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Manchin: Democrats will maintain majority
[Oct-5-2006]
Manchin: Democrats will maintain majority By Bill Byrd Times West Virginian MORGANTOWN— Gov. Joe Manchin said he doesn’t see Republicans gaining a majority in the state Senate or House of Delegates in the Nov. 7 general election. “I do not see that happening, I really don’t,” he said. “There might be some changes (in individual contests) because of demographics and an awful lot of money being spent in some races,” he said Thursday. The Democrats have 68 seats in the House while the GOP has 32. The Senate has 21 Democrats and 13 Republicans. The entire House stands for election every two years, while half the Senate seats are at stake. Don Blankenship, the Massey Energy coal president, has revived his “For the Sake of the Kids” campaign. Blankenship pledged this summer to spend “whatever it takes” on behalf of GOP candidates to win control of at least one of the chambers. Manchin’s comments followed an appearance before college-age voters in the ballroom of the Mountainlair on the West Virginia University campus. The event was part of a statewide campaign by Manchin to boost Democratic candidates. He will speak at 11 a.m. today in Philippi’s Blue/Gray Park and at 5:30 p.m. at the Tucker County Courthouse. The governor is stressing his program to get the state’s finances in order while it enjoys increased revenues from a coal boom. Candidates who want to eliminate the state’s food sales tax, cut its gasoline tax and reduce property and personal taxes without offering plans to balance the state’s budget and meet its long-term debt obligations are “irresponsible,” he told the crowd of about 125. “Responsibility doesn’t lie on the shoulders of the minority party,” he said referring to the GOP’s long-standing minority status in the Legislature. The Democratic majority supports his program to gradually cut the state food sales tax, reform and privatize the Workers’ Compensation program, and apply tax surpluses to paying down the state’s multi-billion actuarial deficits in its pension programs for teachers, State Police and judges, he said. Democrats know how to lead, Manchin said. “Do we make mistakes? Absolutely. Will we make mistakes in the future? Absolutely. We’re human. One thing about the Democratic Party, if we make a mistake, we’ll fix it,” he said. “We’ve admitted our mistakes, we’ve fixed them and we’ve moved on. “That’s the difference in leadership. I have people going around now, saying ‘Take all the taxes off.’ It’s irresponsible, truly irresponsible.” Appearing with the governor were four Democrats running in the 44th House District race. They are: Delegates Charlene Marshall and Bob Beach; former Delegate Barbara Evans Fleischauer, who wants to return to the House; and newcomer Alex Shook, a lawyer and former WVU football player. Also making brief remarks were retired Morgantown Police Capt. Jim Nabors, who is running for magistrate in Monongalia County, and state Senate candidate A. Craig Rotruck. Rotruck is running in the 14th Senatorial District. Fleischauer, a lawyer who previously served five terms in the House, slashed at candidates whose campaigns are based on negative attacks. “I am sick and tired of people focusing on narrow issues and not talking about the future ... people who are lining their pockets and making these narrow, obscure arguments to incite people,” she said. “We want to make West Virginia a better place ... for our kids, for our students, for people who are working and people who are retired. “The way this country is going is that fewer and fewer people have health care, fewer and fewer people are going to have pensions,” she said. “These attacks are being funded by the same people who are not wanting to pay minimum wages, who are cutting out their retirees, and that is simply wrong,” she said. Lotta Near, the longtime aide to U.S. Rep. Alan B. Mollohan, gave a spirited presentation for her boss. Mollohan, who is seeking his 13th term in the House, has been targeted by the national GOP and out-of-state conservative groups since this spring. Mollohan has since released a detailed report about his and his wife’s real estate business, emphasizing he has nothing to hide. As for criticism of nonprofit groups he has helped to start, Mollohan has said he is proud of helping to diversify the region’s economy. He has directed millions in start-up funding with federal earmarks to the groups. The groups have attracted high-tech, aviation and aerospace firms to the 20-county congressional district. They also are working to preserve historic buildings, community development and protecting the environment, he argues. Near said most elections are about issues, like health care, education, and economic and community development. “But in this election, out-of-state political operatives have staged a vicious campaign ... (of robo-) phone calls, television ads. These ads are full of lies and innuendoes,” she said. “The Democrats have a unique opportunity this election year,” she said. If Democrats win the House and Senate, Mollohan and U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd will chair the Appropriations Committees in both chambers, she said. “I hope all of you get all your friends, neighbors, relatives — everybody you know — out to vote.” State Sen. Jon Blair Hunter, D-Monongalia, was the emcee. Hunter said Mollohan and Byrd have directed “millions of dollars that have gone into projects in each one of my counties and have created hundreds and hundreds of jobs.” “If that’s called just helping your friends, we need more of it,” Hunter said. E-mail Bill Byrd at bbyrd@timeswv.com. Copyright © 1999-2006 cnhi, inc.
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