MORGANTOWN – In place of an in-person State of the State Address in front of a packed House of Delegates chamber, Gov. Jim Justice on Wednesday delivered an abbreviated five-page written address to the Senate and the House of Delegates.
Justice did this because of a positive COVID-19 test and symptoms requiring him to isolate at home under the care of doctors. He plans an in-person appearance at a later date.
“While I was surprised that my test results came back positive,” he said in his address, “I am thankful to the Lord above that I have been vaccinated, I have been boosted and I have an incredible support system, especially my loving family.”
In a health update Wednesday evening, his office said, “Gov. Justice continues to experience moderate symptoms which continue to make him feel unwell. His course of monoclonal antibody treatment was received well. … The Governor’s second confirmatory PCR test last night was positive. First Lady Cathy Justice is still negative. Gov. Justice’s office staff all tested negative today.”
It adds, “Babydog is showing no signs of illness and maintains her healthy appetite.”
The House clerk read the address aloud on the House floor during the afternoon floor session.
In an email including the address, Justice’s office said the written version “satisfies his constitutional requirement to give to the Legislature information by message of the condition of the state at the commencement of the legislative session.”
The email also says, “Per state archivists, today’s message marks the first time on record in modern state history that a governor has ever delivered his State of the State by written message.”
Justice notes that this is the fourth year in a row he’s presented a flat budget. He referred once again to the state’s “rocket ship ride,” revenue growth and solid employment numbers.
“People are more excited than ever to be in West Virginia,” he said. While the state lost 43,000 residents from 2010-2019, people are now coming in, with 2,000 arriving during 2020-2021.
Fiscal Year 2021 ended with a $413 million budget surplus, he said, and halfway through FY 2002 the surplus $475 million.
Justice thanked the Legislature for enabling the creation of the Economic Development Department and said 39 companies invested $1.1 billion last year, creating 1,330 new jobs and retaining 6,400 others. He noted this week’s announcements of Nucor steel, GreenPower electric buses and Owens & Minor medical supplies in Morgantown.
“These announcements are historic, but incredibly, they are just the beginning,” he said. “West Virginia is finally competing on the world stage and we are all witnessing the results firsthand.”
With inflation at 7% in December, Justice reminded legislators of his Inflatocine proposal – a one-time pay boost for state employees – and asked for their support.
Turning to COVID, Justice said he would be much worse if he hadn’t been vaccinated. “I know in my heart that the more we have vaccinated, the less will die.” But he maintains his opposition to mandates.
He mentioned his letter to President Biden and the CDC requesting to OK to administer second boosters, making West Virginia the first state to do that. “We will continue to be the light in the dark, until this pandemic is behind us once and for all.”
Justice listed a number of investment priorities: food banks, education, Communities in Schools, Roads to Prosperity, Jobs & Hope.
“I hope this provides a picture of all the incredible things we are achieving and continue to achieve,” he concluded.
But the state’s accomplishments can’t be captured in just a few pages, he said, and so he asks the legislative leaders to permit a joint session for him to deliver his full address after he recovers.
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