HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 84
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegate Staton)
(Originating in the Committee on Rules)
[March 5, 2003]
Calling upon the United States government to provide funding
assistance for the unfunded mandates it places upon the
states, for homeland security and for other direct flexible
fiscal relief to the states.
whereas, The states currently face the worst fiscal crisis since
World War II, with a budget shortfall projected between $40 to $50
billion for the 2003 fiscal year and $65 to $85 billion for the
2004 fiscal year; and
whereas, Forty-nine of the Fifty states, including West
Virginia, must submit balanced budgets by law and thus can only
increase revenue through budget cuts or by tax increases; and
whereas, Tax revenues from capital gains and from corporations
have greatly deteriorated; and
whereas, Healthcare costs are exploding nationally, especially
Medicaid, which grew by 14% last year alone, and is now a larger
program than Medicare; and
whereas, States are faced with the burden of paying for new and
improved homeland security efforts; and
whereas, The Federal government has added to the financial
burden of the states through new programs that create unfunded mandates such as the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB); and
whereas, States recognize the importance of programs and are
working to implement them; and
whereas, West Virginia is facing the same budget difficulties
faced by other states; and
whereas, State Legislators and governors are making difficult
and prudent fiscal decisions; and
whereas, The national economy is struggling and direct fiscal
relief to the states is one of the best ways to stimulate the
economy; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature of West Virginia recognizes the growing
problems of the states and the efforts underway in our state and
elsewhere to deal with these problems. The Legislature of West
Virginia calls upon the federal government to provide funding to
assist with unfunded mandates, provide more resources for homeland
security and to provide direct flexible fiscal relief to the
states; and, be it
Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded
to the President of the United States, to the Senators and
Representatives from West Virginia and to the clerks of each house
of the United States Congress.
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