MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. – The Monongalia County Republican Executive Committee hosted about 145 for the Reagan Day Dinner at Camp Muffly Saturday.
Congressman Alex Mooney, R, 2nd District, and U.S. Senate candidate, provided brief remarks and the introduction for the keynote speaker, Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-14th District covering all of Fayette County, Greene County, and Washington County, and most of Indiana, Westmoreland, and Somerset counties.
Reschenthaler, Chief Deputy Whip, vote counter on the floor, and assistant to the Majority The whip said lawmakers have made great progress with only a five-seat majority. He cited passing border security legislation for the first time since the 1990s, legislation related to energy policy, the Parental Bill of Rights, and the National Defense Authorization Act with Republican votes for the first time since the Eisenhower administration.
Reschenthaler also talked about the newly formed Congressional Appalachian Caucus he co-chairs with U.S. Rep. Carol Miller, R, 1st District. Reschenthaler and Miller plan to advocate for the estimated 26 million people that live in the region, many in small towns, who lack adequate health care, roads, broadband, and access to education.
“Transportation infrastructure, improvements in pipelines, for example, or education opportunities for the region,” Reschenthaler said. “I knew the only way I could advocate for money coming into the region was if I banded with other members that represented Appalachia.”
Republican gubernatorial candidates Chris Miller, Patrick Morrisey, and Mac Warner spoke to Monongalia County voters. Moore Capito attended the opening celebration of the brand new Herbert Hoover High School, and Rashida Yost was not in attendance.
The owner of one of the largest car dealerships in the state, the Dutch Miller Auto Group, Chris Miller is a Republican candidate for governor in 2024 with a strong message of economic development. But he believes an aging population with poor health outcomes is a financial storm on the horizon that must be addressed sooner rather than later.
“Our DHHR budget is going to continue to swell until it affects the bond rating, dramatically increasing the cost of government,” Miller said. “That’s when the tailspin starts because we don’t have a productive tax base below it to justify its big, bloated existence.”
Current Attorney General and Republican candidate for governor, Patrick Morrisey, cited his successful battles defending West Virginians affected by the opioid crisis and leading a 19-state coalition against the Obama-era Clean Power Plan. Morrisey also touted his efforts to protect life and the Second Amendment.
“We have to make sure we’re addressing the fiscal challenges in front of us because a lot of the excess COVID money is not going to be available forever more, so we have to really supercharge economic growth,” Morrisey said. “I’m looking to build on the strengths of what we’ve done right and make sure West Virginia becomes that shining state in the mountains.”
Mac Warner, Secretary of State and Republican candidate for governor, said there have been many victories in recent years, but now is the time “to put the foot on the accelerator” to tackle the continuing problems holding our state back. Warner said he will not tolerate “woke” policies from the left and plans to fight for common sense.
“Look at what Governor Youngkin has done in Virginia with education; DeSantis in Florida; what Greg Abbott has done in Texas; and Sarah Huckabee-Sanders in Arkansas,” Warner said. “I plan to join those conservative governors and start taking this country back one state at a time, and it’s West Virginia’s turn.”