Morrisey rallies for 5% income tax reduction, citing ‘affordability’  

By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV

FAIRLEA, WV – “I proposed a 10% across the board income tax cut,” Gov. Patrick Morrisey, R-WV, said to a crowd at the State Fairgrounds of West Virginia. “The final budget has 5%. Thank you (to the legislature) for the 5%, and we’re gonna keep coming back to get to the 10%.”

With that, Morrisey signaled he’s taking the 5% reduction as a win and moving forward. Though he did ask attendees to call their delegates yesterday to ensure the 5% income tax reduction passes the House. The budget bill, SB250, allowed for the 5% income tax reduction but that measure has to be passed separately in SB392. Delegates did pass it out of House Finance yesterday and it will be voted upon by the House on Friday, with amendments pending. . 

Later on Thursday, Morrisey signed the state budget, celebrating parts of it and using the line-item veto on 12 items. For his full veto letter, including cuts to Marshall University Research Corporation, Court Appointed Special Advocates, and some tourism funds, see below.

Morrisey cites ‘affordability’ as reason for tax relief, his cut is expected to save a taxpayer around $100 per year.

In his speech at Fairlea, dubbed a “Rally for Tax Relief,” Morrisey made the case for using state dollars right now to fund additional tax relief. 

He acknowledged needs in other areas, but said those issues were being addressed as well. “We have resources available for health care, for Medicaid, our foster care system…for roads…We have more resources in the budget for public education as well.”

“But when you have a surplus, $300 million this year, how can we not give some of that money back to the people?” Morrisey asked the crowd. “You deserve it.” 

Gov. Morrisey then picked a young boy out of the crowd, attending from Lewisburg Baptist Academy, and asked if he had to get new shoes very often. 

“Yes,” the boy replied. “About every six months.” 

“How much do those shoes cost you?” asked the governor. 

“About $50.” 

Morrisey told the young man his income tax reductions would help his family afford those shoes, as the boy smiled and nodded. 

According to testimony from Kelly Allen, WV Center on Budget & Policy, the tax cut is expected to save the average family around $100 per year in total. It will cost the state $125 million. 

Morrisey said it’s necessary now due to “affordability.” 

“Costs are still rising, right?” Morrisey asked the crowd, and they nodded yes. “Pres. Trump has been busy working to get prices down. He inherited a mess. Power bills are too high. Groceries. The price of everything has gone up. I want to make sure we’re trying to find relief for people. We have to get more money back in people’s pockets.”

In addition to the 5% tax cut, Morrisey said he took action on federal tax legislation which would save West Virginians money. 

“Just this week I signed into law a provision which conforms West Virginia into the Trump tax cuts,” Morrisey said, though he didn’t specify which ones or what their impact would be. “Everyone will benefit. All told, those Trump tax cuts affect West Virginia at about $106 million. That’s net tax reduction. When you add that to $125 million in the budget, we’re talking about $231 million for tax relief for West Virginians. I call that a good start. Do you agree?”

Morrisey’s crowd for the rally numbered around 100 people, most of whom were students from Lewisburg Baptist Academy and Greenbrier East High School. A number of local officials, emergency service providers, and local Republican volunteers also attended. 

Pastor Jonathan Comer, Pastor and Administrator at Lewisburg Baptist, served as the master of ceremonies. He is also a Morrisey-backed candidate for State Senate in District 10. Comer will square off against Sen. Vince Deeds, R-Greenbrier, and Dr. Robert Shirley Love in the Republican primary this spring. 

Local nurse confronts governor about clean water 

While Morrisey often takes questions at events, he did not at Thursday’s rally, prompting local nurse Roger Vannoy to stand after the rally and ask the governor why clean water for southern West Virginia wasn’t a priority for him? 

Gov. Morrisey replied that clean water was important to him, referencing earlier statements. During his opening remarks, Morrisey said, “We developed a comprehensive water bill to address the needs of the state. Everyone deserves clean drinking water.”

RealWV reached out to Morrisey’s staff to ask which bill he was referencing. They listed SB 762, an infrastructure reform bill, which was not placed on an agenda this legislative session and is therefore dead this year. 

After the event, Mr. Vannoy, who is a former Democratic candidate for House of Delegates, spoke about his actions following the rally. 

“I did something today I never thought I’d do. I yelled at the governor of West Virginia. This isn’t something I wanted to do, but so many lies and contradictions were fallin’ out of his mouth, I couldn’t take it. It’s a tax break for the rich, all while we were embarrassed on national TV with our water crisis in southern West Virginia. People can’t drink from their tap water and he’s up here talking’ about how tax breaks will solve it all. I just could not take it anymore. I know it’s not the most polite thing, but I had a hard time keepin’ my mouth shut. There was no cussin’ and I remained professional, but it’s a sad day.”

The legislative session ends on Saturday night. Stay tuned to RealWV for updates.