Gov. Patrick Morrisey To Deliver State Of The State Address Tonight

This evening, Gov. Patrick Morrisey will address members of the West Virginia Legislature. 

The West Virginia House of Delegates and Senate gavel in Wednesday at noon for their first day of this year’s legislative session.

Today at 7 p.m., Morrisey will join them at the State Capitol to deliver his state of the state address. West Virginia Public Broadcasting will broadcast the address live on air as well as online.

Each year, the governor uses the address to share legislative priorities with state lawmakers at the start of a new session.

In his first address last year, the governor used his time to advocate for fiscal responsibility, energy production and ending diversity, equity and inclusion.

Morrisey said last week that cuts to income and business taxes will be a top priority for the legislative session. 

“In this competitive world, we have to keep up with our neighbors, and we have to be better,” Morrisey said at his first press conference of the year. “And when Kentucky and Ohio and any other states try to pass us in line, we must double down, and we must continue to try to get lower income tax rates for our citizens.”

He has also focused on broad improvements to foster care that will require the legislature to approve millions in state investments. 

At a press conference reviewing his first year in office, Morrisey highlighted successes like broadband expansion and legislation allowing data centers for microgrids. But he also identified increasing workforce participation, as well as cutting red tape and waste in government as priorities for the new year.