Justice Ceremonially Signs Special Session Tax Cut

Gov. Jim Justice signed all outstanding special session bills on Oct. 16, putting them into effect. He held an additional ceremonial signing for the 2 percent tax cut Thursday.

In 2017, Justice vetoed the state budget alongside a silver platter of bull manure. Thursday, he ceremonially signed the recent special sessions’ 2 percent personal income tax rate cut while unveiling a silver platter with gold bars.

Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, Sen. Mike Stuart, R-Kanawha, Sen. Jack David Woodrum, R-Summers, Sen. Vince Deeds, R-Greenbrier, and Del. J.B. Akers, R-Kanawha, attended the signing.

Akers is up for an election after Justice appointed him to the 55th district in January 2024.

“My district is very diverse in terms of the voters, but I do think most voters are in favor of tax cuts,” Akers said, pointing to the culminating impact of several recent tax cuts.

While Akers said he had been “worried” about the state affording the 5 percent cut Justice originally proposed to the legislature, he supported the compromise.

“I think we took a measured approach,” Akers said. “We have a lot of stuff, like childcare, that need to be addressed. So in this upcoming session, I think we’re trying to be safe, but also trying to put as much money back in people’s pockets as we can.”