousands of West Virginians will be affected when health subsidies end. Approximately 67,000 West Virginians purchase their health care on the market. The West Virginia Center for Budget and Policy said West Virginians who buy insurance through the marketplace will see their premiums rise by an average of 133%, or $1,400 per year, when the subsidies end. If the premiums expire, about 15,000 West Virginians will lose their health care because they can no longer afford it, according to the Center on Budget and Policy.
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