Tag: Government

Need help navigating the health care exchange?

The number of uninsured West Virginians is expected to drop by 70 percent in the next three years. That’s according to numbers from the state Insurance Commissioners Office and presented by West Virginians for Affordable Health Care in the wake of open enrollment under the health care exchange.

The non-profit group is working with organizations around the state to help West Virginians navigate that new exchange and sign up for insurance.

WVAHC Executive Director Perry Bryant said so many Americans have become interested in signing up for coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s central facet that the federal website crashed Tuesday morning and there was a wait time of up to 15 minutes for the federal call center.

 He said in order to help with the influx, some West Virginia groups have created their own websites to assist consumers looking to buy health insurance or qualifiers sign up for Medicaid in the hopes that they can impact the state’s overall health in the future.

 “It is a new day. It is a new era and one in which we are going to take a significant step towards providing quality, affordable health care in West Virginia and I’m proud to be a part of that effort,” Perry said during a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

To enroll or find assistance in navigating the health care exchange, visit one of the following sites:
www.healthcare.gov
www.localhelp.healthcare.gov
www.goenrollWV.org

Or call:
Federal Call Center 1-800-318-2596
WV Primary Care Association 1-877-WVA-HLTH

To report any possible fraud or scams related to ACA, contact the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-363-8808.

Tomblin to travel Europe promoting W.Va. industries

Governor Tomblin announced a trip later this month touring 5 European countries to lobby business leaders for investment in West Virginia industries.The…

Governor Tomblin announced a trip later this month touring 5 European countries to lobby business leaders for investment in West Virginia industries.

The 13 day trip is scheduled for mid-October and has the governor and three members of the state’s Development Office meeting with business leaders in Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.

Tomblin said he will be focusing on strengthening the relationships West Virginia has with companies already doing business in the state as well as targeting some who are considering investing.

One of the main focuses is a plastic-polymer trade show in which the governor said the state can offer the abundant bi-products of the Marcellus shale industry, in particular ethane, to the industries for production.

“My whole goal is to create jobs and bring investment to the state of West Virginia and my theory has been you can’t sit and wait for business to come through the door,” Tomblin said during a press conference Tuesday. “You have to go out and let people know what we have to offer in West Virginia and that’s what we hope to do on this mission.”

Nearly one-third, or $11.3 billion in West Virginia’s annual exports go to Europe.

The governor’s office has not yet released the amount this trip will cost the state.
 

Mingo Co. Commissioner accepts deal, pleads guilty

Mingo County Commissioner David Baisden pleaded guilty yesterday to a charge stemming from a federal investigation into corruption in the county. Baisden agreed to a plea bargain from federal prosecutors and will await his sentencing in January.
“No comment.”

That’s about all Mingo County Commissioner David Baisden had to say as he exited the U.S. District Courthouse in Charleston after pleading guilty to federal charges.

Judge John Copenhaver went over the terms of Baisden’s plea agreement just minutes before he was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond. The commissioner’s only other comment was about the people of Mingo County.

“I love them and continue to pray for me. Thank you,” he said as he climbed into the driver’s seat of a pick-up truck.

According to federal sentencing guidelines, Baisden faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for attempting to extort Appalachian Tire, a Williamson business that sold tires at a discounted rate for county owned vehicles.

In June of 2009, Baisden directed a county employee to buy a set of tires at the government price from Appalachian for his wife’s vehicle.

When Appalachian refused, Baisden threatened to take county business to another dealer and made good on the threat when managers at Appalachian didn’t respond to the voicemail left on the store’s answering machine.

“You know, this shows you that elected officials have to play by the same set of rules as everyone else,” U.S. Prosecuting Attorney Booth Goodwin said after the hearing. “What Commissioner Baisden did was abuse his power to shakedown a business for special favors.”

As a part of his plea agreement with Goodwin’s office, Baisden agreed to resign as commissioner before his sentencing date, is banned for life from ever seeking elected office and waived his right to appeal to his sentence.

Goodwin said he also agreed to fully cooperate in any future investigations into corruption in Mingo County by the federal prosecutor’s office, an investigation that is on going.

“Our investigation into Mingo County corruption continues. I would anticipate further developments,” he said.

Baisden’s sentencing is scheduled for January 14 in Charleston. He said he will wait until that day to resign as County Commissioner.

Mingo County Judge Michael Thornsbury is expected to plead guilty to charges stemming from a separate investigation Wednesday, October 2.
 

Mingo Co. Commissioner accepts deal, pleads guilty

Mingo County Commissioner David Baisden pleaded guilty yesterday to a charge stemming from a federal investigation into corruption in the county. Baisden agreed to a plea bargain from federal prosecutors and will await his sentencing in January.
“No comment.”

That’s about all Mingo County Commissioner David Baisden had to say as he exited the U.S. District Courthouse in Charleston after pleading guilty to federal charges.

Judge John Copenhaver went over the terms of Baisden’s plea agreement just minutes before he was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond. The commissioner’s only other comment was about the people of Mingo County.

“I love them and continue to pray for me. Thank you,” he said as he climbed into the driver’s seat of a pick-up truck.

According to federal sentencing guidelines, Baisden faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for attempting to extort Appalachian Tire, a Williamson business that sold tires at a discounted rate for county owned vehicles.

In June of 2009, Baisden directed a county employee to buy a set of tires at the government price from Appalachian for his wife’s vehicle.

When Appalachian refused, Baisden threatened to take county business to another dealer and made good on the threat when managers at Appalachian didn’t respond to the voicemail left on the store’s answering machine.

“You know, this shows you that elected officials have to play by the same set of rules as everyone else,” U.S. Prosecuting Attorney Booth Goodwin said after the hearing. “What Commissioner Baisden did was abuse his power to shakedown a business for special favors.”

As a part of his plea agreement with Goodwin’s office, Baisden agreed to resign as commissioner before his sentencing date, is banned for life from ever seeking elected office and waived his right to appeal to his sentence.

Goodwin said he also agreed to fully cooperate in any future investigations into corruption in Mingo County by the federal prosecutor’s office, an investigation that is on going.

“Our investigation into Mingo County corruption continues. I would anticipate further developments,” he said.

Baisden’s sentencing is scheduled for January 14 in Charleston. He said he will wait until that day to resign as County Commissioner.

Mingo County Judge Michael Thornsbury is expected to plead guilty to charges stemming from a separate investigation Wednesday, October 2.
 

National Guard hit hard by federal shutdown

Adjutant General James Hoyer of the West Virginia National Guard said of the more than 2,300 full time guardsmen and women that would have gone back to…

Adjutant General James Hoyer of the West Virginia National Guard said of the more than 2,300 full time guardsmen and women that would have gone back to work Tuesday, 1,150 of them were sent home because of the shutdown of the federal government.

Hoyer said jobs affected by the shutdown include everything from mechanics to pilots. He expressed frustrations over not being able to protect the pay of the men and women who he said are responsible for protecting the nation and state.

“Last night I saw all across the national news—and again this morning—that this House Resolution 3210 was going to ensure pay for military personnel,” said Hoyer.

“It’s called the ‘Pay Our Military Act.’ But, unfortunately, the way this is being interpreted right now within the Department of Defense and other agencies within the federal government, this really is the ‘Pay Part of Our Military Act.’”

Hoyer also noted there are 389 individuals that are federally-reimbursed employees for the Guard, including 30 military firefighters deployed at Yeager Airport. Currently, those employee salaries, which total $227,000 a week, are being “floated” by the state government.

Hoyer said the state may not be able to continue to cover those salaries if the federal shutdown continues too long. That would force Yeager Airport to employ county or city firefighter resources, according to airport officials.

Photos & Video: Dick Henderson Memorial Bridge Replacement

Construction continues to replace the Dick Henderson Memorial Bridge, which spans the Kanawha River between Nitro and St. Albans.Officials with the…

Construction continues  to replace the Dick Henderson Memorial Bridge, which spans the Kanawha River between Nitro and St. Albans.

Officials with the Department of Transportation said the state looked at options for bridge repairs over the years and eventually lowered the weight limit to less than 10 tons. Over time, rust and deterioration became too much.  

The original bridge was closed in January and demolished in two separate explosions in early March.

DOT officials said construction of the replacement bridge is on schedule and it’s expected to be opened in November.

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