WEST VIRGINIA (WVDN) – The West Virginia Freedom Caucus supports efforts to reduce unnecessary spending in the state budget.
“West Virginia families are dealing with rising grocery prices, higher utility bills, and the continuing effects of inflation. Government should be tightening its belt just like the people we serve.” Stated WV Freedom Caucus Chair S. Chris Anders.
The members of the Freedom Caucus noted that Governor Patrick Morrisey, through the use of the line-item veto, has removed roughly $37.7 million in direct spending from the budget and prevented more than $100 million in surplus spending that had been added in the “back of the budget” from being spent.
“The Governor has stopped approximately $140–150 million in spending,” Anders summarized.
“That is a step in the right direction,” Anders added.
“However, the real issue is the broken process that created this spending in the first place,” Anders pointed out.
“Too often in Charleston, RINO leadership sneaks in massive spending items into the budget at the last minute with little debate and no transparency.” Anders revealed.
“These ‘back-of-the-budget’ appropriations are exactly the kind of government excess that taxpayers are tired of seeing,” Anders said.
“West Virginians are working harder than ever just to keep up with inflation, rising utility bills, and the cost of living,” Freedom Caucus member Laura Kimble said.
“Government should not be spending money it doesn’t need while families struggle to make ends meet,” Kimble added.
“Stopping over $100 million in unnecessary spending is a good start, but the real solution is to stop the back-room budgeting process that allows these spending sprees to happen in the first place.” Anders emphasized.
The West Virginia Freedom Caucus believes that if government collects more money than it truly needs, that money belongs back in the pockets of the taxpayers who earned it.
“We will continued to fight for The Freedom Caucus will continue fighting for an end to “back-of-the-budget” spending packages, transparent budgeting and open debate on spending, fiscal discipline, and returning surplus tax dollars to the people of West Virginia,” Anders said.
“West Virginians expect a government that respects their hard work and treats their tax dollars with the same care that families use when managing their own household budgets,” Kimble said.
