W.Va. Legislature Poised to Raise Beer Tax to Fund Substance Abuse Programs

Republican Delegate Bill Hamilton introduced legislation today that would raise taxes on alcohol to fund substance abuse treatment and prevention.

“We will be looking at wine and liquor, but you can’t put them all in the same bill because they’re different parts of the state code,” Hamilton said.

The latest bill would increase taxes by four cents per bottle or can. The other beer tax bill, reintroduced Feb. 1 from last year’s session, would add a penny to the price of each bottle.

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In a story that ran yesterday in the Logan Banner, Democratic Congressman Nick Rahall sang the praises of Massey Energy and it’s public relations effort in support of the coal industry.
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GOP, NRCC Prepare for Fight to Defeat Mollohan

From the Wheeling Intelligencer

WHEELING – Officials at the National Republican Congressional Committee believe a potentially contentious Democratic primary election in West Virginia’s 1st District congressional race could benefit a future Republican nominee.
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Guest Commentary: Spike Maynard’s Candidacy: West Virginia Has Come of Age

By Stephen Reed (Cross-posted from HuntingtonNews.Net)

Time was when a Democratic Congressman from West Virginia was locked in for life after one election. After getting elected through the pre-existing Democratic Party Machine, the franking privilege could kick in, telling constituents back home on a regular basis how their representative was “standing up for West Virginia, ” etc.
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National Review Online: Obama Puts Coal Country in Play

The National Review Online writes how President Obama’s policies have put West Virginia’s coal fields in play for Republicans. The post cites a story from Tom Nelson in the New York Times and a story from Rob Cornelius in the State Journal.
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Open Thread – Friday Front Porch – 02/05/2010

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Global Warming Causes Snow Storms, Cold Weather?

You seriously cannot make this stuff up. According to the greeniac website Greener Working the recent string of snowstorms has been caused by none other than global warming.
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Is Rahall Passing on Legislation to Reign in the EPA?

Two powerful Democrats who chair committees in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced legislation on Tuesday that will reign in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority to regulate and propose new rules dealing with green house gases.
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Youth, Strength, and Idealism.

In his 1981 commencement address at Notre Dame, President Ronald Reagan said, “We need you, we need your youth, your strength, and your idealism, to help us make right what is wrong.”
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Warner’s Legal Issues Could Spell Trouble for Campaign

The legal troubles of Mac Warner and the company that he and his brothers run could spell trouble for the candidate and his campaign for the Republican nomination in West Virginia’s First Congressional District.
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Political Cash – WV01, WV02, WV03, State Parties

The end of last year marked the deadline for political parties and the candidates who began fundraising last year to report their totals.

A report on fundraising numbers from the congressional races and the political parties can be found below. The current candidates who were not officially candidates by 12/31/2009 would not be included in this round of reporting.
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The Race in West Virginia’s Third Congressional District

The good folks in the Third Congressional District received probably the best news they have received in a long time with the announcement on Monday that former judge Elliott “Spike” Maynard is running for Congress.
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Candidate Forum for First Congressional District

The North Central West Virginia Tea Party group is hosting a candidate forum for West Virginia’s First Congressional District candidates this Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 2 p.m. at the Light of Life World Outreach Center church located at 600 The Drive in Fairmont. More information can be found here.

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Spike Maynard for Congress

Former Democrat Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia Judge Elliott “Spike” Maynard will announce on Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval this morning that he has switched his registration to the Republican Party and will be running against Congressman Nick Rahall in West Virginia’s Third Congressional District.

To listen online or locate the nearest Talkline affiliate, click here.
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State Senator Announces Primary Challenge to Mollohan

State Senator Mike Oliverio will officially announce his candidacy for West Virginia’s 1st District congressional seat at the Bureau of Public Debt in Parkersburg today at 10 a.m. This confirms what West Virginia Red first reported on Friday.
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