Statement from House Assistant Majority Leader John D. O’Neal IV (R-Raleigh):
“I am relieved that our responsible budget will become law, allowing essential services for all West Virginians to continue uninterrupted and bringing certainty to state employees and benefit recipients. “
“This fiscally responsible budget adequately funds essential state services, while requiring state government to live within its means. This budget spends every dollar of the governor’s revenue estimate, while funding 97% of the spending level requested from the administration, without raising the tax burden on West Virginia citizens or businesses.”
“The fact is that our state has experienced a decline in population and tax base for some time. Our budget needed to be adjusted to reflect this reality. If we want to avoid further cuts and downward adjustments in spending, we must immediately turn our focus to adopting policies that have been successful in other states. We must continue to implement proven tax reform, regulatory reform, civil justice reform, and education reform. Jobs and economic growth are the solution to prevent future budget crises.”