State grant dollars that have traditionally flowed to West Virginia communities with little controversy – along with at least one specific budget line item – appear to be stalled in Charleston, not over merit, but over politics.
At the center of the dispute, according to House Finance Chair Vernon Criss, is Governor Patrick Morrisey.
“This all began when the Governor tried to derail funding for a ‘Jeep park’ in Wood County,” Criss said. “He assumed the project was in my district, but it’s actually in Delegate Bill Anderson’s.”
The project involves Mountwood Park, located about 12 miles east of Parkersburg. While ATV trails already exist there, the proposed funds – part of the budget passed this legislative session – would be used to widen the trails for Jeep use. “Jeeping,” an increasingly popular outdoor activity, has been discussed by lawmakers as a potential economic development tool.
Governor Morrisey issued a line-item veto to remove $300,000 allocated for the project, one of several vetoes he exercised across a range of budget items. Criss sees the move as political retribution – albeit misdirected – stemming from his public disagreement with the Governor’s assertion that the state faced a $400 million budget gap. Criss continues to reject that assessment.
LEDA (Legislative Economic Development Assistance) grants have also come under the Governor’s scrutiny, Criss said. These grants usually pass through the Governor’s office as a formality. Criss described the process as a long-standing tradition: a delegate submits a request to the Finance Chair, who reviews the paperwork and project merit. If approved, the request proceeds to House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, and then to the Governor’s office.
“Neither Governor Tomblin nor Governor Justice ever withheld these funds, let alone questioned the judgment of the Finance Chair or the Speaker,” Criss noted.
Delegate Scot Heckert of Wood County, one of Governor Morrisey’s most outspoken critics, claims that grant requests from his district have been rejected unless he publicly walks back his opposition.
“Either I fall in line with the Governor’s agenda, or my constituents don’t get the funds,” Heckert said. “That came straight from his staff. I was even told to apologize, say the Governor is innocent, and that I’m the problem.”
Heckert said his requests are the only ones the Governor is now holding.
In response, Criss said he is suspending the processing of all LEDA requests until Heckert’s are honored. Speaker Hanshaw, he added, supports the move.
Ann Ali, House Director of Communications and Deputy Chief of Staff, speaking on behalf of Speaker Hanshaw, said the Governor is within his authority to hold the funds.
“This is the process the legislature agreed to. He [Governor Morrisey] is exercising the privilege the legislature afforded him,” she said. “The legislature agreed the Governor would cut the checks.”
Ali also noted that the LEDA program is intended to be “hyper-focused” on local needs, often involving smaller sums than typically allocated in the standard appropriations process.
A spokesman for Governor Morrisey provided a statement via email.
“Governor Morrisey has a multitude of funding requests in front of him and will always consider items that he believes will benefit West Virginians. He is carefully reviewing these requests and the many needs of the citizens of our state.”
LEDA funds that remain undistributed are still available and may be used at a later time. However, they cannot be reallocated for purposes outside of LEDA projects.
Heckert said the following grants are on hold in his district:
Blennerhassett Middle School Wrestling and Track Program
$5,000 Purchase Equipment
Discovery World Campaign
$3,000 Renovate Historic Theatre
North Star Advocacy Center
$5,000 Security upgrade of exterior and interior cameras and electric door locks
Parkersburg South Wrestling Program
$2,500 Purchase equipment
The Arc of the Mid-Ohio Valley
$2,500 Purchase technology equipment
Tri C Football and Cheerleading
$3,000 Purchase uniforms and equipment
What Does It All Mean?
Political infighting isn’t new – especially in West Virginia, where the fiercest battles these days seem to be among Republicans themselves.
Criss and Heckert have publicly criticized Governor Morrisey. That’s politics. Morrisey, in turn, has criticized them and others – including Senator Justice. Again, that’s politics.
But when everyday West Virginians are caught in the crossfire and local project funds are held up for political reasons, that crosses a line. Heckert’s constituents are Morrisey’s constituents too. Why should they suffer? They shouldn’t.
If the Governor is indeed scrutinizing or withholding LEDA funds based on political allegiance, that’s a breach of agreed-upon tradition and legislative authority. The legislature controls the purse strings. These funds were appropriated by lawmakers, and their distribution should remain in legislative hands. As Ali noted, LEDA dollars are meant to focus on local needs and are relatively small dollars. That’s an important distinction indicative of who should make decisions on these funds and who should not.
The Governor – any governor – should not have a say or the ability to hold those dollars for any reason. It may be time for lawmakers to formally remove the Governor’s office from this process altogether.
Meanwhile, if the dollars are indeed held up on Morrisey’s orders, he should release them without further delay.