CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Those inside the West Virginia House Chamber Wednesday night joined together in a rendition of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” after Governor Patrick Morrisey delivered his first State of the State address.
“It’s nice to have a Republican governor that is elected as a Republican that comes in and honors our values here in West Virginia,” Senator Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, said after the speech.
After day one of the 60-day legislative session, the West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates joined together to listen to their new leader outline the administration’s goals and main focuses. Morrisey touched on education, technology, economic goals, and more.
Marshall University President Brad Smith says it’s a new era in the Mountain State.
“I think we are entering the dawn of a new era in West Virginia,” Smith said. “I love the grand challenge and vision Governor Morrisey has put out. I believe that this nation has always answered the call, and we’re going to answer the call again to power this next generation in a world of artificial intelligence and the need for West Virginia power.”
One of the big talking points from Morrisey’s first month in office has been his projection that the state would be facing a nearly $400 million budget deficit in fiscal year 2026. Morrisey briefly touched on the projected deficit during his speech, but will soon lay out his budget to the legislature.
While questions have yet to be answered on what will be done to combat the deficit, new Senate Finance Chairman Jason Barrett, R-Berkeley, says he’s pleased with what Morrisey is providing lawmakers with.
“One of the things that the legislature has asked for the last number of years is a six-year plan,” Barrett said. “When we make decisions, whether it be tax cuts or other things that really affect our long-term future, it’s helpful when the governor’s office can provide a six-year plan to us, and this governor is doing that.”
Meanwhile, Senator Ben Queen, R-Harrison, says Morrisey’s first month in office has given him a positive feeling.
“He’s upbeat, he’s gotten to work. I think the governor has a cabinet put together and we’re going to hit the ground running,” Queen said. “Several of his bills were introduced today on the Senate side and I think there’s a lot of momentum.”
A section of the speech multiple state leaders brought up in the State Capitol’s rotunda Wednesday night was Morrisey’s announcement of a West Virginia Power Tech Center. Morrisey says the center will “help drive state and national thinking on data and energy needs.” He also says the center will provide new opportunities with advanced manufacturing jobs.
“I really like the power program he (Morrisey) put forward,” West Virginia University President Gordon Gee said. “I think that is helping us enter in the competitive digital world, so that is what we need to do.”
Tarr says the state is sitting on an energy gold mine, and it needs to be properly utilized.
“West Virginia is the energy powerhouse for the United States,” Tarr said. “With what sits right under our feet, there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t be a dominant state so that any child that grows up in West Virginia should have to look for a reason to leave, rather than a reason to stay.”
Morrisey, like his inaugural address on January 13, spent time on education within the state, saying “education must be a top priority,” and “our classrooms must be centerpieces of excellence.”
Morrisey spoke on the importance of basics such as reading, writing, and math, but added that the state needed to embrace new skills such as coding, STEM, and digital literacy. He continued to persist that school choice and support of the HOPE Scholarship remains something he will support.
“We have fallen to the bottom in terms of some of our educational attainments and we just need to improve what we’re doing,” Gee said.
Smith says Morrisey’s view on education caters to all.
“What I love about Governor Morrisey’s definition of education is it is all-inclusive. It is Vo-tech, it is learning the skills, learning the trades, two-year or four-year degrees, up to advanced technology,” Smith said. “It’s all of the inclusion of education that all of West Virginia can participate in.”
Dale Lee, president of the West Virginia Education Association (WVEA), says he wants to see words turn into actions if West Virginia wants to improve drastically in education.
“There’s a lot of talk about being competitive with our contiguous states, particularly in education and education pay. I’m anxious to see where the bills actually come out and how we’re going to do that and make it competitive,” Lee said.
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“It’s nice to have a Republican governor that is elected as a Republican that comes in and honors our values here in West Virginia,” Senator Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, said after the speech.
After day one of the 60-day legislative session, the West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates joined together to listen to their new leader outline the administration’s goals and main focuses. Morrisey touched on education, technology, economic goals, and more.
Marshall University President Brad Smith says it’s a new era in the Mountain State.
“I think we are entering the dawn of a new era in West Virginia,” Smith said. “I love the grand challenge and vision Governor Morrisey has put out. I believe that this nation has always answered the call, and we’re going to answer the call again to power this next generation in a world of artificial intelligence and the need for West Virginia power.”
One of the big talking points from Morrisey’s first month in office has been his projection that the state would be facing a nearly $400 million budget deficit in fiscal year 2026. Morrisey briefly touched on the projected deficit during his speech, but will soon lay out his budget to the legislature.
While questions have yet to be answered on what will be done to combat the deficit, new Senate Finance Chairman Jason Barrett, R-Berkeley, says he’s pleased with what Morrisey is providing lawmakers with.
“One of the things that the legislature has asked for the last number of years is a six-year plan,” Barrett said. “When we make decisions, whether it be tax cuts or other things that really affect our long-term future, it’s helpful when the governor’s office can provide a six-year plan to us, and this governor is doing that.”
Meanwhile, Senator Ben Queen, R-Harrison, says Morrisey’s first month in office has given him a positive feeling.
“He’s upbeat, he’s gotten to work. I think the governor has a cabinet put together and we’re going to hit the ground running,” Queen said. “Several of his bills were introduced today on the Senate side and I think there’s a lot of momentum.”
A section of the speech multiple state leaders brought up in the State Capitol’s rotunda Wednesday night was Morrisey’s announcement of a West Virginia Power Tech Center. Morrisey says the center will “help drive state and national thinking on data and energy needs.” He also says the center will provide new opportunities with advanced manufacturing jobs.
“I really like the power program he (Morrisey) put forward,” West Virginia University President Gordon Gee said. “I think that is helping us enter in the competitive digital world, so that is what we need to do.”
Tarr says the state is sitting on an energy gold mine, and it needs to be properly utilized.
“West Virginia is the energy powerhouse for the United States,” Tarr said. “With what sits right under our feet, there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t be a dominant state so that any child that grows up in West Virginia should have to look for a reason to leave, rather than a reason to stay.”
Morrisey, like his inaugural address on January 13, spent time on education within the state, saying “education must be a top priority,” and “our classrooms must be centerpieces of excellence.”
Morrisey spoke on the importance of basics such as reading, writing, and math, but added that the state needed to embrace new skills such as coding, STEM, and digital literacy. He continued to persist that school choice and support of the HOPE Scholarship remains something he will support.
“We have fallen to the bottom in terms of some of our educational attainments and we just need to improve what we’re doing,” Gee said.
Smith says Morrisey’s view on education caters to all.
“What I love about Governor Morrisey’s definition of education is it is all-inclusive. It is Vo-tech, it is learning the skills, learning the trades, two-year or four-year degrees, up to advanced technology,” Smith said. “It’s all of the inclusion of education that all of West Virginia can participate in.”
Dale Lee, president of the West Virginia Education Association (WVEA), says he wants to see words turn into actions if West Virginia wants to improve drastically in education.
“There’s a lot of talk about being competitive with our contiguous states, particularly in education and education pay. I’m anxious to see where the bills actually come out and how we’re going to do that and make it competitive,” Lee said.
