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 […]

Charity Care West Virginia non-profit hospitals enjoy billions in tax exemptions. In return, the social contract demands they provide meaningful charity care to struggling families. The data shows they are not holding up their end of the bargain. This brief examines the evidence — from IRS filings, Medicare cost reports, and federal subsidy data — […]

Regulatory Reform in West Virginia The Problem: A State Buried in Red Tape West Virginia has accumulated one of the heaviest regulatory burdens in the nation. According to the State RegData project, the state now has 131,007 regulatory restrictions on the books — mandatory rules containing language like “shall,” “must,” and “may not” that impose […]

Special Circumstance Reviews Between 2023 and 2025, the West Virginia Board of Education launched nine Special Circumstance Reviews — structured state investigations into county school systems exhibiting signs of serious failure. These reviews, grounded in WV Code §18-2E-5 and WVBE Policy 2322, culminated in state takeovers of multiple districts. Taken together, they reveal not a […]

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 […]