The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Our Readers Speak

August 26, 2010

Our Readers Speak, Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010

Some delegates ignore current events

I have to say that here lately I have been pretty disappointed in our representatives both locally and on the national level.

I guess I am part of a large group that feels most of our representatives support “big government” and are not really interested in what the people think anymore.

Then I read the article about “Blocked funds for the Greenbrier Classic.” I was just disgusted with the remarks that Delegate Ray Canterbury, R-Greenbrier, had to say and I quote, “The state could possibly recoup that money ($1 million) with increased tax revenues.” Is this man out of his blooming mind? Does he have any idea what is going on here in West Virginia and in this country?  This man wanted to spend a million of taxpayers’ money on a golf tournament when most people in this state can’t afford to buy gas to go to work, utilities to keep their families warm and food to feed their children.

I have to admit though, Delegate Linda Sumner, R-Raleigh, seems to be paying a little more attention to current events. “I don’t know how you could justify spending a million dollars on advertising for a golf tournament. How do you justify using taxpayer money to advertise (the tournament) when you have so many other needs? I couldn’t justify it.”

I tip my hat to the Madam Delegate from Raleigh County.

I think it is time for the people of West Virginia to awaken from the deep slumber and oust the self-servers and bring in the people-servers in both local and national elections. If we don’t start paying attention to what our representatives are doing, there are going to be many more of us in the bread and cheese line.

Christopher Wilson

Daniels

 



Blocking funding a petty action by caucus

This is the first letter to your readers I have ever been motivated to write after many years of readership.

The position taken by the State Legislature Republicans Caucus to block funding for The Greenbrier Classic (approximately 1/25 of advertising cost) is the pettiest action taken by the West Virginia Legislature in a long time.

I have used state matching tourism grant funds to sell whitewater raft trips in West Virginia for many years. I always felt I returned many times the grant investment amount to taxpayers in area businesses and additional taxes, plus much needed employment.

I have watched the success of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System bring out of state money and job creation to one of the most remote and beautiful parts of the state. The tourism grant fund has helped make this system the best in the country.

Jim Justice is doing the promotion in Greenbrier County, but it certainly will and has proven already to have been a huge boost to the local (Raleigh County) economy and a great image of ‘class’ to West Virginia. Cheers to Jim Justice...boos to the Republican Caucus.

Thank goodness we have an honorable Governor in Joe Manchin.

Eddie Lilly

Shady Spring



 

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