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WVDP Condemn Governor Morrisey’s Good Friday Budget Cuts Targeting Veterans, Children, and Education
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Charleston, WV — The West Virginia Democratic Party strongly condemns Governor Patrick Morrisey for vetoing critical state funding on Good Friday, targeting vulnerable populations including children, veterans, foster care, and other essential education and community services.
Governor Morrisey announced 29 line-item vetoes, including cutting $800,000 from Court Appointed Special Advocates (Foster Care Services) $187,000 from the state Veterans Nursing Home, $200,000 earmarked for Safe Schools initiatives, $3 million allocated to the Ronald McDonald House in Morgantown, and $1.4 million intended for computer science education programs.
Delegate Anitra Hamilton (D-Monongalia), expressed deep disappointment with the timing and cruelty of these cuts, “On a day meant to reflect compassion and kindness, Governor Morrisey instead chose to cut support from those who need it most: children in foster care, families facing serious illnesses, veterans who have honorably served our country, and students who deserve safe and modern learning environments. This is not only unkind—it shows deeply misplaced priorities.”
West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin criticized the governor's financial choices, emphasizing the missed opportunity to protect essential services “Governor Morrisey could have mitigated these drastic cuts if he had instead eliminated some of the $22 million in HOPE Scholarship funds being spent on out-of-state schools and on extracurricular expenses like horseback riding, jiujitsu, and travel soccer. The Governor's actions reveal an administration more committed to ideological agendas than the real, everyday needs of West Virginians.”
The West Virginia Democratic Party calls upon Governor Morrisey to reconsider these harmful decisions and focus state resources on supporting vulnerable citizens and vital community programs.
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