Ohio Valley Jobs Alliance Opposes Special Deal for Gas Plant in Harrison County
Citizen Group Believes Special Deals for Gas Plant Could Contribute to Thousands of Job Losses
CAMERON, W.Va., June 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The same out-of-state millionaire who is seeking a special tax deal from governments in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, is now seeking more special tax deals from governments in Harrison County, West Virginia. One West Virginia citizen action group opposes these special deals and offers a word of caution to West Virginians living in the Clarksburg/Morgantown region.
Bruce Whipkey, President of the Ohio Valley Jobs Alliance said, "As a former coal miner, I personally know how important coal mining jobs are to our area and throughout West Virginia. In just the last few weeks, we saw the announcement of thousands of layoffs for coal miners in our state. Those layoffs will have an impact on thousands of other jobs that support the coal industry; our tax base could be reduced meaning less money for our schools, our roads and our water systems. We have to stand-up and fight harder to keep to our citizens employed. We hope that others will join us in speaking out to make sure local leaders know how important good paying jobs are to our families – this is a problem for all West Virginians."
Whipkey continued by saying, "Our group is opposed to the deal that has been struck to build a gas power plant in Marshall County – and we believe the citizens of Harrison County should ask the tough question to their leaders regarding a similar special deal being offered to an out-of-state company in their own backyard. I have seen firsthand the benefits that the natural gas industry has brought to our county, but I don't believe any single business should be given a special deal that threatens other businesses who have played by the rules and kept people employed over the years. Government should not be picking winners and losers in business – and government should not get to determine who works and who doesn't."
"Not only is the special deal unfair, but it does not make good economic sense. Our coal mines and power plants have employed thousands of West Virginia residents for decades. Why should we be forced to give up more jobs and more taxes so that one business can get a special deal that will cost us jobs and tax revenue?" said Whipkey.
United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) President Cecil Roberts recently voiced his opposition to these special deals for gas power plants because they threaten the jobs of thousands of coal miners throughout West Virginia while the millionaire New York business owner proposing the plants promises only 30 to 50 full-time jobs.
Whipkey said the Ohio Valley Jobs Alliance stands with the UMWA in opposing these plants because its unfair to West Virginia's working men and women. "Giving a company millions of dollars in tax breaks to create a handful of jobs while costing us potentially thousands of jobs we already have is just bad economics and makes you wonder why our elected leaders are rushing to offer this company these special deals" Whipkey said.
Whipkey said the Ohio Valley Jobs Alliance is expanding its grassroots membership into North Central West Virginia to give citizens a stronger voice in how their tax dollars are spent and how their economies are managed. Membership is free and all interested local citizens are encouraged to join by visiting our website at www.ohiovalleyjobs.org.
SOURCE Ohio Valley Jobs Alliance
Share this article