Morrisey Says W.Va. Is ‘Just Getting Started’ In State Of State Address

Before a packed House of Delegates chamber Wednesday night, Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivered his second State of the State address, giving lawmakers and the public a look at his priorities for the legislative session now underway.

He highlighted points of pride in his first year as governor, including billions in private sector investments, microgrid laws, and workforce readiness – all part of an economic strategy he calls the backyard brawl. 

“The Mountain State comeback is underway,” Morrisey said to a cheering crowd of lawmakers, judges, cabinet secretaries, officials and invited guests.

But he quickly pivoted to what he said the state will need for a successful future – including increased funding for higher education and technical training as well as critical infrastructure investments.

“Apart from the current road fund, we plan to invest $100 million to supplement our road and bridge repair work. It’s sorely needed,” Morrisey said. 

He also wants $20 million in tourism funds for state park improvements – to add to a $9 billion annual economic impact.

“We need better lodging, more campsites and improved roadways leading to these incredible destinations,” Morrisey said. 

He touched on this year’s $199 million grant from the Rural Health Transformation Fund, the highest per-capita award of any surrounding state – funds Morrisey said will be used to make rural America healthy again. 

“For generations, poor health has fueled an economic decline, which has in turn, worsened our state’s health outcomes. We’re going to break that cycle and replace it with a new, more virtuous one, a cycle where better health strengthens the workforce and improves productivity,” Morrisey said. 

He wants lawmakers to further fund those efforts through legislative initiatives that promote prevention, wellness and personal responsibility. 

Morrisey was clear that his vision for West Virginia includes expanding on multiple energy platforms with his “50 by 50” plan, calling it, “an ambitious initiative to more than triple our power generation by 2050.” 

“By prioritizing reliable baseload power through coal, natural gas and nuclear, while supporting all major energy sources, we are building an energy strategy that will increase power generation from 16 to 50 gigawatts and will power America for the next half century and beyond,” he said.

The Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) will have to increase the cost of premiums this year – but Morrisey aims to keep that increase low.

“After years of double-digit premium increases, PEIA premiums this year will be limited to three percent. That’s not ten or 14 percent, it’s three,” he stressed.

Another key initiative: improving the state’s foster care system, and working to care for kids in the system here in West Virginia, rather than sending hundreds of them out of state.

“With a modest investment of $6 million, we can rehabilitate existing state facilities, transform them into world-class centers of care, and begin bringing our children back home. This approach will save our state tens of millions of dollars and provide our children the stability, care and foundation they need to grow, heal and prosper,” Morrisey said. 

Without giving dollar amounts, Morrisey further proposed a school-within-a-school program for at-risk students, a faith-based initiative that will tap the support of faith communities, and a truancy diversion program to catch students before they fall through the cracks.

Morrisey is requesting a 3% pay raise for all state workers, a 10% income tax cut, funds to pre-pay the HOPE Scholarship as well as investments in public education including digital literacy and LETRS, a science-based approach to reading. 

Finally, following some wrenching flood deaths in the state, Morrisey said he is asking for $10 million to fund a pilot program called SENTRY that offers advance warnings about rising waters.

“Those forecasts promise to identify flood risk one-to-six hours ahead with a target accuracy of more than 90%,” Morrisey said. “This is about protecting lives. It’s about giving West Virginians time – time to act, time to move, time to stay safe.” 

Touching on a personal note – his new status as a grandfather – Morrisey said the goals he has for the state, and the sacrifices they require, are what parents and grandparents do: make the hard choices so their kids and grandkids inherit a better world.

“The state of our state is getting stronger,” he concluded to thunderous applause. “We are building a better West Virginia. And we are just getting started.”

State lawmakers received his budget Thursday morning and will begin the process of debating, approving and finalizing their own figures by the end of the legislative session on March 14.  

Watch Morrisey’s Full Address Below