It almost looks like it’s too late to call on the world to not get us wrong.
After all, West Virginia’s seat of state government seems as if it cannot help but make national headlines these days, for all the wrong reasons.
Despite our state’s reputation for being a little rough around the edges — its roads, its one-horse economy, etc. — we take pride in our state Capitol, among other things.
Not only does it feature the highest state capitol dome in the nation, it’s filled with marble walls, a massive crystal chandelier and handsome legislative chambers.
Yet, during this legislative session any number of incidents have cast our state in a negative light due to the actions of those under that dome — public officials, who you would think know how to act in public.
Recent incidents in the state Capitol, include:
Delegate Mike Caputo, D-Marion, being censured for trying to kick in the House chamber door (possibly injuring a doorkeeper).
The House’s first female sergeant at arms resigning following accusations she made anti-Muslim comments.
An anti-Muslim display in the Capitol during a “Republicans Take the Rotunda” event.
Delegate Eric Porterfield, D-Mercer, comparing the LGBTQ community to the KKK and much more.
A return by teachers last month to the picket line and the Capitol as a result of what some say was “retaliation legislation” for a nine-day teachers’ walkout in 2018.
Delegate Patrick McGeehan, R-Hancock, being removed from the House Judiciary Committee for some murky reasons.
And unprecedented political maneuvering and debate way outside the bounds of anyone’s idea of propriety.
Seriously, who wouldn’t surmise that our house is not the only thing not in order. Even worse, it’s easy to see we have also become our own worst enemy.
Kicking in doors, Islamaphobia, homophobia and public employees walking off their jobs don’t sit well with most of the world and most of this state.
This session of the 84th Legislature will be remembered for a lot of things, but most will be things best forgotten.
It’s not like we don’t already have enough out-of-state detractors with another material to stereotype us as a lot of uneducated, unhealthy and unfortunate bumpkins.
But even though the world is not riveted to the goings-on in our state Legislature, when it repeatedly shoots itself in the foot it just compounds that poor image.
We’re uncertain of the cause(s) for this Legislature’s setbacks. Maybe it’s a crisis of leadership, spillover from Washington, D.C., or just politicians being politicians.
But whatever it is we hope legislators cut it out quick and get back to the job they were elected to do — govern our state.
Listen, this session ends Saturday, but it’s still not too late for our lawmakers to get it right.
