From The Well

At the center of the West Virginia state capitol is an area known as “The Well.” It is the informal gathering place for lobbyists, reporters, constituents and lawmakers. Centrally located between the chambers of the House of Delegates and Senate, The Well is often where information is shared, alliances are formed and deals are made.

Black Women Legislators Are Rare in Statehouses. This Could Be the Solution.

Brian Skinner September 29, 2020 State Government

Route Fifty — By Barbara Rodriguez — September 28, 2020 In late May, Mona Das watched as protests unfolded in Minneapolis over the killing of George Floyd. A senator in Washington state, Das felt like she needed to do something to address the systemic racism that had created conditions for a white police officer to kneel onto the …Read More

Mothers Are 3 Times More Likely Than Fathers to Have Lost Jobs in Pandemic

Brian Skinner Demographics, Government & Policy

STATELINE ARTICLE — By: Tim Henderson — September 28, 2020 Mothers of small children have lost work at three times the rate of fathers in the pandemic, a situation that threatens not only progress toward gender equity but middle-class income gains that have become increasingly dependent on working women. Mothers of children 12 years old and younger …Read More

Should West Virginia Employ an Antigen Testing Strategy that Prioritizes Infectiousness Over Infections?

Brian Skinner September 24, 2020 COVID-19, Economy

By Brian Skinner, Esq. Earlier this week, global airlines called for pre-departure Covid-19 testing for all international passengers to replace the quarantines that they blame for exacerbating the decline in air travel. International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General Alexandre de Juniac said during an online media briefing, rapid and affordable antigen tests that …Read More

In Slumping Energy States, Plugging Abandoned Wells Could Provide an Economic Boost

Brian Skinner September 23, 2020 Budget, COVID-19, Energy & enviroment

STATELINE ARTICLE- By: Erika Bolstad – September 23, 2020 WATFORD CITY, N.D. — It’s rare for Tom Brooks to say no to work. Which is why, in the middle of a pandemic and a worldwide slump in oil prices, Brooks mustered up a crew to plug a 42-year-old oil well for the state of North …Read More

US House vote delay likely won’t derail marijuana reform momentum

Brian Skinner September 22, 2020 Marijuana policy

Marijuana Business Daily — By Jeff Smith — September 21, 2020 The postponement of a U.S. House vote until after the November election to remove marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act is a disappointment to many in the industry, but it changes little in terms of the momentum of reform. That is, as long as the House …Read More

It’s Time for WV to Eliminate Prior Authorization for Substance Use Disorder Services and Medications

Brian Skinner Government & Policy, Medication-Assisted Treatment, Opioid Drug Crisis

By Brian Skinner, Esq. As the opioid-related overdose epidemic continues to escalate in West Virginia and the nation, timely access to Food & Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications for the treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) is more important than ever. Evidence shows that medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for OUD saves lives and helps people maintain …Read More

A New Alliance Will Advance Efforts to Remake & Revitalize the American Economy

Brian Skinner September 18, 2020 Climate change, State Fiscal & Economic Policy

By Brian Skinner, Esq. I learned some exciting news today. The American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC), the nation’s foremost business advocate for an environmentally safe and equitable economy announced a strategic alliance with Social Venture Circle (SVC), the country’s foremost social impact networking organization. The new partnership will create the United …Read More

State is ready to announce the first medical marijuana farms

Brian Skinner Medical Cannabis

WV MetroNews — By Chris Lawrence — September 17, 2020 CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The first permits for growing medical marijuana will soon be issued in West Virginia. “We hope to issue grower permits within the next week,” said Jason Frame, Director of the West Virginia Office of Medical Cannabis. “It’s a huge step for O-M-C to …Read More

Judge: Multiple Ohio ballot drop boxes allowed in each county; next steps unclear

Brian Skinner September 16, 2020 Elections, Vote by Mail

Columbus Dispatch – By Jackie Borchardt and Jessie Balmert – Sep 15, 2020 Each county could have more than one drop box for ballots this election, a Franklin County judge ruled Tuesday. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Richard Frye concluded state law does not allow Secretary of State Frank LaRose to limit the number of ballot drop …Read More

A Federal Court Overturns Lower Court and Allows New York to Require Drug Companies to Pay Tax to Cover the Costs of the Opioid Epidemic.

Brian Skinner Government & Policy, Opioid Drug Crisis, Tax Policy

By Brian Skinner, Esq. This week a federal appeals court granted New York permission to implement an opioid tax on the manufacturers and distributors of prescription painkillers in a ruling that will enable the state to collect hundreds of millions of dollars. In 2018, New York approved the Opioid Stewardship Act which required all …Read More