On this week’s episode of Inside West Virginia Politics, host Mark Curtis and guests discuss various topics including education and healthcare and current issues such as the American Electric Power (AEP) price increase intended to support three coal power plants in the Mountain State.Guests on the shows this week include Erin Anderson, West Virginia Teacher of the Year 2021 and 5th-grade teacher at Tennerton Elementary School in Upshur County, Brian Casto, West Virginia Teacher of the Year 2022, 8th grade West Virginia Studies teacher at Milton Middle School in Cabell County, Dr. Dino Beckett, CEO and Physician at Williamson Health and Wellness Center and Gaylene Miller, State Director of AARP of West Virginia.

Inside West Virginia Politics

Education, healthcare and power price increases on this week’s Inside West Virginia Politics

On this week’s episode on Inside West Virginia Politics, host Mark Curtis and guests discuss a variety of topics important to the Mountain State, including the possibility of extending three West Virginia coal-fired power plants until 2040, National Recovery Month, and the support of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better agenda.Guests on this week’s episode include Chris Hamilton, President of the West Virginia Coal Association, Karan Ireland from the West Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, Chelsea Carter, Director of Services at Brighter Futures, which is affiliated with Boone Memorial Hospital, and Gary Zuckett, Executive Director of West Virginia Citizen Action.

West Virginia coal power plants, National Recovery Month and Build Back Better on this week’s Inside West Virginia Politics

In our first two segments, Attorney Mike Kelly, a former family court judge for Kanawha County for 15 years who has now returned to private practice, stops by to discuss his new book “Marrow Bone,” which delves into the politics of the Mountain State.Kelly says he wrote the book because since he first began practicing law in Mingo County, he has been fascinated by West Virginia politics and how unique and personal the state’s politics are in comparison to other counties. In the book, he uses a blend of both fact and fiction to create a narrative describing how the state’s politics work.The attorney says the plot of the book follows two fictional wealthy, politically connected families in West Virginia who he says are basically the “power brokers,” or the people behind the politicians and candidates, of the state’s politics.Kelly says while many of the characters and specific situations are fictional, they are based on real people and events that tie into the state’s politics, such as murder cases creating more discussion and advocacy to prevent domestic violence.In Segment 3, WOWK 13 News Anchor Lily Bradley joins our host and Chief Political Reporter Mark Curtis and guest Attorney and former family court judge Mike Kelly in the discussion of the reality of West Virginia’s politics through his new book “Marrow Bone.” While the book follows fictitious scenarios, many of the issues behind those scenarios are reality.One of these follows a story of a murdered social worker who had advocated for change to stop domestic violence. Kelly says domestic violence is a “scourge” in the Mountain State, affecting people across all income classes in every county. Bradley has worked with the YWCA’s Girls’ Night Out, an outreach through the YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program that WOWK 13 News helps sponsor, adds that domestic abuse does not discriminate.Kelly says having courts that take a specific focus on issues involving domestic situations and/or drug abuse helps to protect victims of domestic violence from their abusers before the danger of their situation escalates and/or helps drug users break their addictions.“All we see usually in domestic violence cases is the worst ones – when there’s a shooting… What goes under the radar is what happens every day, the activities that lead up to that shooting,” Kelly said.Those seeking help can contact the following organizations:The Drug Helpline: https://drughelpline.org/ or 1-844-289-0879Help4WV: https://www.help4wv.com/Charleston area Emergency Shelter & 24-Hour Crisis Line: 1-800-681-8663Charleston area Emergency Shelter & 24-Hour Crisis Line: 304-340-354The National Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/

A look into West Virginia politics and issues through an attorney’s new book

New COVID-19 treatment available in Kanawha CountyIn Segment 1, Dr. Sherri Young, DO, FAAFO, is the Health Officer at the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department. She’s discussing the latest on COVID-19 in West Virginia, including the health department offering a new treatment for the virus.KCHD is offering monoclonal antibody clinics in addition to their free COVID-19 vaccination and testing clinic. Monoclonal antibodies or mAb are made in a laboratory to fight a particular infection, and in this case, the virus that causes COVID-19. These antibodies are then directly administered through therapy to COVID-positive patients with an infusion or shot.Young says this treatment is available with a doctor’s recommendation. “There’s an increased demand for testing right now because people are positive, they’re symptomatic, people need a negative test to go back to school or work. We’re still vaccinating, and I hope we are capturing more and more people getting that first and second dose. It’s essential that we keep the vaccinations going,” said Young. Dr. Sherri Young urges COVID-19 vaccinationsIn Segment 2, Dr. Sherri Young, DO, FAAFO, is the Health Officer at the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, is back to talk about getting children age 12-17 to get the COVID-19 vaccine. 85% of people ages 65 and older have already been fully vaccinated; for people ages 12 years old and older, the number is 60%. Young is also encouraging residents who are immunocompromised to get the booster shot. Remote patient monitoring now available in West VirginiaIn Segment 3, Traci Quillen, Vice President of Community Wellness Technology Inc. is talking about remote patient monitoring telehealth in West Virginia. She says Community Wellness can provide Bluetooth-enabled devices for patients to utilize in their homes so that physicians can continue monitoring patients. “We have the ability to provide Bluetooth-enabled devices for patients to utilize in their homes; that way physicians can continue monitoring patients,” said Quillen. For more information about telehealth, visit the Community Wellness website. Prescription drug price transparency in West VirginiaIn Segment 4, JB McCuskey, West Virginia’s State Auditor, discusses the politics of drug prices in West Virginia. Earlier this week, McCuskey held a press conference with AARP about reducing the prices of prescription drugs for senior citizens.The State Auditor is in partnership with AARP to post prices and information about prescription drugs, including costs to produce, current drug prices, and why some prices are increasing as well as a list of drugs that have increased in price, drugs that have lost their patent rights, and the costs related to research and development. 

COVID-19 treatments, telehealth and drug prices on this week’s Inside West Virginia Politics

COVID-19 continues to spread like a wildfire in West VirginiaIn Segment 1, Dr. Clay Marsh, the COVID-19 Czar in West Virginia, talks about the spike in coronavirus cases due to the impact of the Delta variant. Marsh says the Delta variant has caused this large spike as it can spread very quickly and that this strain of the virus is over 1,000 more spreadable than with the initial COVID-19 outbreak.West Virginia has broken two COVID-19 records within the last week. According to state health data, Thursday, Sept. 9th, the total of confirmed cases was a record 1,738, only to be broken by Saturday, Sept. 11th’s total of 1,821.The previous one-day high of more than 1,700 was set on Dec. 31.To find where you can get vaccinated, visit the Department of Health and Human Resources website. Visit their official website to register for the ‘Do it for Babydog: Save a life, Change your life’ Vaccine Sweepstakes.WV Senator describes experience on 9/11In Segment 2, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) was the only member of our Congressional Delegation in the office on September 11th, 2021.Capito describes that day, saying she was in her office in the Long Worth Building on Capitol Hill with some constituents from Harper’s Ferry when her eyes drifted to the TV and watched as the towers were hit. Capito says as they were scrambling around the office, one of her assistants pointed out the window and she says she saw the smoke from the Pentagon.Capito said she was able to escape to a safe spot and watch it all unfold around her.Capito discusses COVID-19 and Washington protestIn Segment 3, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) talks about the surge of COVID-19 cases not just in West Virginia but throughout the nation. Capito also gives her thoughts about the fencing set up outside the U.S. Capitol, which is expected to return ahead of the protest in support of the people that were arrested in the last Capitol riot on Jan. 6.“I’m concerned and disheartened by that. Legal and lawful protest is something that is as old as our nation,” said Capito. “The ability to gather around the Capitol should be something that’s preserved. But I’m really disappointed we have to have another fence. I think it sends a bad signal to what we feel might happen at a protest like that. Think that’s changed the way our law enforcement looks at protecting us and protecting the Capitol.”Reflecting on 9/11 and West Virginia welcoming Afghan refugeesIn Segment 4, Ibtesam “Sue” Barazi, the Vice President of the Islamic Association of West Virginia and the leader of the West Virginia Interfaith Ministry, discusses what changed for American Muslims after 9/11.Barazi says many Muslims became the target for violence, even when they had nothing to do with the attacks. She talks about how she and the other religious leaders in West Virginia have come together to work on many issues, especially after the attacks. “After 9/11 and after I retired, I saw the need to build bridges. Talk to people, let them know who we are. Invite people to the Islamic center, to the mosque. We had many events to let them know we are not your enemies.”At this time, there is an effort to welcome Afghan refugees to West Virginia. Charleston Mayor Amy Goodwin read a proclamation welcoming immigrant families at Charleston City Hall on Friday, Sept. 10.  “This is the time to step up if you are a goodwill individual,” said Bazari. “Afghanis and many immigrants who come to this country are going to do nothing but good deeds and provide services. They’re entrepreneurs, good for the community.”

COVID-19 and the 20th anniversary of 9/11 on this week’s Inside West Virginia Politics

Rich Trumka and the 100th anniversary of Battle of Blair MountainIn Segment 1, Cecil Roberts, the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) President, discusses the passing of Rich Trumka, former President of the AFL-CIO. An outspoken advocate for social and economic justice, Trumka was the nation’s most straightforward voice on the critical need to ensure that all workers have a good job and the power to determine their wages and working conditions.Roberts also talks about the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest labor uprising in United States history and the largest armed uprising since the American Civil War. According to Roberts, this attack was the first time that an airstrike was called within the continental borders of the United States. The attack was called by the coal companies, which dropped bombs on the marchers.‘Give them a future’: Should get first dibs on solar and wind energy jobs?In Segment 2, Cecil Roberts, UMWA president, said that as mining jobs decrease and solar and wind energy jobs rise, miners should be the first to get training for these jobs. He says miners are the ones who are being displaced due to these jobs. President Joe Biden said he wanted to make union jobs for those who are displaced.“We’ve been resisting that obviously because we think we should protect the jobs we have, but if we’re going to have a policy that says coal miners lose their jobs, do what you said you were going to do, create union jobs for those who get displaced,” said Roberts.Roberts also says current union jobs pay between $75,000 and $100,00 per year with great benefits such as healthcare, pension plan, and time off. At this time, solar and wind energy jobs offer only half of those benefits and half the pay.“I’m hearing a lot of talk about creating these solar jobs, but I’m not hearing a talk or discussion about making them union jobs. I want to see how that works. If we’re going to displace these coal miners, give them a future,” said Roberts. ‘We’re sick of it’: Delegate talks about the importance of wearing a mask and getting vaccinated against COVID-19In Segment 3, Delegate Mike Pushkin of Kanawha County is also the President of the American Federation of Musicians Local 136. He talks about the return of Live on the Levee over this summer and how COVID-19 is affecting future events such as sports events.Pushkin emphasizes the importance of wearing a mask and getting vaccinated so these events can continue.“I understand. It’s gone on for so long. We’re sick of it. We’re sick of talking about it, hearing about it, but I’m sick of being sick. I’m sick of seeing the numbers go up. I’m sick of hearing about people I know being hospitalized. We’ve got to do a better job of explaining the only way we get through it is to get shots,” said Pushkin.As of Sunday, Sept. 5, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice had not issued another mask mandate statewide, but 26 out of 55 counties have mask mandates for schools K-12.“I think it’s really going to take some tougher decisions from the top, from the governor’s office. The virus doesn’t recognize county boundaries. And I think it’s going to take some strong leadership and the right direction right now,” said Pushkin. How unions saved West Virginia miners from industrial oppressionIn Segment 4, Myya Helm is a research associate for the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy who helped write their annual report called “Labor, Race, and Solidarity.” Her study showed the division between Black, White and European miners — the immigrants who came in to fill the huge demand for the mining jobs. Helms says that many miners worked in poor conditions because the mine operators wanted to make as much profit as possible. And so in the early 20th century, all workers, black, white, European immigrants, were paid extremely low wages — safety conditions were practically nonexistent, and the conditions worsened when the United Mine Workers of America tried to organize in southern West Virginia…those tactics just further pushed miners to rally against their employers, consistent abuses of authority.” said Helms. According to the report, “Unions promised to abolish the system that held them all as workers in forced labor.” The miners actively challenged the social, economic, and political power held by coal companies. Soon, the state’s miner’s union grew as workers sought a better life for themselves and their families.  

The fight for miners’ rights on this week’s Inside West Virginia Politics

In Segment 1, Recently retired Judge Will Thompson from Boone County discusses his nomination for US Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. While he cannot disclose anything about the confirmation process, he shares stories from his years on the bench and talks about being one of the pioneers of drug courts and expungements.In Segment 2, Mark Curtis and recently-retired Judge Will Thompson from Boone County talk about Chelsea Carter, who was addicted to drugs as a teenager. She got arrested and sent to jail but has since turned her life around for the better. She later got clean, got her bachelor’s and master’s degree in counseling, and is now the head of Better Futures at Boone Memorial Hospital. In Segment 3, Delegate Kayla Young (D) of Kanawha County and Delegate Joshua Higginbotham (R) of Putnam County have announced their new bipartisan legislative podcast. They have partnered with Mountaineer Media. Their show will be called Two sides of the same Mountain. “We felt it was best that Republicans and Democrats actually talk about the issues, and even though Kayla and I have a lot of disagreements on policy, we get along, and we just want to have conversations with different people about policy,” said Higginbotham. “Our goal is to talk about the issues and show that we do get along as people,” said Young. “We’re not going to get to a point of understanding unless we can have that conversation. People shouting at each other is never going to.” In Segment 4, Delegate Kayla Young (D) of Kanawha County and Delegate Joshua Higginbotham (R) of Putnam County continue discussing their podcast with host Mark Curtis. Young says some of the issues they’ll be discussing behind the scenes of national and statewide legislation, such as redistricting, energy policies, and education issues. The podcast is about reaching people who have opposing views to have a conversation about differences in opinions. “It’s [the podcast] about building bridges between people with policy disagreements,” said Higginbotham. 

Judge nomination and new legislative podcast on this week’s Inside West Virginia Politics

A new recovery center to help with opioid addictionIn Segment 1, Rep. Carol Miller, Congresswoman from WV’s 3rd District, discusses West Virginia’s opioid problem. Earlier this week, Miller toured the New Lotus Recovery Facility in Boone County. She says there may be more clinics to open in West Virginia.“Recovery is such an important part of getting over addiction, period,” said Miller. “Because you have rehab and recovery. The tough physical part of rehab, then you have to go into the multilayer part of recovery, which goes with you.”Miller also discusses babies born addicted to drugs, how schools react to those children affected years later, and how that affects communities.West Virginia power plants can continue to operateIn Segment 2, Chris Hamilton, President of the WV Coal Association, talks about the major ruling last week by the West Virginia Public Service Commission that essentially allows three power plants to continue operation in the Mountain State.Hamilton says the Mountaineer, the Mitchel and the John Amos Plants will be approved for all environmental upgrades and continue operating.Hamilton says an economic study was commissioned through our states’ lead economist last year. In conjunction with the coal operations that provide the base fuel supply, he said these coal-fired plants are responsible for upwards of $14 billion throughout our state and local economies.“The state’s economist said that’s about $1 out of every $6 generated in this decision and generated in the local and regional communities is just phenomenal,” said Hamilton. “There’s no replacement for these current jobs and all the payroll dollars that are generated and all the long-term security for all these plant coal miners dependent often on these coal-fired electric generators here in the state of West Virginia.”Electric bills expected to increase due to plant upgradesIn Segment 3, Emmett Pepper, Environmentalist Attorney, shares his opposition to the Public Service Commission’s decision to extend the lives of three West Virginia coal-fired power plants. “I don’t think you have to be an environmentalist to know this is a bad deal for rate-payers,” said Pepper.According to Pepper, The Public Service Commission does not have the authority to say that these expensive upgrades are going through West Virginia ratepayers alone. Kentucky Power also uses the Mitchell Power Plant, but they’ve said they will not have Kentucky rate-payers pay for the upgrades needed at that plant.“We’ve had a 150% increase over the past 15 years in our electric bills. Our bills are high here,” said Pepper. “Our bills are going up here and we can probably expect to see more of that, or we may see more of that because it seems like there are people in power in this state that are looking to ask us as rate-payers, to pay, apparently unlimited amounts of money.”Congressman Alex Mooney’s mother shares her story of escaping CubaIn Segment 4, Lala Suarez-Mooney, the mother of Congressman Alex Mooney, discusses the latest on the unrest and protests that have been happening in Cuba in the last month. Mooney is a native of Cuba who fled Castro in the early 1960s and came to the United States.“Well, I really wish there was some way we could help them. It’s a desperate situation,” said Suarez-Mooney. “Some of the comments say to the government you’re killing us with hunger, people are just desperate, the economic situation is desperate. Socialism and communism doesn’t work.”Suarez-Mooney also shares the story of when she was arrested in Cuba following the failed Bay of Pigs demonstration. She shares the story of her escape, saying, “It was desperate in one day, Fidel Castro picked up 100,000 prisoners, said everybody goes to prison. And once in prison, they abuse us. For example, one day, they wanted to move some prisoners, they brought fire trucks, and firemen aimed the water hose at everybody, including one woman who was pregnant, and they aimed it at her stomach. They are cruel, and they don’t hesitate to use any means to keep people scared and bound. I was able to get out, but one of my uncles died in prison, and another fulfilled a 7-year sentence.”Suarez-Mooney has written a book about her experience titled “Leaving Cuba: One Family’s Journey to America.”

Addiction recovery, power plant restoration and a story about escaping Cuba on this week’s Inside West Virginia Politics

The Shawnee Sports Complex estimated to bring more than $100M after first 4 yearsIn Segment 1, Ben Salango (D), Kanawha County Commissioner, discusses his contributions around the county, including his involvement in the Shawnee Sports Complex. Salango says the sports complex will bring in more than $100 million in its first four years — money he says is going back to employees, businesses and workers throughout the valley, not just the county.Salango has also announced his candidacy for the Kanawha County Commission in 2022.Revamping COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts in West VirginiaIn Segment 2, Dr. Sherri Young from the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department discusses ramping up COVID-19 testing and vaccinations as the latest COVID-19 spike spreads statewide in West Virginia. She discusses the Delta variant and the concerns with the spread as the first day of school is on Monday, Aug. 9. The Delta variant can spread quickly, is more aggressive and affect kids more.The importance of Paid Family and Medical Leave in West VirginiaIn Segment 3, Kelly Allen, the Executive Direct of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, talks about the importance of Paid Family and Medical Leave is being considered in Congress.According to Allen, 1 in 5 people have paid medical leave with a higher-paying job. With lower-wage workers, 1 in 20 people have paid medical leave.The West Virginia State Fair returns this AugustIn Segment 4, Kent Leonhardt, the West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture, discusses the 96th annual West Virginia State Fair.Leonhardt says masks are not required for patrons, but vendors who are inside will be wearing masks. “You can see the smiles on people’s faces,” said Leonhardt.The West Virginia State Fair will take place from Aug. 12th-21st.Officials at the State Fair of West Virginia are happy to announce the concert series for the 96th annual event set for August 12-21, 2021, featuring Nelly (8/12), Whiskey Myers with special guest the Steel Woods (8/13), for KING & COUNTRY with special guest Rebecca St. James (8/14), STYX (8/15), Tracy Lawrence and Tracy Byrd (8/19), Brantley Gilbert (8/20), and the Buckin’B Bull Ride (8/21).Mac Powell & The Family Reunion and Shenandoah will play as free shows on August 16 and 17, respectively.ArtistDate of PerformanceNELLYAug. 8thWhiskey Myers with special guest the Steel WoodsAug. 13thKING & COUNTRY with special guest Rebecca St. JamesAug. 14thSTYXAug. 15thTracy Lawrence and Tracy ByrdAug. 19thBrantley GilbertAug. 20thYou can buy tickets for the fair by following this link.

Shawnee Sports Complex, COVID-19, Paid Family Leave, and WV State Fair on this week’s Inside West Virginia Politics

West Virginia sees steady rate of unemployment decreaseIn Segment 1, Steve Roberts, The President of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, recently had an op-ed in the Charleston Gazette-Mail titled “WV coming out of economic slumber.” Robert discusses how West Virginia is seeing some good signs such as an unemployment rate below the national average, steadily-increasing workforce participation and an economy that is improving faster than the national average. Despite these positive signs, many companies are still looking for workers and are even offering sign-up incentives to attract people to sign up. Roberts says this may be because there are not enough workers for those jobs.  Live on the Levee boosts tourism in Charleston In Segment 2, Jim Strawn, the MC for “Live on the Levee” discusses how successful the live music events and vendors are this summer.Strawn says the event brings in business for Charleston and small business owners in the area. Some attendees travel a good distance to enjoy their time at the event and spend money.For a full schedule for Live on the Levee, click here.How the TBT brought an economic boom to CharlestonIn Segment 3, Tim Brady, President and CEO of the Charleston Visitor and Convention Bureau, explains the economic boom Charleston is experiencing after COVID-19 guidelines loosened across West Virginia. Brady talks about The Basketball Tournament (TBT) that was recently in town and brought an estimated $8.6 million in economic impact with 16 teams plus their fan bases all here staying in hotels, eating, shopping, buying gas—all of the things that you do when you are visiting a city for an extended time.The importance of investing in West Virginia community and technical collegesIn Segment 4, Del. Joshua Higginbotham, (R) Putnam, discusses the importance of investing in community and technical colleges in West Virginia. Higginbotham says 60% of jobs will soon require a two-year degree or a trade of some kind. Higginbotham also discusses the importance of filling out FASFA for students who want to apply for colleges.  

The Mountain State’s economic boom on this week’s Inside West Virginia Politics

In Segment 1, West Virginia COVID-19 Czar, Dr. Clay Marsh to discuss the state of the virus in the Mountain State. As of Thursday, July 22, the state saw a 60% increase in Delta variant cases, going from 22 to 35 cases overnight, and active virus cases continue to climb.Marsh says this increase is “probably just the beginning” of the Delta variant’s impact on the state. He also believes the overall increase in cases is due to people becoming more “lax” on wearing masks and social distancing, although the state’s mask mandate was lifted just over one month ago on June 20, West Virginia Day. He says this is due, in part, to the number of West Virginians still unvaccinated against the virus. As of Monday, July 26, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources reported that 67.7% of the state’s eligible population has begun the vaccination process and 56.2% of those eligible for the vaccine are fully vaccinated.Marsh also encouraged people, even those who are vaccinated, to continue wearing masks in settings where they cannot be sure everyone has been vaccinated as a way to help reduce the chance of spreading the virus to those who have not gotten or cannot get the vaccine.In Segment 2, we’re joined by John Burdette of Fourth Avenue Financial to take a look at the financial impact of COVID-19 on the stock market and investments.Early last week, stocks went down in the U.S. Burdette says while COVID-19 concerns are playing a role in the stock markets, it is also common for the markets to take what he calls “a breather” or a correction time after a run-up. He says this will generally happen about once a year, but that we have not seen it happen since approximately 2018.Burdette says during the pandemic, tech companies have taken off driving their stocks to a higher value compared to other companies. However, he says even with 2020 being a strange year for the markets, he is still encouraging his clients to think ahead on their assets and keep them balanced between long-term and short-term goals, especially as these correction times do happen and will happen throughout their retirement.In Segment 3, we turn our attention to the unrest currently happening in Cuba. Representative Alex Mooney (R-WV) is a Cuban-American whose mother fled from Cuba during the 1960s. He explains more about what is happening in the country, why people are protesting and what the United States can do to help.Mooney says Cuba is in a dire situation in regard to access to food and medicine while still dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, which Cuba does not yet have a way to treat effectively.Cuba does not have laws protecting people’s freedom of speech or freedom of the press such as the United States has in place. Mooney says speaking out against the government in countries like Cuba typically leads to imprisonment. He says before his mother fled the country at the age of 20, she had spent seven weeks in what he describes as a communist prison, simply for the crime of not being a communist supporter.The representative says it is a unique situation to see protestors out in such large numbers. “So it’s very encouraging to see the people finally be so fed up and call for freedom,” Mooney said.He says the U.S., as well as other countries, should work diplomatically to help the people of Cuba get some of that freedom, even at the very minimum of condemning Cuba’s government regime and helping the country restore internet access shut down by their government so they can better communicate with the rest of the world again.In Segment 4, we’re joined by Max Richtman, CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare to discuss the issue brought up in Congress to expand dental, vision and hearing benefits to Medicare.As of now, the issue has been included in a reconciliation budget bill. Richtman says the expansion on these benefits is “critical” because they are not “luxuries” as some people think, especially as some people need vision, dental and hearing care for their daily lives, making them essential medical needs. He says this is something the organization has been trying to make happen for a while and is glad to see there is more support in Congress than ever before to have these benefits included in Medicare.Richtman says a roadblock in getting the benefits included in Medicare is how they will be paid for. He says one suggestion to offset funds for the benefits is to change the rules for the cost of prescription drugs in the Medicare program by allowing the government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies. The idea, Richtman says, has so far been welcomed by some lawmakers. 

COVID-19 and finances, expanding on Medicare and political unrest in Cuba

What is the Hope Scholarship? In Segment 1, West Virginia’s Treasurer Riley Moore discusses the Hope Scholarship. According to Moore, the Hope Scholarship Program is an education savings account that allows parents to receive $4,600 per-pupil state funding already set aside for their children’s education onto an electronic, parent-controlled fund for educational expenses. Those expenses can include private school tuition, tutoring, credentialing, therapies, transportation and more. This program can also allow parents to take students out of traditional schooling and use that money to help home-school them. For years, the teachers’ unions in the state effectively fought and defeated bills for the program. They worry that it’s diverting public money from the public education system and will only hurt the public schools’ system by taking money away and putting it in the private school system. Moore says this money is from state funding, not federal funding. Teachers will not lose federal money in schools.“The [state] money will follow the student, so they’re not going to have to continue to provide the educational services for that student,” said Moore. The Application for the Hope Scholarship Program is expected to open no later than March 1, 2022. If you’re interested in the Hope Scholarship Program, you can sign up here for more information. Why the WV Working Families Party supports the American Jobs PlanIn Segment 2, Ryan Frankenberry from the West Virginia Working Families Party discusses the pressure on U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) to support President Joe Biden’s Infrastructure bill. The Biden infrastructure plan is $2.3 Billion, while Manchin’s plan is roughly $1 trillion. The West Virginia Working Families Party is a progressive grassroots political party building a multiracial movement of working people to transform America. They have been working to educating West Virginians on the infrastructure plan, including how this plan can create jobs for West Virginians with the American Jobs Plan. WV AG addresses opioid lawsuit pay opposition In Segment 3, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) discusses his recent press conference, saying he was opposed to the bankruptcy settlement by Purdue Pharma. Morrisey says his decision to oppose the bankruptcy settlement due to the larger states involved in the lawsuit got together and proposed a population-based formula for the fund allocation plan. Despite being at the epicenter of the opioid pandemic, West Virginia has a smaller population and wouldn’t receive as much settlement money. Should we favor Morrisey’s settlement opposition?In Segment 4, Attorney Rusty Webb shares why he favors West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s decision to oppose the Perdue lawsuit settlement formula.“Because this formula that they came up with over two years gives West Virginia very little money and it’s based on population, and it gives large states with large populations like New York and California and Texas that don’t have an opioid problem and would get a lot of money,” said Webb. 

Hope Scholarship, American Jobs Plan and Purdue Pharma’s lawsuit in this week’s Inside West Virginia Politics

How the American Families Plan can improve 90% of West Virginian kids’ livesIn Segment 1, Congress is returning to Washington on Monday, July 12, and Seth DiStefano, the Policy Outreach Director at the West Virginia Center of Budget and Policy, discusses why Congress should prioritize the American Families Plan. In July, families with children will begin to see checks as part of the refundable tax credit passed earlier in 2021. According to White House officials, “The American Families Plan will extend key tax cuts in the American Rescue Plan that benefit lower- and middle-income workers and families, including the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.”DiStefano says these checks can help improve the lives of 90% of West Virginian kids. How do we solve West Virginia’s hunger problem?In Segment 2, Caitlin Cook, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at Mountaineer Food Bank, discusses food insecurity in West Virginia and how a bipartisan group may be the solution to solving the problem. According to Cook, 1 in 5 children in West Virginia goes to school without a meal in their stomachs. Recently, House Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay) created a working group to deal with food insecurity. It’s a bipartisan group of republicans and democrats. Cook says this group is “…an amazing opportunity for the state and the people.” Cook explains that hunger is the root of many issues within West Virginia, such as unemployment and substance abuse disorder. “I am also hopeful out of this working group that we can get things like community food hubs that provide the holistic approach. We can strengthen the safety like snap that do a better job at feeding people than the food bank.”13 News Reporter Erin Noon shares her own experience with COVID-19In Segment 3, 13 News Reporter Erin Noon discusses her experience contracting COVID-19. Noon says two weeks before she was eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, she contracted the virus. “All of a sudden, I started feeling symptomatic…The cough was probably my worst symptom, to be honest. And then that night — well, I got tested, and it came back positive, so I was pretty shaken up just trying to stay calm and everything.” - Erin Noon, 13 News ReporterNoon says she then began vomiting throughout the night and eventually drove herself to the emergency room. She says because of COVID-19, her body went into diabetic ketoacidosis, a severe complication of diabetes that occurs when your body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones. The condition develops when your body can’t make enough insulin. Noon is a Type 1 diabetic. She spent two days in the Intensive Care Unit. Noon encourages young people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. “if you have any doubt in your mind, I mean, this could really take a toll on your health, on the people around you, as well. It’s a really scary thing. So I am saying if you have any kind of hesitancy, go out and get that vaccine.”West Virginia man shares his COVID-19 near-death experienceIn Segment 4, Luke Farley, the Secretary-Treasurer and Legal Counsel for the Teamsters Union, shares his experience with COVID-19 and how he nearly died from the virus a year ago. Farley says he caught the virus and ended up in the hospital, in the intensive care unit for two weeks and was put on high-flow oxygen and almost died. “I couldn’t walk from me to you [referring to Mark Curtis in the studio] and I would just be out of breath. I ended up with pneumonia, and it was just horrible.”

American Families Plan, food insecurity and COVID-19 survivors on this week’s Inside West Virginia Politics

How the infrastructure bill will reconnect West Virginia to the United StatesIn Segment 1, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) talks about the infrastructure bill. Manchin is in the bipartisan group. He said the $1.2 trillion investment will go into repairing bridges, making the Cardinal Rail system ready for daily use, expanding broadband, installing charging stations for electric vehicles and upgrading lead pipes, water and airports systems. Manchin also said he voted yes for the “For the People” Act to pass through procedurally because he had a “guarantee” that the alternate bill he wrote up would get done based on West Virginia Code and Law. What will the Equality Act do?In Segment 2, Andrew Schneider, the Executive Director of Fairness West Virginia, discusses the Federal Equality Act and the possible vote on it in both houses of Congress before the end of the summer. The Equality Act will update the federal civil rights act of 1964. It clarifies the Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County and protects LGBTQ+ people from discrimination regarding housing, employment, and public spaces. The Equal Rights Act of 1964 focused more on race and gender, and the update will include sexual orientation and gender identity. Schneider says. despite this being a nonpartisan issue, there is bipartisan support. 68% of Republicans, 85% of Independents and 95% of Democrats nationwide support the act.How a recent Supreme Court ruling protects student-athletesIn Segment 3, Charleston Attorney Rusty Webb discusses the recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding NCAA Athletes.He says The NCAA is being challenged on benefits. This particular one relates to educational benefits and whether you can limit educational benefits for student-athletes. The Supreme Court ruling protects student-athletes’ educational benefits, such as allowing them to attend school after their eligibility is gone, along with adding graduate school, tutoring, study abroad, and anything else education-related. Dr. Young discusses her departure from Kanawha-Charleston Health DepartmentIn Segment 4, Dr. Sherri Young, D.O., FAAFP, Executive Director and Chief Health Officer, discusses her departure from the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department. Young says she will be going to the Charleston Area Medical Center, part of the West Virginia Health Network. 

Infrastructure bill, Equality Act, NCAA ruling and Sherri Young’s departure on this week’s Inside West Virginia Politics

In Segment 1, former long-time West Virginia legislator Rick Staton (D) joins us to talk about the “For the People Act.”Staton says he is in favor of the “For the People Act” and believes its provisions would stop states from making alleged attempts at voter suppression and create more uniformity in the voting process. He also says he hopes that should the bill pass, it will be upheld by the courts if it is challenged.The former West Virginia delegate says he is also in favor of the provision that would eliminate “dark money” that goes toward Super-PACs such as 501-C-4 corporations but is then not publicly accounted for, meaning voters are left in the dark about where that money is going and what it is being used for.Staton does say while he understands that some voting issues are state level, but that he believes when people are waiting in line for three hours for a chance to vote, there may be an issue with how those precincts are configured and it might be time for the government to step in and help.In Segment 2, Jason Huffman with the West Virginia chapter of Americans for Prosperity stops in to discuss why the organization is not in favor of the “For the People Act.Huffman says the organization believes the bill could cause further divide while the country is already divided along party lines. He says they are also concerned the act could create erosion of free speech rights and “weaponize majority rule” against grassroots parties.According to Huffman, the organization says looking for common ground would be a better way to mitigate divisive politics. Huffman says the bill could also force non-profits to chose a political side by putting their advocacy work under the definition of electioneering.In Segment 3, the discussion around the “For the People Act” continues with West Virginia Delegate Jim Barach (D-Kanawha County).Barach says he supports the bill because of the alleged voter suppression being seen in some states through legislation that cuts some people out of the process. He says because of this, bringing in some election reform at the federal level is necessary to make sure that, as a democracy, every eligible voter in the United States has the right and the ability to cast their ballots.The delegate says some of the state-level laws passed through a Republican majority that cut back the number of early voting days, reducing the number of hours polls are open and strict voter ID laws all tend to have the most effect on minority groups and lower-income individuals who tend to vote along Democratic lines.In Segment 4, Putnam County Clerk and President of the West Virginia Clerks Association Brian Wood shares why he is against the “For the People Act” from a county clerk’s perspective.Wood says that being against the “For the People Act” does not mean being against the people and that county clerks want and work toward making sure every eligible individual has the right and ability to vote. He says he is concerned, however, the bill creating a “one-size-fits-all” approach from Washington, D.C. taking over West Virginia elections when one size may not actually fit all.According to Wood, having a national regulation even on the number of days for early elections is not ideal because the states know what’s best for their people as opposed to input from the federal level on how to run elections.

The ‘For the People Act’: Should it be passed?

Inside West Virginia Politics is a weekly show hosted by Mark Curtis that discusses local, regional, and national issues and how they impact the Mountain State.