Morrisey: From 'punching bag' to contender, 'economic backyard brawl' ahead for WV

In his inaugural speech, Morrisey’s image of West Virginia contrasted with Jim Justice’s recent farewell address, when the now former governor highlighted the state’s economic progress.

While Justice said that Mountaineers had become “frogs who are proud of their own pond,” Morrisey said the Mountain State will no longer be the country’s “punching bag.”

“The D.C. elites, the news media, Hollywood, they all look down on us. They don’t think we can overcome our challenges. They don’t think we can succeed. They don’t want us to succeed,” Morrisey said. “They stand in our way. I have a message for them. We’re going to prove you wrong.”

Morrisey’s vision for what’s to come for West Virginia is an “economic backyard brawl” where the state comes out on top, leading in energy, business and education.

“This economic revival is more than just cutting taxes and red tape. It’s about unleashing the full potential of our people and engaging in spirited economic competition every day,” he said. “Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kentucky ... we’re coming for you.”

Gov. Morrisey, who just completed 12 years as West Virginia’s attorney general, said he’s tired of the Mountain State coming in last place in state rankings, and that it will take a lot of work to get to where he wants the state to be.

Part of this will be to keep teacher pay regionally competitive and expanding the Hope Scholarship. He also said he plans to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

He said of this initiative, “We’ll teach our kids civics and eliminate the woke virus from the schools. That means no more DEI. No more radical agendas. No more brainwashing. No more confusion about the differences between boys and girls. Under my administration, West Virginia schools will be for learning, not social experiments.”

Morrisey said his administration plans to:

• Modernize infrastructure
• Invest in broadband
• Partner with President-elect Donald Trump for energy initiatives
• Cut the state income tax lower than neighboring states
• Streamline government with a Department of Government Efficiency-like initiative
• Cut diversity, equity and inclusion programs
• Raise teacher pay to be competitive with neighboring states
• Expand the Hope Scholarship to “put more control in the hands of parents”
• “Fix” the state foster care system

What they said

State Democratic Party Chairman and Delegate Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, said he believes Morrisey’s political philosophy differs greatly from Justice’s.

“I think [Morrisey is] more of an ideologue — he is a true believer,” Pushkin said. “And so, you’re more likely to see a very aggressive conservative agenda.”

Morrisey takes the helm as West Virginia Republicans have secured one of the largest legislative supermajorities in the country, controlling 123 of 134 seats, as well as every one of the state’s boards of public works and congressional seats. Justice flipped a seat in the U.S. Senate after Manchin decided not to seek reelection, easily defeating a Manchin-endorsed Democrat.

State Republican Party Chairman Matt Herridge described West Virginia as the “most dominant Republican state in the nation” and a blueprint for the national party.

“What the people of West Virginia have given the Republican Party is a mandate, in my opinion, to continue to move forward conservative values: less government, more individual autonomy, less governmental autonomy,” he said.

He described Morrisey as a unifying force for a “new Republican Party,” with a more populist, working-class slant where there is room for differences of opinion, while adding that Justice also fits that mold.

Also sworn in Monday

Prior to Morrisey, West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Beth Walker swore in eight other officials Monday morning:

• Ryan White, judge of the state Intermediate Court of Appeals
• Charles Trump IV, justice of the Supreme Court
• Haley Bunn, justice of the Supreme Court
• Kris Warner, secretary of state
• Mark Hunt, auditor
• Larry Pack, treasurer
• Kent Leonhardt, commissioner of agriculture
• JB McCuskey, attorney general

Other inaugural events

The celebration continued with a parade once the speeches concluded. A concert, titled “Celebration of West Virginia,” was scheduled for Monday evening at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, featuring The Marshall Tucker Band and Shenandoah.

Fireworks were planned to take place outside the Coliseum and Convention Center, at the Elk River Atrium area.