Top-Down Healthcare: The Dangers of CON and Centralized Planning In 1968, Marina was a young gymnast in the Ukrainian republic of the former Soviet Union. As is common in that sport, she sustained an ankle injury. Anyone who has a twisted ankle knows that there’s a fifty-fifty chance it’s either sprained or broken, and the…

Universal Licensing Recognition and Why West Virginia Needs It What is occupational licensing? Fundamentally, an occupational license is a permission slip from the government to work. About 1 out of 5 workers in the United States require an occupational license to practice in their given profession. For those occupations requiring a license, performing such work…

Governor Morrisey’s 2025 State of the State Address: An Analysis On the evening of Wednesday, February 12, 2025, Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivered his first State of the State address. An annual tradition, the address is largely intended to set the tone for the upcoming legislative session and present the governing agenda for the year. One-half…

CONfined: How Bureaucratic Barriers Stifle Rural Healthcare An hour or more trip to a health facility, critical medical equipment out of reach, healthcare innovation smothered. Sadly, this is not a dystopian future—these are symptoms of the web of bureaucracy that has infected West Virginia healthcare. The culprit? Certificate of Need (CON) laws—a relic of the…

Disclaimer: Blog Pieces Do Not Necessarily Represent Cardinal's Official Position On a Given Policy, Idea, Etc., Rather They're Intended to Provoke Conversations    New Year, New Era of Conservatism in West Virginia Happy New Year West Virginia! As we move into a new year, with a new legislature and a new governor in waiting, ten…

School Choice is the Way Forward for WV The following op-ed was originally published in the Charleston Gazette-Mail on December 27, 2024. As a teacher, I learned that believing in my students meant setting high standards and holding firm. I did this because I believed that every student who came through my classroom was fully capable…

Remembering 9/11 Seventh grade. Elkview Middle School. In the second-floor hallway waiting to go into English-Language Arts class with Mrs. Johnston. That’s where I was and what I was doing when I first learned about the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. If you’re around my age or older, I’m sure you remember yours, too.…

Teachers Are Struggling in West Virginia with Student Behavior Recent testimony from West Virginia teachers has shed light on a concerning, though not unexpected, reality: student behavior in classrooms is out of control, making effective teaching nearly impossible. However, this issue is not without its explanation — and, more importantly, its solution. Schools have strayed…

A new meta-analysis by Matthew D. Mitchell, Ph.D., a Senior Fellow at West Virginia University’s Knee Regulatory Research Center covers 128 academic papers, containing 450 tests, concerning Certificate of Need (CON) laws. Supporters of CON laws advocate for them based on various supposed benefits, including reduced healthcare spending, improved access to care, improved quality, better…

Tree Stands & Thanksgiving Tables I can attest to odors evoking vivid memories and emotions. While I may not fully understand the neuroscientific mechanisms behind this phenomenon, I find myself transported back to my childhood home in Grafton, WV, whenever I encounter the aroma of thyme, rosemary, and sage — the piney, earthy flavor notes…