Comments on: Good business Democrats; Bad business Democrats

By: Senator Vic Sprouse

Senator Vic Sprouse — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:22:13 +0000

Where are the Vision Shared geeks? Aren’t they the people who claim if we just hold hands and sing Kumbaya that the world will be good.

Here’s the real world. Unions stand strong and fight for what they believe. The business community cowers in a corner trying to be their friends and be just so sophiscated.

Vic - people get angry with you because you tell it like it is, but I like your approach. Peace through strength.

All these guys running around with Mojo, signing bills with big smiles with the union leaders, patting each other on the back, holding hands, then the union leaders turn right around and stick it in their back. You have to love it.

Where’s Vision Shared on this? (that’s silence) Oh, if we could all just get along - and simply give in to the unions and Mojo - then the West Virginia will be a better place. There won’t be any businesses here, but it WILL be a better place.

By: Sarah Minear

Sarah Minear — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:28:07 +0000

Vic, you left out the Chair of House Economic
Development. Can’t decide if she a “crazy
liberal” or one of those who doesn’t live on
planet earth. It looks as if all the Monongalia
Co. delegates voted for this. Go figure!

By: Senator Vic Sprouse

Senator Vic Sprouse — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 01:37:30 +0000

I am extremely concerned after hearing for the past 50 days of the legislative session how the state can’t afford to give WV teachers a $5,000 across the board pay raise and fix the pension problem which was actually created by “our” elected officials. Shame on you all for now pushing a $5,000 payraise plus additional per diems thru in the end of this session. Representative Doyle’s preposterous remarks that lawmakers “deserve” 1/2 the pay that a teacher earns and thats why the raise is needed only adds fuel to the teachers fire. 210 days plus, versus 60 days plus, doesn’t sound like half to me??? Not to mention, as a teacher I always hear the same thing “low cost of living is one reason your salary is 49th in the nation??? Why doesn’t the same go for lawmakers??? Please reconsider our pay raises, if you need the payraise do what you do for us a splendid 3% and I will feel much better. This does nothing but strike another blow to the already low morale of us measly WV Educators. Support the AFT’s salary proposal and fix our pension. Don’t turn another blind eye to the states teachers. What will this do to recruiting students to enter the teaching field, or retaining teachers??? This would certainly be an enormous problem. I feel that my child’s education and my livlihood is in jeopardy. It shouldn’t be either a pension fix or payraise it should be both.

Concerned Teacher

By: Mikey

Mikey — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:23:08 +0000

B.k.

The State has a sizable budget surplus, evidently that is all that matters to the Legislature.

Wait until Obama kills the coal industry and all the Baby Boomers retire and start sucking State resources. Add that to when PA legalizes table games and opens up real destination casinos and then all the State unfunded liabilities come due

BLAAMO

By: B.K.

B.K. — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:43:06 +0000

I also read in today’s Gazette that Speaker Thompson said legislative pay raises are necessary because otherwise, there’d be only rich people in the Legislature.

Um, pardon me, but…

BRAGH-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! HEE-HEE! HO! HO! HO! WHEWWWW!!! HA! HA! HA! HA!

By: Stephen Smoot

Stephen Smoot — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:21:21 +0000

It’s a good thing they got those Open For Business signs down.

With this Legislature, the best they can do now for the young people of West Virginia looking for an opportunity is to buy them a bus ticket. Why would any business want to employ more than eleven people in this state? Imagine the paperwork now necessary, if this passes, to document every meeting and conversation an employer holds with his or her employees.

I am curious to know if this law applies to state workers. If so, it seems that Republicans can exit the room if any elected official or political appointee enters. After all, the mere presence of a political Democrat could be construed as offensive to captive audience Republicans.

This is part of a larger disturbing trend, the idea that people somehow have a right to not be offended. This creates an atmosphere where right and wrong is now subjective to how a recipient feels on a particular day, or even later on. It undermines the basic right of freedom of speech and there is no way this can hold up against a constitutional test. If it does stand, the atmosphere of fear will prevent business from locating here in West Virginia.

By: B.K.

B.K. — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:15:43 +0000

The only thing that will make WV voters kick Democrats out of the Legislature will be complete and total economic collapse, including the overwhelming loss of jobs (including mining jobs, by the way). So far, while we’ve teetered on it for years, we’re handed the economic equivalent of milk bones (remember table games?) so we think things are better than they are. Those of us who recognize that dogs can’t live on milk bones alone are told to shut up because they just taste so good.

Meanwhile, a sadly large number of WVians are far more concerned with the arrival of their next check from the state. The ones who aren’t dependent on government are best buds with those in the halls of power, and in order for them to maintain their elite power structure, they must at least maintain the number of those in the first category. They prefer, however, to increase that number; thereby enhancing their power.

As long as legislation doesn’t rock their carefully-constructed boat, it passes with little to no fanfare:

-1st amendment restrictions on businesses? Sure, why not?

-Pay raises for legislators? Sure, good ol’ Bill needs more money. God knows he isn’t making enough as an ATTORNEY.

-Tax cuts? Uh…wait a minute…we need to look further into this. We wouldn’t want to jeopardize future budgets (wink! wink! nudge! nudge!), let’s form a committee to look into that, mmmmkay?

By: Senator Vic Sprouse

Senator Vic Sprouse — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:23:10 +0000

Doug Reynolds wants to be the next Governor. He knows he can never be a Democratic governor without labor support. So, business will give him a pass because he “had” to vote with labor, but you KNOW he really supports business.

If we don’t kick the Democrats out soon, there will be no business left in this state.

By: Senator Vic Sprouse

Senator Vic Sprouse — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:21:35 +0000

Can we get an “AMEN”? Blankenship was derided for going after people like these guys. But, the fact is, these guys will be for business - as long as that doesn’t mean in opposition to the labor unions and trial lawyers.

The sad part is the business community will be right there with them fighting the Republicans in the next election. Its pathetic.