Archive for the ‘2014 WV Election’ Category

How did I do?

Thursday, January 1st, 2015

On New Year’s Day 2014 I wrote in my blog about the West Virginia political environment.   Today before I look forward I took a quick look back to see what I missed.

Never did I expect a campaign as messy and mean.   The campaign turned voters off and many Democrats were rethinking their loyalty.   Experience told me Democrats kick in the last 45 days of the campaign – that did not happen.  Democrat leaning special interest groups formed PAC’s to take up the slack.  One could hardly tell the political affiliation of any candidate.  Both Democrat and Republican candidates ran against Obama and everyone was for coal.

Not accounted for was the opportunity for Congresswoman Capito to pull GOP candidates into office when stronger Democrats passed up the U. S. Senate race.  That, plus the low turnout when Democrat Chairman Larry Puccio could not get Democrats to the polls.

In days gone bye you could expect Senator Manchin and Governor Tomblin to reached out to save enough incumbents to save control of the legislature but that did not happen.

On the first day of 2015 my thoughts are not nearly as clear as they were 365 days ago.  I do believe from a purely political standpoint all eyes will be on the coming 60 day session of the Legislature.  I do not know what to make of the coming session.  I expect the newcomers will be surprised at how law making really works and how much demand is placed on them.

With many new members not totally driven by politics…will they have their eyes on legislative accomplishments or the 2016 election?   Old hands will tell you accomplishments must come in 2015 as legislators want to avoid tough votes in an election year (2016).  But my view this new team will be different and want to make change…which they can turn into a new future for our State and votes in November, 2016.

Not to be overlooked is the incoming Senate President Bill Cole has all but announced his candidacy for Governor in 2016.  This will be in play as the Republican legislators begin their new challenge.   Others openly known to be considering entering the Republican primary for Governor are Congressman David McKinley and Attorney General Patrick Morrissey.   One saving grace is party members have not started to choose sides.

As this point I see no leadership among the Democrats in the legislature and certainly not their party.  My guess is they don’t know what to expect or to do.

How did I do?

Final Look

Monday, November 3rd, 2014

The 2014 election cycle is the first in which I have not been actively involved at some level in years.  What a mess it has been to observe and I am certain readers have seen the same.

There has been so much money with some of it questionable, too many untruthful ads and organizations formed to destroy candidates.  Loyalty was out the window and candidates recruited with the hope of increasing the governing numbers with little understanding of what it means to serve.

My fear is this election will end up discouraging not only voters but anyone just getting interested in government (politics) from even thinking about volunteering – let alone running for office in the future.

Another concern is the increase cost to run for office.  The observations above are driving the huge costs.  Previously the cost of running for the legislature or local office was minimal.  Now it’s not only costly, but mean.

Where did all this meanness come from?  Who started it and why?

I feel it is driven by a new culture of those leading political parties, campaign consultants and outside groups.  Tomorrow we will learn if money and meanness worked.

My final look did not see a campaign that revealed a new course for West Virginia.  It was all about power, control and coal.

After this election I would encourage my Republican and Democrat friends to work for a new culture in their party and join together to chart a new path for West Virginia’s future.

Where’s the money?

Friday, February 21st, 2014

“Where’s the money” is the question facing legislators as they enter the final stages of the 2014 legislative session.  It appears the only ideas for getting more money to balance the state budget is a tax on cigarettes or tapping into the rainy day fund.

Here some ideas that will never fly – in an already election year risk adverse Legislature – along with the strong challenge planned by Republicans to capture the House of Delegates.  But there is 2015 and someone should be looking at and researching the potential of these revenue producing opportunities as well as others.

Internet gaming could open up a world of opportunity.  Only three states (Nevada, Delaware & New Jersey) have legalized this option.  In a recent POLITICO article Keith Smith, who heads Boyd Gaming said, “… online gaming [is] an opportunity to be relevant to a new generation of customers, one that is already playing online.”  The piece noted that despite the murky legal status of online gambling, last year $6 billion of the estimated $15 billion worldwide market came from the United States.

A growing market is Advance Deposit Waging (ADW).  It is a form of betting on the outcome of horse races in which the bettor must fund their account before being allowed to place bets.  State governments receive a cut of ADW revenues.  It is not legalized in our state.

Generally, Advance Deposit Waging companies are licensed in Oregon and are known as “wagering hubs.”  These include well know names like Churchill Downs, The Racing Channel, Keeneland, TVG xpressbet.com and greyhounchannel.com.  Research would tell us how Oregon is taxing this activity.  States have long offered tax relief to attract businesses from other states.  What’s wrong with competing with Oregon for these ADW companies?

Nearby in Kentucky two tracks (Kentucky Downs and Ellis Park) have Instant Racing which are electronic pari-mutuel gaming machines, which rely on the outcome of previously run Thoroughbred races to generate winning numbers.  Kentucky Downs operates 390 machines that grossed $291.2 million in handle and averaged nearly $24.3 million per month in 2013, while Ellis Park’s 187 machines handled more than $27.7 million last year and averaged $2.3 million per month.

West Virginia already allows video lottery machines.  Maybe those thinking about the future should consider Off Track Betting.  Fans in localities where there are no race tracks could have access to simulcast racing across the country and included Instant Racing machines like in Kentucky.

Finally, let’s not forget the growing use of tablets and smartphones.  No doubt these will play an important role in future gaming experience.  These devices must be considered if state leaders decide to look at any of these concepts.

I am offering these ideas not as an advocate but with the hope those wondering “where’s  the money” will put some type of process in place to look for all opportunities – not just gaming – to avoid a certain tax increase for our citizens in 2015 if nothing is done.

Capito Hurt?

Thursday, December 6th, 2012

There has been a political development on the national stage that could impact Rep. Shelley Moore Capito’s announced plans to seek the U. S. Senate in 2014.  Only time will tell.

Today U. S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) well known for his recent efforts to recruit the most “right-wing” candidate possible for various Senate races was named to head the Heritage Foundation,  a conservative think tank based in Washington.  Some of the DeMint recruited candidates lost later to a Democrat.

The impact of this change could cut two ways as related to Capito.  First, he may not be so active in recruiting Senate candidates and spend more time on conservative policy, or he could even be in a stronger position to influence the selection of the “right candidate” in Senate races.

When Captio announced Senator DeMint was one of the first that panned her entrance into the race.  He told POLITICO “She would not be the conservative’s pick there.”  He was joined by conservative organizations like the Club for Growth in criticizing Captio as a potential nominee.

Will see!

Capito’s Plans

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

POLITICO carried a statement regarding the plans of Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito.  It makes interesting reading and speculation.