Candidates need
to offer plans for
economy to increase
interest in primary
With the May 9 primary election a little over a week away, few West Virginians seem to be interested in the election. The main reason for the lack of interest is that none of the candidates have offered a solid economic development plan for the state of West Virginia.
West Virginia's economy has been lagging behind, while the rest of the nation has enjoyed an average growth rate of 4.5 percent. Lawmakers warned in their last session that due to the decline in tax revenue, next year an increase in taxes would be necessary in order to balance the budget. Increasing taxes without some form of an economical development plan will leave residents with less disposable income and only slow West Virginia's economy down more.
With the decline in the manufacturing and natural resource business, the development of a solid economical plan for West Virginia has become difficult. New industries need to be developed within the state to replace the jobs and tax revenues that the manufacturing and natural resource industries provided for many years.
The economic status of West Virginia is the major concern of most residents within the state. It is difficult for the residents to be interested in the primary election when the candidates do not offer them a specific plan to bolster the economy.
We would like to see the candidates step forward and offer their plans for developing the economy within West Virginia so that the residents will take an interest in the May 9 primary.
