BECKLEY, WV (WOAY) – Patrick Morrisey stopped at the Raleigh County Commission in Beckley to reflect on his first 100 days as West Virginia’s 37th governor.
He said after the legislature left, it was a busy stretch when a lot of good work was done reviewing 249 bills.
The governor’s first full day in office included allowing families to apply for mandated childhood vaccine exemptions.
“There are public health problems that arise in all these other states, that should get better with the norm. If all the states in the country, other than a few, are moving in this direction because they recognize basic principles of the First Amendment and religious freedom, West Virginia should be part of that as well.”
Youth advocates say that Morrisey vetoed line-item funds for vulnerable children in foster care. Yet Morrisey says no administration has ever done more, but money alone doesn’t solve the problem.
“So we’re doing that deep dive review and CPS in foster care to make sure we’re looking out for the best interest of the child,” said the governor. “For all the talk that some people say, ‘if there were enough money, significant increases over last year in this area.’ Maybe not the increases some people like, but when you’re putting a lot more money on the table now, I want to make sure that money gets spent the right way.”
Mountain State drug kingpins and those transporting deadly substances here should think again.
“Part of the reason I’ve called for fentanyl to be listed as a weapon of mass destruction,” Morrisey said. “So I was very pleased to sign into (Lauren’s) law something that increased penalties for these drug kingpins and dealers. I think we send a message across the country: do not traffic drugs in West Virginia.
The governor appreciates Mountain State residents providing him the honor to serve, saying he’s achieved a lot in his first 100 days, including turning around an inherited financial mess and putting in place a strategy.
“Economic development strategy. That’s big. Second, we’re going to keep working on broadband. We’ve got to bring that one home. Work with the trump administration on that,” said Morrisey. “And then we’re taking on tough issues that have been pushed back into the past. PEIA is something we want to take on. No one tried to take that on before.”
