CHARLESTON – Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, released the following statement today after the veto of the 2018 Budget Bill by Governor Jim Justice:
“Today’s decision by Governor Justice isn’t entirely unexpected, but it’s nonetheless disappointing. From the beginning, the Senate’s position has been to deliver a budget to the people of West Virginia that lives within its means, and to do that within the 60 days of the regular Legislative session. We lived up to this promise. While it was our hope that the Governor would have signed our reasonable and responsible budget, it’s clear his vision for West Virginia’s future involves a completely different path. We remain committed to working with both the House of Delegates and the Governor to control spending. However, any compromise on this budget absolutely must include comprehensive tax reform. I truly believe tax reform is a bold way to move West Virginia forward, and I hope we will have the support of the House of Delegates and the Governor to achieve this goal.”