The Decades of the Democrats

More than 15 Years of Progress led by the Democrats in the West Virginia Legislature

 Economy and Taxes

- No general tax increases in more than 15 years.

- Have continued to reduce state debt, more than $900 million in the past two years.

- Exemption of poorest West Virginians from state income taxes.

- Lowered corporate net income taxes to make state more competitive with neighbors.

- More than $300 million to bring water and sewer service to rural areas.

- Billions in highway construction. Matched all available federal dollars.

- Required that state employees must receive equal pay for equal work.

- Passed the WV Steel Act of 2001

- Created the Clean Coal Technology Council Act

- Created the Rainy Day Fund

- Guaranteed payment of tax returns in a timely manner.

- Shored up state pension programs

- Restructured the Workers Compensation Program

- Provided $43 million in flood aid.

- Established an insurance fraud unit.

- Claimed the states waters for state residents.

- Exempted state and federal contract high technology companies from the sales and use tax.

- Reduced the tax on food by 1 cent - a 16.6% reduction.

- Reduced the physician provider tax.

- Passed tort reform to cut down on lawsuit abuse.

- Passed legislation to allow local government to consolidate services if approved by voters.

- Passed legislation to prevent the Parkways Authority from issuing bonds or raising the tolls without the approval of the Legislature.

- Raised the minimum wage for workers covered by state law. Encouraged the US Congress to pass hike for all workers.

Education

- Passed the Safe Schools Act. Automated student suspension and expulsion data. Provides juvenile justice records to public school officials.

- Increased teacher and school service personnel salaries.

- First in the nation in technology access and use in schools. More than $150 million invested.

- Invested more than $1.7 billion in the school building authority. Constructed 97 new schools, 64 major renovations, 1200 smaller projects

- Established the Promise Scholarship Program and have fully funded it

- Established the Pre-Paid College Tuition Program

- Created the Jobs Through Education Program

- Established the Higher Education Grant and HEAPS part time Grant Funding

- More than $170,000,000 in new money for higher education since 1995.

- 4th and 8th graders have shown steady progress on NAEP since 1996. 68% of 4th graders and 62% of 8th graders scored at or above basic, compared to 52% and 47% in 1992. Scored above the national and south east average in Science.

- Created a Character Education Program for schools.

- Established Education Performance Audits.

- Established the National Institute for Teaching Excellence.

Health Care

- Passed a comprehensive Patients Bill of Rights.

- Passed law that insurance companies cannot deny coverage for emergency room visits that prove non-life threatening.

- Provide assistance to victims of domestic violence by requiring perpetrator to cover care costs.

- Requires each newborn to be tested for hearing.

- Established and expanded the Childrens Health Care Program.

- Created a rural health care clinic system.

- Required insurance companies to cover mammograms and pap smears.

- Extended Medicaid benefits to uninsured women with breast or cervical cancer

- Saved PEIA from collapse and paid backlog of claims.

- Guaranteed state physicians insurance coverage.

- Passed the smokeless tobacco tax

- Passed legislation to lower prescription drug prices by developing a pricing schedule. Also establishes a low-income clearing house for free drugs and creates a discount card.

- Small businesses with fewer than 50 workers can purchase insurance through a pool from private insurers.

- Passed medical malpractice tort reform to keep doctors in West Virginia.

- Created Healthy Start to put Physical Education and healthy snacks in schools.

- Developed a low cost pre-paid health care program and discounted basic health insurance plans.

- Passed legislation that parents must be informed before their under-age daughter receives an abortion.

Seniors and Families

- Provided a stable source of funding for senior citizen centers, transportation and meals programs.

- Passed legislation to allow grandparents the right to see their grandchildren in cases of divorce or separation.

- Passed Homestead Exemption tax cut.

- Passed legislation to allow individuals to make decision about health care.

- COLAs for retired teachers and public employees.

- Established the Affordable Housing Trust Fund

- Established Childrens Visitation and Monitoring and Exchange Centers.

- Passed all-terrain vehicle safety regulations.

- Passed eminent domain law that limits government authority to take property for private development.

- Passed law to define marriage as between a man and a woman only.

- Passed sweeping mine safety laws.

Crime

- Passed comprehensive domestic violence legislation.

- Toughened juvenile crime laws.

- Established uniform sentencing guidelines

- Increased funding for state police salaries, personnel and equipment.

- Provided funding to build six new prisons.

- Increased correctional officer salaries.

- Established a sex offender registry and increased penalties for stalking and harassment.

- Created a criminal offense of soliciting a minor via computer.

- Passed comprehensive ethics reform for public employees.

- Reduced methamphetamine labs by restricting access to chemicals used in production.

- Passed the Child Protection Act of 2006 which greatly increased penalties for sexual predators.

- Reduced the legal limit for blood alcohol from .10 to .08 to keep drunk drivers off the road.