Issues That Matter to Everyone in West Virginia

As of this month, West Virginia has accumulated a tax revenue surplus of more than $108 million. We’ve seen continued tax revenue growth in the first half of the 2026 fiscal year with employment growth of almost 3% since 2022 in Berkeley County alone, thanks to the expansion in manufacturing. We have a profitable tax base with even more potential in the future, so it is time to provide some relief to the taxpayers of West Virginia. 

I support Governor Morrisey’s proposal to cut personal income taxes for our families by 10% this session, along with the Governor’s plan to reduce and even possibly ELIMINATE personal income tax ENTIRELY in our lifetimes.    

As the wife of a career firefighter, I understand and care deeply about the issues affecting first responders living in the eastern panhandle.  We are honored to have many first responders who live here, whether they work in the WV panhandle or travel to work in surrounding areas. These are the people who keep both our community, as well as the surrounding communities, safe for all of us. Our region has seen tremendous growth in residency in recent years with regard to public safety employees from surrounding areas. 

We will most likely see massive tax increases in the years to come in neighboring states, which could push many families to finally decide to look for a new home elsewhere. Many of them will most likely choose to move to the eastern panhandle. While we will be honored to welcome even more first responders as new residents in our area in the future, we need to ensure a favorable tax and economic climate to retain them as long term residents. Most state employees do not receive competitive wages based upon the locations in which they serve. 

I strongly support locality pay for our state employees, which includes teachers, first responders and law enforcement. This will enable them to have a competitive wage in our state. 

Support School Choice:

One of America’s most important founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, was homeschooled and well known as an insatiable reader who was mostly self-taught.  There are many variables regarding how the human brain absorbs and processes new information. The current education system does not allow for a variety of learning methods. Homeschoolers are afforded many opportunities to learn in a host of ever-evolving methods. Parents should be afforded the opportunity to find and utilize the best ways to provide a well-rounded education for their children. I have met so many moms over the years who wish that they could provide such opportunities for their children.  However, for various reasons, they could not take advantage of homeschooling as an option for their children. This is why I support the HOPE Scholarship, which provides for those of us (who still pay taxes to our county school systems) the opportunity to use our own tax money to support our own decisions in schooling our own children.  

Support Our Teachers:

West Virginia is facing a teacher shortage, which, in large part, has to do with strict regulatory requirements on certification and professional development.  Further, teachers do not currently receive competitive wages.

I support relief from overly burdensome regulatory requirements on teachers and locality pay for all state teachers.

Support Medical Competition

Recently, we have seen things change regarding hospitals and doctors that are able to care for patients.  West Virginia has seen a steady decline in private clinics willing to open doors in our state, due to the huge financial burden of applying to operate here.  The application costs are thousands to tens of thousands.  Furthermore, the fees are non-refundable.  Smaller clinics cannot afford to even apply.  If they were to apply, the chances of them being approved are slim to none, since the medical conglomerates who have taken over many smaller operations are the very decision makers.  I support reform in the West Virginia Health Care Authority to allow for more options and quality health care in our state.   

Reduce Patient Wait Time

West Virginia is facing a growing healthcare access crisis driven by severe provider shortages, excessive wait times, and restrictive systems that prevent qualified professionals from caring for patients. In many areas of our state, healthcare is no longer merely limited, it is functionally inaccessible.

If we want better outcomes, shorter wait times, and healthier communities, we must build a system that prioritizes patient access over institutional control. West Virginians deserve timely care, real choice, and a healthcare system that works—especially in a state where the need has never been greater.

Support Alternative Medicine Options

Not unlike western medicine, holistic medicine is also necessary for many patients. Holistic treatment options have helped countless patients recover from a multitude of medical conditions, diseases and illnesses.  West Virginians deserve these types of alternative treatment options in our state. However, opening holistic and functional medicine practices in West Virginia is challenging due to strict state-specific corporate licensing and liability regulations. For so many reasons, West Virginia should support holistic and functional medicine practices and afford these types of medicine to be part of our ever-growing community.   

Our state representatives have a responsibility to address the concerns of our residents.

While data centers could help us to accomplish the goal of reducing taxes on the residents, they need to be implemented with careful consideration of the environmental impacts that affect our local community.

There is a win-win opportunity if we put the proper protections in place.