CHARLESTON – The state capitol was washed in Kelly Green on Tuesday as Marshall University took over the capitol rotunda. At the same time, lawmakers continued to grapple with the governor’s proposed ten percent income tax reduction.
Delegate Scott Heckert, R-Wood, is among the legislators who are skeptical that the governor’s plan will survive the session. Gov. Morrisey included a five percent reduction to the personal income tax in his proposed budget and has challenged the legislature to come up with the other half. In a post on X over the weekend, the governor again urged lawmakers to work with his administration to come up with the additional savings.
As West Virginia enjoys another surplus, some politicians are “debating” whether to cut the state income tax.
This should not be a debate.
I’ve made the tough choices to be fiscally responsible— now it’s time to help everyday West Virginians.
A broad based cut in income…
— Patrick Morrisey (@MorriseyWV) February 2, 2026
The post came after an appearance last week in Parkersburg with Grover Norquist, the President of Americans for Tax Reform, touting the tax cut.
“First, we’ve got to have a full budget. First, we’ve got to see if we’re going to dig a hole with a shovel and try to fill it in with a soup spoon,” said Delegate Scott Heckert, Wood-R, during an appearance on Metronews Talkline.
Count Heckert among the lawmakers who remain skeptical that the governor’s plan will survive the session and question if now is the right time to make additional cuts.
“I’m not very confident it’s going to happen.”
Heckert emphasized the plan the legislature approved in 2023 to phase out the income tax. HB 2526 implemented a 21.25 percent cut to the personal income tax and outlined economic triggers for future cuts.
“We have a plan that the House and Senate agreed on a couple of years ago that hasn’t had a chance to fully develop,” Heckert said.
Heckert, who added he is not opposed to tax cuts, questioned the timing with areas that need to be addressed.
“We have all kinds of different needs, from teachers to doctors, to social workers; there is always an abundance of wants. I feel, and a lot of the rest of us feel, we should work on the needs versus the wants.”
As lawmakers continued to work through a list of bills and issues, they were also taking displays highlighting the growth of Marshall University. President Brad Smith had a simple message he wanted to convey to lawmakers.
“Marshall is an asset and a resource that we can do things that they want us to do to help solve the problems they’re trying to tackle,” Smith said on Metronews Talkline. “Whether it’s cybersecurity or it’s rural healthcare, or we have manufacturing and bringing those jobs back to the state, aviation, all those things are here. And Marshall is an asset they can call upon at any point to help strengthen our communities and better our state.”
Smith added that while many colleges and universities across the country are dealing with shrinking enrollment, Marshall is actually growing faster than the national average. Smith credited the growth to programs, such as Marshall for All, implemented by Marshall to reduce the cost of attendance, which Smith says is the most common barrier preventing students from attending college.
“We’re reducing that barrier, which is driving our enrollment. We’ve grown enrollment 22.5 percent since 2022, and this year we grew 7.5 percent. The nation grew 1percent in terms of enrollment. The other thing we do when we get them here is we make sure we’re teaching them 21st-century skills. So they have in-demand jobs,” Smith said.