“Pay-Cut Patrick” Just Kicked the Can Down the Road: WVDP Slams Morrisey for PEIA Premium Hikes

Jun

2025

PRESS RELEASE

“Pay-Cut Patrick” Just Kicked the Can Down the Road: WVDP Slams Morrisey for PEIA Premium Hikes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 5, 2025

CHARLESTON, WV – As state employees across West Virginia open their paychecks this week many are noticing something deeply troubling — their take-home pay is about to shrink, thanks to a sharp increase in Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) premiums that were voted on last year. The West Virginia Democratic Party is calling out Governor Patrick Morrisey for failing to act and for allowing these devastating increases to hit thousands of workers and retirees.

“Pay-Cut Patrick failed to take action to stabilize PEIA premiums,” said West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin. “So now, state employees, including law enforcement officers, school teachers, school service personnel, CPS workers, and retirees will soon be paying a price for his inaction. Morrisey had a choice — he could have fought to protect working West Virginians. Instead, he did what he always does: protect his political donors and let working families bear the burden.”

Delegate Kayla Young (D-Kanawha) echoed the concern, emphasizing the long-term impact of Morrisey’s failure. “West Virginia already ranks near the bottom nationally when it comes to teacher pay,” said Young. “These premium hikes are just another blow to educators who are already stretched thin. It’s going to make it even harder to recruit and retain good teachers in our classrooms. And let’s not forget our retirees. Many of them live on fixed incomes, and these higher premiums — combined with continued inflation and high grocery prices — are going to hit them hard.”

Governor Morrisey’s failure to act has left public employees shouldering the consequences of a system in crisis. Instead of working with legislators, unions, and the PEIA Finance Board to create a sustainable path forward, Morrisey ignored the issue — and now thousands are paying the price.

“Instead of confronting the problem head-on, Morrisey kicked the can down the road — just like he did with the state’s opioid crisis when he was rewarding his former Big Pharma clients when he was Attorney General,” added Pushkin. “He’s proven time and again that he’ll never put West Virginia workers first.”

###