Why WV has an infinitesimal GOP

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Republicans in the House of Delegates hope to persuade fellow legislators to abolish West Virginia’s business franchise and grocery taxes and allow for the nonpartisan election of judges.

The items are among two-dozen in an agenda that House GOP members unveiled Monday. The 60-day regular session begins Wednesday.

Other goals include requiring a two-thirds majority to pass any future tax hikes, and a law to limit government growth to the rate of inflation.

Those items may require a constitutional amendment. Another proposed amendment would ban same-sex marriages.

West Virginia has been reducing the food tax and the franchise tax, which is based on a business’ net equity.

Republicans hold 23 of 100 seats in the House.

Oh how I wish this state had a viable second party. If this is the best the state Republican Party can dish out, no wonder it has as much chance of being influential as I do winning Miss America.

What should Republicans work on? How about the conservative/libertarian mantra of smaller government? Of fiscal responsibility?

Why not hit the Democrats on public school education by going for school choice and teacher (and administrator) accountability?

Yeah, yeah, take the sales tax off food, but get rid of the (Narf!) personal property taxes on cars and dogs. Give us something we can be excited about. Really, who in West Virginia even knows there's such a thing as a corporate franchise tax, and if they know about it, how many can accurately explain it?

Why isn't the party hitting Manchin with some low blows on his daughter's MBA? Why is it giving everyone involved in this a free pass? That's what big-time politics is, right? Scandals, quotes out of context and low blows?

West Virginia needs a viable second party. As long as the Republicans talk more about franchise taxes and nonpartisan election of judges than things people actually care about, they have forfeited the right to claim to be a viable second party.