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court on July 24, the same day DuPont filed its appeal to the state's High Court. The Times, citing documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, reported Wednesday that "on June 2, the governor met with the vice president of DuPont and one of the company’s lawyers to discuss the brief," and "shortly before the governor filed his brief, DuPont lawyers provided his office with two draft briefs that made many of the same arguments he later used in his brief, documents show. The day Mr. Manchin filed the brief, his office also requested assistance by e-mail from DuPont with the procedural requirements for filing."
The Times reports that "DuPont officials say the governor even asked them to provide him with a draft brief." Manchin's office, on the other hand, insists that DuPont offered the draft brief unsolicited-- in essence challenging the Times' facts and inviting further scrutiny from the newspaper.Later Wednesday, The Associated Press, which first reported on the filing of the brief by the governor, reported that "the revelation about communication between the governor's office and the chemical giant is the latest twist in a complex class-action lawsuit involving nearly 8,000 people exposed to toxic chemicals that spewed for decades from a zinc-smelting plant in Spelter." The AP also reported that "an Associated Press review of both briefs found that nine of the 24 legal citations in the state's brief are also in DuPont's."(News stories also quote Chamber of Commerce President Steve Roberts rushing to Manchin's defense, as usual, saying, "Whatever they're accusing Governor Manchin of, it has to be false, because the governor can do no wrong. There, was that ok? Can I still sit by Larry at the State of the State addresses?" Actually, I just made that part up, but what Roberts actually said was pretty close to that.)The Times also reported, "The documents from the governor’s office also reveal overlap between Mr. Manchin’s staff and DuPont. Mr. Manchin’s executive assistant, Peggy Ong, is a former DuPont employee. While there, Ms. Ong was involved with the company’s handling of the Spelter case and its conducting community outreach regarding the contaminated site, according to company documents. Moreover, Mr. Goodwin’s former law firm, Goodwin & Goodwin, was hired by DuPont as a consultant in the Spelter case."Poor Lara Ramsburg, the gov's spokesperson, finding herself once again having to defend her boss in the face of incontrovertible evidence, told the AP, "To say we have been in collusion with someone over this brief is not correct and unfair. We are not taking a side. ... The governor hopes that the people deserving of medical monitoring receive the medical monitoring that they need."But the Times quoted one plaintiff, Carolyn Holbert of Erie, as calling the governor’s actions “a total betrayal,” adding, "The governor says he is not taking sides. But he is helping DuPont drag its feet, and people are dying while they wait for help."-------
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Manchin under scrutiny from NY Times, Lewisburg
Is Manchin preparing to install brother as prez of WV School
of Osteopathic Med?
Two topics seem to be occupying the minds of Lewisburg area residents this week -- the annual state fair, and the suspicion that Gov. Joe Manchin is on the verge of naming his brother as the new president of the renowned West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.WVSOM has been ranked 10 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top medical schools in the nation, but its president, Olen E. Jones, recently announced he is "leaving" in January after 20 years at his post.Lewisburg locals have been expressing concerns that Jones' exodus was not entirely voluntary, and came on the heels of the school's refusal to admit a close Manchin relative to its rolls, invoking the ire of the governor. On top of that, they believe that the governor is preparing to put the wheels into motion to land his brother, Dr. John Manchin II of Farmington, in the role of new president at WVSOM.As one observer who has heard the rumors said, "They're very proud of that school. The last thing they want is another example of cronyism like the whole WVU mess."Dr. John Manchin II runs the Manchin Clinic in Farmington, along with his son, John Manchin III, who is a health administrator and who recently was a key witness in the high-profile prostitution trial involving Fascinations escort service in Morgantown.The Manchin Clinic opened in 1979, and a second clinic just opened last month in White Hall. The notion that the governor would consider steering his own brother into the presidency of the medical school is not as outrageous as it might seem, considering that since taking office, Manchin has:* Appointed his wife, Gayle, to fill an open slot on the state board of education.* Appointed his son, Joseph Manchin IV, to the West Virginia Tourism Commission.* Named his cousin, Mark Anthony Manchin, as executive director of the West Virginia School Building Authority.WVSOM recently announced the creation of the Olen E. Jones Leadership Award, saying in a press release, "the award was created at the urging of second-year medical student Michael Brackman, the leader of the school’s Student Government Association, to recognize Dr. Jones for his outstanding contributions to WVSOM and osteopathic medical education."Brackman said, “For more than 20 years, Dr. Olen Jones has given himself unselfishly to WVSOM. He has had the courage to make tough decisions, create positive change, hire and promote the best faculty and staff, and to communicate and build support and acceptance for WVSOM and osteopathic medical education in West Virginia."Interestingly, the press release did not describe Jones as retiring, but said rather that he "will be leaving the school in January 2009."The press release says, "WVSOM offers a nationally ranked medical education program with a dose of small town charm. WVSOM offers a legacy of excellence and is recognized worldwide for its efforts in rural, family, and primary care medicine." Its website can be found at www.wvsom.edu.Gov's office caught off guard by stories on DuPont issues
Gov. Joe Manchin and his staff have clearly been caught off guard by Wednesday's New York Times report that the governor appeared to have been in collusion with DuPont in regard to friend of the court briefs he filed in regard to a multi-million dollar judgment against the company.Manchin filed his brief with the Weeks at state fair today, appearing on 'Talkline'
Republican gubernatorial candidate Russ Weeks is attending the West Virginia State Fair today -- which is designated "Governor's Day" -- and will be a guest on this morning's "Talkine" program with host Hoppy Kercheval.Thursday will mark Weeks' second day at the fair. He spent Sunday at the Lewisburg event, greeting supporters and picking up support from Republicans and Democrats alike. Weeks will also soon announce a major fundraising event set for Beckley in September.(Press Release) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to allow the House of Representatives to vote on a comprehensive energy bill and instead forced the House to take a five week vacation. With gas near $4.00 per gallon and increasing home heating costs, West Virginians cannot afford to wait to pass an energy bill. Shelley Moore Capito believes that Congress should be called back into session to debate and pass a comprehensive energy plan now.In July, Capito and 46 other members of Congress introduced a bi-partisan comprehensive energy bill called the National Conservation, Environment and Energy Independence Act. The Capito plan includes: * Allowing for drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf. * Using the revenues from the new leases to invest in alternative fuels including wind, solar and biomass.* Providing home heating assistance for low income families.* Allocating $385 million for carbon capture and storage technology.* Emphasizing conservation.* Investing in West Virginia's vital resource - coal. In May, Capito introduced the Clean Coal-Derived Fuels for Energy Security Act that mandates the United States to produce 6 billion gallons of coal-to-liquid fuel a year by 2022.Join Shelley, in asking Speaker Nancy Pelosi to call the House back into session by signing the West Virginia Energy Action Petition .
Capito calls for public to join her in demanding that Pelosi call House back for session on energy action
SHELLEY CAPITO
Second verse, same as the first
Attorney General Darrell McGraw continues on his merry way using public dollars for campaign purposes, this week using the state fair as his latest venue for mixing his official office with campaign activities, while his fellow Democrats spend campaign dollars for their election-related advertising. At left, a Democrat exhibit at the state fair shows McGraw using materials touting his official toll-free "consumer protection" hotline as campaign literature.
There will be house parties tonight all across the United States in support of John McCain for President, and the West Virginia John McCain headquarters will host a house party from 7pm – 9pm for all supporters, volunteers and friends. Location: 111 Hale Street, Charleston, WV 25301
Date: Thursday, August 14, 2008
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Parking: 1st Municipal Parking Garage/South Hills Bridge
Supporters can call 304-542-1196 to confirm attendance or to receive more information.McCain has 'house party' tonight at HQ in Charleston
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