He wouldn't answer my questions about a mysterious $2 million for local economic development assistance during the September special session. The answers he did give soon appeared to be inaccurate. A day after I tried to amend the lineitem out of the bill, the Associated Press, the Senate and I heard with our own ears and saw a list with our own eyes where the money was earmarked. The House Finance chairman is now trying to wiggle out of an embarrassing situation.
What was clear as mud in the House was crystal clear in the Senate. A Legislature that didn't have the money to adequately fund Medicaid or decent pay raises and couldn't cut the food tax by more than 1 percent, could find a way to fund another building in Michael's small district and a dirt race track on the property of the majority party's sworn enemy.
My crime is that I ask questions, and when I don't like the answers I try to do something about it. My punishment is a continuous full scale attack by those who benefit from the status quo.
Although Michael has lost his recent battle with the courts to keep information about the Budget Digest process secret, he has promised to appeal. I would welcome an improved system.
Currently, I submit all requests and prioritize them. I have no vote on which of my Budget Digest project requests are funded. None of the delegates from the 44th House District have a vote on which Budget Digest projects are funded. These decisions are made months after we vote on a budget bill. This is not the best way for representative government to work.
I am concerned about the way the Budget Digest process operates, therefore every year I submit a Budget Digest request: Include the projects in the budget bill.
That way the entire Legislature could see what is being funded, and be held accountable for our actions. The chairman is accusing me of asking for money for my district. He didn't hesitate to fund my WVU Rifle Team request. I can only be grateful that occasionally the request is granted.
Michael's pleas of innocence regarding the $2 million LEDA that I attempted to eliminate from a supplemental appropriation bill are deafened by the facts. His district is not one of the fastest-growing areas of the state, yet receives an appallingly disproportionate amount of local economic development assistance and small cities block grants. No other district comes close. Anyone can search for the truth on the state auditor's Web site.