West Virginia University Faces Budget Deficit Here in the Mountain State, it’s hard to miss the news that West Virginia University is facing a $45 million budget deficit. Over the coming 5-7 years, the university is projecting a need to reduce their overall budget by at least $75 million due to declining enrollment trends. In […]

A Conservative Mountaineer Budget for West Virginia:   While conservatively aligned politicians have more recently taken power in West Virginia, the state has a strong history of practicing responsible, conservative budgeting. Through these practices, the growth of state government has stayed within the bounds of the average taxpayer’s ability to fund it. In this context, […]

For Immediate Release CONTACT: Garrett Ballengee 304-561-7634 Governor’s budget doubles down on bet that West Virginia’s prosperity to come from Charleston CHARLESTON, WV (February 9, 2017) — During yesterday’s address, the 36th Governor of West Virginia, Governor Jim Justice, offered his budget proposal. Unfortunately, Governor Justice decided to double down on the ideas of the past […]

Healthcare in West Virginia Healthcare policy is complicated. These resources make it understandable. If you are trying to make sense of West Virginia’s latest healthcare debates, you are not alone. PBM regulation, PEIA’s recurring funding crises, and Certificate of Need laws all affect what care costs, where it is available, and who has choices. We […]

2026 State of the State Response On Wednesday evening, Governor Patrick Morrisey delivered his annual State of the State address, outlining his priorities for the year ahead and offering a window into his governing philosophy. As is customary, the speech functioned as both pep rally and agenda-setting exercise. State of the state addresses tend to […]

West Virginia’s regulatory code has been piling up for decades, creating a growing burden on businesses and households. In Regulatory Reform in West Virginia: Unlocking More Economic Growth (2025), economist Patrick A. McLaughlin shows that West Virginia ranks among the more heavily regulated states, with 131,007 regulatory restrictions on the books and especially high regulation […]

West Virginia’s public school enrollment has been declining for over 20 years—long before the Hope Scholarship existed. Despite declining enrollment, districts employ more staff than ever and receive funding based on an outdated headcount, with $1.2 billion in COVID relief masking inefficiencies. The Hope Scholarship serves less than 2% of students, yet leaders blame school […]

One Big Beautiful Bill is One Big Beautiful Opportunity to Reconnect West Virginians with Stable Work On July 4, President Donald Trump signed the latest congressional reconciliation package, known colloquially as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), a sweeping package of federal budget measures including extension of the 2017 tax cuts, spending cuts and […]

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 […]

35th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall Earlier this month, lovers of freedom throughout the world celebrated the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Not only did it mark the beginning of the end of the Cold War, for many, it also signified the philosophical triumphs of freedom and democracy […]