Washington, D.C. – The Club for Growth Foundation published its 2024 West Virginia State Economic Scorecard, offering Mountain State residents insights into each legislator’s voting record on key economic policies.
The Scorecard analyzes policies and votes to assign an Economic Growth Score from 0 to 100, with 100 representing the highest support for pro-growth policies. In 2024, the Foundation reviewed over 1,800 floor votes, scoring 17 West Virginia House and 16 West Virginia Senate votes.
“Despite holding overwhelming majorities in both chambers, Republican legislators in West Virginia failed to lead on conservative economic policy,” said Club for Growth Foundation President David McIntosh. “While passing legislation to lower income tax rates and implementing requirements to receive unemployment benefits are improvements, the legislature’s decision to embrace bloated budgets, expand entitlement programs, and raid the Rainy-Day Fund will stifle economic growth for generations to come. West Virginians deserve better – lawmakers in Charleston must refocus their legislative priorities.”
Click here to read the full 2024 West Virginia State Economic Scorecard from the Club for Growth Foundation.
Key Highlights from the 2024 West Virginia Scorecard:
West Virginia Senate:
- Average Republican Score: 21%
- Average Democrat Score: 14%
- Highest Rated Republican(s): Sen. Mike Azinger (SD-3), Sen Rupie Phillips (SD-7): 29%
- Highest Rated Democrat(s): Sen. Robert Plymale (SD-5): 21%
- Lowest Rates Republican(s): Sen. Glenn Jeffries (SD-8): 14%
- Lowest Rated Democrat(s): Sen. Mike Woelfel (SD-5): 9%
West Virginia House:
- Average Republican Score: 33%
- Average Democratic Score: 23%
- Highest Rated Republican(s): Rep. Henry Dillon (HD-29): 95%
- Highest Rated Democrats(s): Rep. Hollis Lewis (HD-57): 34%
- Lowest Rated Republican(s): Rep. Jarred Cannon (HD-21): 9%
- Lowest Rated Democrats(s): Rep. Larry Rowe (HD-52): 11%
Notable Pro-Growth Legislation:
HB 5159 – YOUTH EMPLOYMENT REFORMS
- Removes the need for 14 and 15-year-olds to receive youth work permits and instead requires an age certificate.
- Removes the requirement that school superintendents must sign off on age certificates and grants that responsibility to the teenager’s parents or guardians.
SB 2033 – SIGNIFICANT INCOME TAX REDUCTION
- Reduces income taxes for all West Virginians by 2% beginning in 2025, with a new lowered top rate of 4.82%
- Amends the formula-based trigger for future tax reductions by changing the effective date from the beginning of the following taxable year to the second taxable year after the determination.
- $46 million in estimated reduced taxes for West Virginians beginning in FY2026.
SB 841 – MILQUETOAST UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE REFORMS
- Updates the policies to the state’s unemployment insurance program by requiring all recipients to make four work search activities per week to receive benefits and caps the maximum payment at $662 per week.
Notable Anti-Growth Legislation:
HB 4933 – TARGETED MEDICAID EXPANSION
- Expands taxpayer spending on Medicaid by converting Medicaid dental coverage from emergency care to comprehensive dental care.
- This expansion will cover up to $2,000 in dental services for enrollees on a two-year basis.
SB 200 – CYNICAL BUDGET AGREEMENT
- Spends $4.99 billion for the FY2025 fiscal year (2.5% increase compared to FY2024).
- A meritless 5% pay raise for state employees.
- Provides millions in new corporate welfare grants.
- Gives over $400 million taken from “free” COVID-federal money for education initiatives.
SB 101 – RAIDING THE RAINY DAY FUND
- Raids the state’s rainy day fund to cover subsidies for higher education.
- Takes $83 million from the Public Employee Insurance Agency to the General Fund for the Higher Education Grant Program, College Access Grant Program, and direct subsidies for university operations.
Note: This Scorecard is based on selected votes and does not reflect a legislator’s entire voting record. The Club for Growth Foundation does not endorse or oppose any legislator for public office.