Elizabeth Warren Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Presidential Hopeful Elizabeth Warren Talks Tackling Opioids at Epicenter of Epidemic

Senator Elizabeth Warren spoke to a crowd of about 150 people in Mingo County Friday. The Democratic presidential candidate mostly spoke to the opioid epidemic, rather than her campaign agenda.

Warren spoke at the fire station in the small town of Kermit. She focused on her plan to tackle the opioid crisis.

“Do you realize across this country they have a less than one in five chance to be able to get the medical treatment that they need?” Warren asked the crowd.

Warren said she proposed funding better treatment and prevention options by implementing an ultra-millionaires tax on the richest 75,000 families in the United States.

“Congressman Cummings from Baltimore, Maryland and I have just introduced a bill to put in $100 billion in funding over the next 10 years to meet this crisis head on and to wipe it out,” she said.

The town of Kermit has been called the epicenter of the opioid epidemic after a Charleston Gazette-Mail investigation found that more than 3 million prescription opioids had been shipped to a single pharmacy in the town of only 400 people over the course of 10 months.

Outside the fire station, a small pro-Trump group held signs and cheered when passing cars honked their support. One woman sporting a Trump sign and lapel pen said she believes that Trump has kept every promise he has made to the people of West Virginia and that Warren is using Kermit for political gain.

Democratic Presidential Candidate Elizabeth Warren Schedules Stop in West Virginia

U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren will make a stop this week in Mingo Co., West Virginia.

According to her campaign’s website, Warren will host a community conversation Friday morning in Kermit.

The Democrat from Massachusetts has proposed policies that would cancel student loan debt for many Americans and create a universal child care program in the United States.

She’s proposed creating an “ultra millionaire” tax on the wealthiest of Americans to pay for such programs.

The Friday event will be held at the fire and rescue station on Main Street.

Hundreds Rally in Shepherdstown During U.S. Democratic Senators Retreat

Hundreds of protesters gathered across the street from the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown Thursday morning as the United States Democratic Senators held their annual retreat inside.

On Thursday morning, Harpers Ferry resident Cheryl Kemp joined some 250 people gathered outside the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown. She says she came out because she wants the senators to know they have her support.

“It’s time to start fighting, and that we’re behind them; that we, you know, we’re against the Trump agenda about what he’s doing to our democracy,” Kemp said.

Senator Joe Manchin’s office confirmed Wednesday that Manchin organized the retreat to be held in West Virginia, but it’s unclear what the senators are discussing. The retreat is closed to media and the public.

Some Donald Trump supporters came out to protest the rally, including Shepherd University sophomore Nicholas Mantegna. He says it’s important he and other Trump supporters are there to remind Democrats who’s in office.

“Because he’s our president, and they need to accept that. It’s as simple as that,” Mantegna explained.

Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren spoke to the crowd around 10:00 a.m. Thursday morning. Manchin’s office says he and his fellow senators will be in Shepherdstown through Friday.

Ryan, Warren Campaign in W.Va. For Senate Candidates

Two major Congressional players made stops in West Virginia Monday to rally around their respective party’s candidate for Senate.

The atmosphere in Shepherdstown was upbeat, in a word, at current Secretary of State Natalie Tennant’s rally as supporters chanted and cheered for the Democratic candidate. Tennant was joined by veteran Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

In the days leading up to the rally, Tennant’s Republican opponent bashed her for teaming up with an anti-coal Senator whose agenda the state GOP says hurts West Virginia.

Warren has backed the latest regulations proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency meant to curb carbon emissions across the nation. Tennant stood firm saying she will fight those regulations if elected whether Warren is with her or not.

“Before you put regulations on us, invest in West Virginia and the technology we can deliver to cut emissions and bring jobs at the same time,” Tennant said after the rally.

“I will stand up to Elizabeth Warren if I need to, to the President, to the EPA to make sure that we have strong coal and energy jobs in West Virginia.”

Congressman Paul Ryan joined Congresswoman Sheeley Moore Capito at her roundtable discussion with business leaders in Charleston.

From the cheers in Shepherdstown to a more subdued environment in Charleston, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito was joined by Congressman and former Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan for a roundtable with business and industry leaders.

From the war on coal to Obamacare, Ryan’s appearance was full of the most notable Republican catch phrases of late. He answered questions about how to get Washington moving on issues like mounting student loan debt and expanding energy exports overseas.

“Elizabeth Warren is the left of the left of the Democratic Party,” Ryan said of the Senator’s visit scheduled the same day on the opposite end of the state.

“Elizabeth Warren is part of the war on coal. Elizabeth Warren is part of the United States Senate that is blocking legislation to preserve coal jobs that is blocking legislation to preserve energy jobs in America.”

Capito called Warren’s visit a “last ditch effort” for Tennant to save a struggling campaign.