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Wednesday, June 11, 2008 "When news breaks, we fix it" Serving West Virginia since 2005
Russ Weeks: An American Life
Having Fun With Mojo
Weeks accepts debate with Manchin sponsored by broadcasters association
Russ Weeks has accepted an invitation from the West Virginia Broadcasters Association to debate Gov. Joe Manchin in a simulcast forum scheduled for October.Weeks responded Tuesday to the WVBA, accepting its invitation to "enable our citizens to have a statewide opportunity to become aware of each candidate's platform and help them make an intelligent, informed decision on November 4th."The debate will be broadcast live across West Virginia on television and radio. Final details will be formalized in July, assuming Manchin also accepts the invitation.Weeks also reissued his challenge to Manchin to engage in seven regional debates across West Virginia."It is my hope that the governor will not deprive the people of West Virginia of the opportunity to hear the clear differences between our approaches to state government by severely limiting the number of times he is willing to engage in face-to-face debates," said Weeks. "Voters especially deserve to hear a frank debate about the cronyism and corruption that permeate state government today."Court puts Weeks' lawsuit on docket for June 25
The West Virginia Supreme Court has placed Russ Weeks' lawsuit against Gov. Joe Manchin and the West Virginia Legislature on its motions docket for June 25.It has also given the parties in the case until June 17 to respond to Weeks' charges. Phil Kabler has the details in today's Charleston Gazette.Weeks is suing the state over the pay raise and retroactive per diem payments that were passed during the 2008 regular session and signed into law by Manchin.Weeks, represented by attorney Richie Robb, the former mayor of South Charleston, contends that the pay raise violates a state law against lawmakers voting themselves a pay raise that goes into effect before they stand for reelection -- which is the case for half the State Senate, which will not face reelection before the raise takes effect in 2009. Weeks is also challenging retroactive per diem payments that were part of the bill, which he claims are in violation of the state constitution.Weeks tells WVFL he will make life issue a priority
GOP candidate for governor Russ Weeks told West Virginians for Life this week that as governor, he will make pro-life issues a top priority, unlike the current governor.Weeks said that as governor, "As part of my annual legislative package, I will include at least one piece of pro-life legislation." Read more.Adkins leaves WV for Life
Melissa Adkins has left her position as executive director of West Virginians for Life.The official reason apparently given to WVFL board members is that she needed more time to care for an ailing family member. But her departure also comes on the heels of a dust-up just before the primary election when the organization came close to not endorsing Gov. Joe Manchin, as reported here earlier.That inner-turmoil resulted in Manchin and Chief of Staff Larry Puccio making a personal visit to WVFL's Morgantown headquarters, where they reportedly got into a heated exchange with WVFL officials.Beckley Register-Herald notes Weeks' new campaign ad
The Beckley Register-Herald today features a story on Russ Weeks' new campaign ad. As reported by Mannix Porterfield:Fittingly, the first campaign ad of Republican gubernatorial candidate Russ Weeks begins and ends with “Anchors Aweigh.”For it was in the Navy that Weeks spent the first 20 years of his adult life, leaving high school in Beckley to “see the world,” as that service has long advertised itself to bring in recruits.The story goes on to say, "Weeks said the ad is in no way an attempt to draw a difference between Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin, who was given a medical deferment due to a knee injury during the Vietnam War."The story says, "Weeks said the ad places a heavy emphasis on his Navy days because that was a large slice of his life, and someone in another profession would have stressed the highlights of that career in a campaign ad."Herb Snyder gets big support from gambling
Former State Senator Herb Snyder is being supported by gambling interests representing a variety of sources in his bid to return to the Legislature.According to campaign finance reports, Snyder has received several contributions so far from Penn National Gaming, Friends of Track (Charles Town racetrack), and Jeremy Jacobs of the Deleware North company and the Jacobs gaming family of Buffalo, New York.Snyder is running against Republican Bob Adams in the 16th District, which includes Jefferson County, where the referendum to add table games was soundly defeated last year.Gambling entities shoveled tens of thousands of dollars into legislative races in 2006, especially in support of Democrat Mike Green to oust Russ Weeks from the Senate that year.Marriage amendment just not necessary
Those pesky Republicans are bugging me to call a special session to place an issue on the ballot for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage! Didn't they see the press release from the national chairman of my party declaring "Gay Pride Month?" I have better things to worry about, like ribbon cuttings, grand openings, and cleaning up WVU!