West Virginia pins population growth hopes on income tax cut
CUNEYT DIL, Associated Press
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1of5FILE - This May 9, 2012, file photo, shows the Grandview State Park overlooking the New River Gorge National River in Grandview, W.Va. The state offers numerous trails for hiking and other spots with scenic views. With West Virginia poised to lose another congressional seat due to its long, steady population decline, Republican lawmakers are convinced a massive tax cut is the key to reversing the trend. (Kenny Kemp/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP, File)Kenny Kemp/APShow MoreShow Less
2of5FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice celebrates his reelection at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. While the United States doubled its population over the past seven decades, West Virginia headed in the other direction. With West Virginia poised to lose another congressional seat due to its long, steady population
2021/04/09 13:04 CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) With West Virginia about to lose another congressional seat because of steady population decline, Republican lawmakers are convinced a massive income tax cut is the key to reversing the trend. But figuring out how to do that without harming the state s most vulnerable or punching a massive hole in the budget has proven complicated. Although the United States doubled its population over the past seven decades, West Virginia headed in the other direction. Tracking closely with the long-term decline of the coal industry, it is the only state in the nation with fewer residents than in 1950. Figures from the 2020 U.S. census, expected to be released later this month, are projected to reduce West Virginia s seats in the U.S. House from three to two.
WV Legislative Photography
Senate Finance Chair Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, speaks during a Senate floor session on Feb. 26, 2021.
This story was originally published by Mountain State Spotlight. For more stories from Mountain State Spotlight, visit www.mountainstatespotlight.org.
Republican Gov. Jim Justice and some state lawmakers predict the elimination of the personal income tax would bring hundreds of thousands of new residents to the state.
There’s no guarantee of that, but their decisions regarding the tax, and its effect on the state budget, will absolutely affect West Virginians who already live here.
The House of Delegates has already passed their versions of a personal income tax phase-out (House Bill 3300) and a budget bill, House Bill 2022. The state Senate did the same on Wednesday night. The two bodies will have to agree on one version of the bill and get it signed by Gov. Jim Justice for it to become law.
Kenny Kemp/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP
This May 9, 2012, file photo shows the Grandview State Park overlooking the New River Gorge National River in Grandview, W.Va.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. With West Virginia about to lose another congressional seat because of steady population decline, Republican lawmakers are convinced a massive income tax cut is the key to reversing the trend. But figuring out how to do that without harming the state’s most vulnerable or punching a massive hole in the budget has proven complicated.
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