West Virginia State Democratic Party

West Virginia Democratic Party Platform

Introduction

West Virginia must grow its economy by creating good-paying jobs with benefits. The West Virginia Democratic Party believes that this must be the state's top priority.

To truly grow West Virginia's economy and to create jobs so that West Virginians and their families have a sustainable financial future, the state needs to address its weaknesses and build upon its strengths in ways never pursued before or pursued without the level of commitment needed.

The state must retool and refocus its efforts when it comes to economic development, and create a solid plan for growing its economy. West Virginia has to be aggressive and proactive in its recruitment and retention efforts.

State government itself must get smarter when it comes to doing business. All government agencies that play a role in economic development must work together, as well as work with business and labor leaders to create a single, united strategy to promote West Virginia. These efforts must be guided by a strong leader - someone who understands the urgency of getting the economy back on track and West Virginians working again. Our gubernatorial nominee, Joe Manchin, has proven that he is the only candidate in the race who is such a leader.

West Virginia must be diligent and deliberate in the way it seeks out new businesses and industries, and it must be supportive of the state's existing businesses by finding ways to help them expand.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of the West Virginia economy. Unless our state invests more in the value that these businesses offer, the economy will continue to fall short of its potential. It's time that state government reach out to these businesses and provide them the support they need to sustain existing jobs, create new ones, and provide health insurance to all of their employees.

For many small businesses, the main reason for reduced profitability, layoffs, and downsizing is costly health insurance premiums. The Democratic Party supports incentives aimed at helping more of the state's small businesses offer health insurance to their employees and their families.

West Virginia must also create a strong entrepreneurial community - one that cultivates the state's budding entrepreneurs and small businesses, enabling them to achieve financial success. The Democratic team is committed to providing such services as educational outreach, technical and entrepreneurial assistance, as well as improving access to financial resources.

Each of West Virginia's seven regions offers something unique and valuable to diversify the state's economic base, and economic development efforts must reflect and market each of those strengthens. Marketing the state's strengthens will enable West Virginia to regain its ability to compete with other states without an over-reliance on financial incentives that are sometimes granted irresponsibly.

To ensure that all of West Virginia's economic development resources are spent and used effectively, the state will rely on a targeted approach to economic development. This means that, rather than trying to recruit and retain every business that might possibly show interest in locating in West Virginia, the state will instead pursue industries that make the most sense for West Virginia, that truly have a potential to locate or expand in the Mountain State and that produce the kind of good jobs with good benefits that West Virginia wants and needs.

The West Virginia Democratic Party also believes that the state's business climate needs revamping so that it's more appealing to business and industry that contemplate relocating or starting-up in West Virginia - and so that it's easier for the state's existing businesses to flourish without getting bogged down by regulatory and licensing obstacles. The Democratic Party supports modernizing and streamlining the state's tax structure, stabilizing and reforming the workers' compensation system, and putting an end to needless litigation that ultimately hinders job growth.

In today's economy, responsiveness counts. Businesses rely on government to provide them with valuable information and services. West Virginia must make it easier for businesses to obtain the resources they need.

Most of all, West Virginia's Democratic Party understands that economic prosperity is not possible without a skilled, educated workforce. West Virginians are the state's greatest asset. West Virginia must continue to push for and create opportunities that allow all citizens - especially our children - to aspire to greater educational achievements beyond the 12 th grade. The Democratic Party supports additional opportunities for financial assistance with higher education, and will work to encourage a greater level of coordination and integration of K-12 curriculums with those of higher education.

The state also must provide expanded opportunities for citizens and workers to seek out additional education and training, and ensure that the state's workforce programs match business and industry needs. West Virginia needs to move to a customer-driven approach to providing workforce training, and one that links all state and federally funded programs more seamlessly.

The state's economic future depends on the actions we take today. The West Virginia's Democratic Party understands this reality and is prepared to take on and successfully overcome these challenges.