Talkline | Dec. 10, 2025 - MetroNews Talkline

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:12):
Good morning, Welcome in Metro News talk Line, Jobs and
the economy. That's what House Republicans want to talk about
in twenty twenty six. We'll talk about it right now.

Speaker 2 (00:25):
You are.

Speaker 3 (00:32):
Radio turned off from the studios of w v RC
Media and the Metro News Radio and Television Network, The
Voice of West Virginia comes the most powerful show in
West Virginia. This it's Metro News talk Line with Dave
Wilson and TJ. Meadows.

Speaker 1 (00:52):
So it's networking churl from.

Speaker 3 (00:54):
Charles stand By to David TJ.

Speaker 4 (00:57):
You're on.

Speaker 3 (01:02):
Metro News. Talk Line is presented by Encovia Insurance, encircling
you with coverage to protect what you care about most.
Visit encovia dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (01:12):
Gangsaul here on a Wednesday, Ethan Collins our audio producer,
Jakelink our video producer. You, of course on one of
our great affiliates across the state of West Virginia, or
watching in on the Metro News TV app eight hundred
seven to sixty five. Talk is the phone number eight
hundred and seven sixty five eight two five five. You
can text the show at three oh four Talk three

(01:34):
oh four coming up a little bit later. This morning,
PSC chair Charlotte Lane will join us. Second our Joe
Bricado will stop by, will announce the Metro News high
School Football Player of the Year. That's at eleven thirty
three this morning. Also Jim coffin Westernion Hospital Association will
join us. We'll talk about his legislative priorities or the
association's legislative priorities going into twenty twenty six. Say good

(01:58):
morning to TJ. Meadow those from the Cove Insurance Studios
via Charleston.

Speaker 5 (02:03):
Morning, sir, Morning sir. You ready to be at the capitol.
It's almost that time.

Speaker 1 (02:07):
Dave, No, I am not. I'm not ready to be
at the capitol quite yet. I was thinking about that
actually last week, in of course, was in Charleston for
the high school championships. I looked kind of at the calendar, went,
that's it's a month away. I'm going to be down
here for nine Here's the thing, TJ. Once that starts,
this is my brain in my calendar, all right. The
last week of the legislative session is the first week

(02:29):
of the girls basketball state tournament, and then the boys
is the following week. I haven't even done a basketball
game yet, and I can plot my next three months out. Well,
that's not ready for the parent you compared that way.

Speaker 5 (02:42):
That's good. But now the reservations are made, Buddy, I
put the paperwork in our spots reserved were they are
get ready?

Speaker 1 (02:47):
All right? I hope I get the penthouse suite this
year instead of the you know, first floor broom closet.

Speaker 5 (02:54):
Talking about the Brad McElhenny luxurious apartment there that's up
in the dome, that that piece of reasons where that
door goes, oh yeah, exactly walks into a big palacial
apartment that Brad mclhaney enjoys.

Speaker 1 (03:07):
Yesterday, House Speaker Roger Hanshaw held a news conference outlining
the House Republicans agenda for the twenty twenty six legislative session.
He described the priorities as job's first economic opportunity, everywhere
everywhere agenda. Joining us, So mench news talk line this
morning is House Speaker Roger Hanshaw. Mister speaker, good morning,
thanks for joining us.

Speaker 6 (03:27):
Getlemen, good morning, all right morning.

Speaker 1 (03:30):
Are you ready for the legislative session to begin just
about a month away? Now?

Speaker 6 (03:35):
Yeah, you know, I looked at a calendar a moment ago.
I think we're down to only eighty five days left
of this sixty day session.

Speaker 1 (03:43):
Taking them off one by one. All right, I want
to get the broad overview and then we can drill
down on some specifics here. But I want to start
with House Bill one, or what will be House Bill one,
an initiative called Team West Virginia for those familiar, it's
going to be modeled after Jobs Ohio. But what is
your vision for this entity?

Speaker 6 (04:02):
Well, it's just one of a handful of things we
talked about yesterday, TJ. It's you can't deny that our
neighbors to the west in Ohio are really doing a
bang up job with economic development. They're doing just just extraordinary,
extraordinary job. And one of the ways they've been able
to do that, and one of the ways they've been
successful is in the actual structure they've put in place

(04:22):
and how they go about recruiting and supporting and really
working with all the entities that are considering the state
of Ohio. They do that through the mechanism of something
that Governor John Casey created when he was Chief Executive
in Ohio called Jobs Ohio. We've spent the last couple
of years studying that program. We've talked to them, We've
we've been over there, they've been over here, We've we've

(04:45):
we've really dug into the possibility of what that could
look like for us and whether that's the right structure
for us. We we've concluded that it is. So the
what you heard is described yesterday was that you know,
we'll take up we'll begin consideration when we convene next
month on a proposal that would model something similar here

(05:06):
in West Virginia to what they do there. But that's
really only one of a whole series of things that
we want to do to really just focus the conversation
headed into twenty twenty six on what it means to
grow and diversify the economy in a way that's consistent
with what West Virginians have told us they want, which
is the ability to live and work and raise their
families in local communities and make decisions for themselves and

(05:28):
their families, and then everything else falls into place after that.
So we had our announcement yesterday for that purpose. It's
to make it clear that our priority is we will
do many other things during the session, but our priority,
at least the level of the House is continuing to
put people in the best jobs we can.

Speaker 5 (05:44):
Mister speaker, Before we get deeper into that agenda, I
do want to follow up on a few things you
said there, and I don't want to put the cart
too far in front of the horse. But when I
look at Jobs Ohio, a couple of the things I
think that have made that organization successful. They seem to
have a good amount of autonomy, and they have an
independent or at least a funding source that that that

(06:05):
funds them quite well. Liquor tax in Ohio goes to
fund Jobs Ohio. If I'm not mistaken, Do we need
that same level of autonomy and do we need a
same kind of funding source with this initiative, with the
team initiative to make it as successful?

Speaker 6 (06:19):
We do, and we'll we'll pursue both. That's an important
component of the overall proposal. And you're right that that
Ohio did bond out a portion of that revenue stream.
We've looked at doing a similar approach here there there.
That's just one of several ways we could do it.
The thing to not lose sight of is that when
Ohio did it, they went to market with a with

(06:40):
just an inordinate size bond offering, but most of that
went to pay off existing debts. They capitalized their program
with actually quite a modest investment, certainly certainly within the
realm of what's possible for us. So we've we've only
begun talking about what the contours of the funding source
would look like with our colleagues in the Senate, with
the Executive, with with all the entities that do economic

(07:02):
development across West Virginia. We'd like to get them. We'd
like to get them under this UNRELI just as Ohio
is done. You can't argue with the success over there.
They're they're really, they're really doing an extraordinary job, and
this is part of what's helped them achieve it.

Speaker 1 (07:16):
House speaker Roger Hanshaw joining US Metro News talk line.
A couple of the acts you outlined yesterday, the Recharge
West Virginia Act, the Skills at Work Act, really focus
on workforce development, and in particular the Skills at Work
Act talking about the future aviation industry here in West Virginia.
Why is workforce development such a critical part to our

(07:39):
economic future.

Speaker 6 (07:41):
Well, it's what's become the leadoff in every conversation we
have now with a potential a potential recruit to West Virginia,
or in many cases, for an expansion of our existing
businesses here in West Virginia. When I came into the
role of house speaker now a little over seven years ago,
it was one of the most interesting parts of that

(08:03):
job is that I get the opportunity now to be
at the table with some of the folks who are
considering West Virginia on their initial meetings and initial conversations
with us, And seven years ago, the opening ask was
always how much money can you give us? What kind
of tax incentive can you offer us? What kind of
financial benefit can we derive coming to West Virginia, And

(08:23):
we always still get to those conversations. Fast forward seven
years to today, we always still get to those conversations.
But the real opening question now is do you have
a workforce? Do you have the skill sets that it
takes for us to do the kind of work we
want to do in West Virginia. So workforce development and
educational opportunities and workforce training that's congruent with the market,

(08:45):
that actually provides the skills that the employers are looking for,
has surpassed everything else now in terms of recruiting, So
we want to recognize that.

Speaker 5 (08:55):
The initiative outlines pay raises for teachers and school service workers.
I'd like if mister speaker put a little meat on
the bone there and give us some details about what
that would look like, maybe a percentage. And we had
former delegate to now County Commissioner in Berkeley County, John
Hardy on yesterday and he brought up locality pay again
that they really need that in the Panhandle. Will locality

(09:16):
pay be part of the discussion, No.

Speaker 6 (09:18):
Doubt, it'll be part of the conversation. It always is.
We've started down that road before, will no doubt be
talking about it again. You know, the regions of our
state are actually quite different. To be forty first in
geographic size, as we are the northern Panhandle of West
Virginia and the Pittsburgh market could not be could not
be more different from say, the southern coalfield counties of

(09:41):
West Virginia versus our easternmost counties that are in the
Washington d C. Metro area. We're quite small in geographic size,
but the regions of our state are substantially different, So
that has to be a factor in every conversation we
have around compensation. We know that we are still under
stid aft with certified qualified teachers in many of the

(10:03):
classrooms in West Virginia. That's unfortunate and unacceptable. We have
a better job to do there. We know we have
a better job to do there. One of the things
that means is we have to keep marching towards the market.
We have to keep marching towards market rate for teachers.
We're not competitive in some jurisdictions of West Virginia with
surrounding counties, particularly in at Washington d C. Metro area

(10:29):
that Commission Hardy, former Delegate Hardy would have been talking about.
So we recognize that we want to always be keeping
an eye towards compensating those folks who are doing an
extraordinarily important job for us to the best of our ability.
Locality pay has been a tricky one for us. We've
never been able to get consensus around exactly what it
means and how it should be implemented. But we'll no

(10:50):
doubt be talking about it again.

Speaker 1 (10:51):
I'll Speaker Roger Hanshaw and joining us mentioned news talk line.
He rolled out the House Republicans legislative agenda yesterday during
a news conference at the state Capitol, who all have
been part of the conversation to develop this agenda for
twenty twenty six.

Speaker 6 (11:06):
So the announcement that you heard us make yesterday was
a result of a survey that we did of all
ninety one members of the Majority Caucus. So we asked
every member of the Majority Caucus over the summer and
fall months to reflect on the twenty twenty five regular
session and offer input into what their priorities were heading

(11:26):
into twenty twenty six, and almost to a person, almost
to a person, our members told us that, yeah, we
have a number of things that are important to us,
but our primary focus needs to be on putting West
Virginians into the best possible jobs we can in the
local communities across our state, and that drives everything else.
There's almost no conservative policy agenda that you can point

(11:49):
to that isn't more easily achieved in an environment in
which we have a thriving, vibrant, healthy economy. If you
want to decrease rates of substance abuse, if you want
to decrease reliance on government benefits, if you want to
decrease taxes, if you want to decrease a demand for abortion.
If you want to increase the the the population base,

(12:11):
you want to increase the tax base in the community.
Every one of those goals is better achieved, and the
data bears it out in an environment in which people
have good job opportunities available to them. So that's that's
what we're out to achieve here.

Speaker 5 (12:25):
Roger I wrote my piece today at wv metronews dot
com that your announcement yesterday sent a message to the
Senate about some of these social issues that came over
last year. I characterized it as not this year. Perhaps
in my wisdom or my stupidity, I got that right
or I got that wrong. Was there a message in there?

Speaker 6 (12:45):
I mean, look, our message is to West Virginia. It's
it's into the world. It's not to any one individual,
it's not to any one group. It's it's it's to
West Virginia and the world. The people have sent us
here to grow the economy. They've sent us here to
protect local West Virginia communities, to preserve local community schools,
to preserve local businesses, to make it easy for people's

(13:06):
children and grandchildren and aunts and uncles and neighbors to
live in the communities where they live across the state,
and in so many of those communities, guys, including my own,
including my own people aren't able to make that choice
because there's nowhere for them to work, there's nowhere for
them to provide a living for the family. So the
message that we tried to send yesterday, and the direct

(13:27):
answer to your question is yes, we do want to
send that message, but we want to send it to
the state and we want to send it to the country.
We're not trying to be pointed. We're trying to be
very open to the country and to the state that
we've heard you. We know what's important, and we're going
to work on.

Speaker 1 (13:42):
Where does child care fit into the economic development plans?

Speaker 6 (13:46):
Well, we're going to be talking about that. That's another
of the things that we definitely will take up for consideration.
What that looks like and what the contours of a
solution could be or are yet to be seen. That's
the reason I didn't talk about it yesterday. We do
hear from employers, both large and small, in almost every
community that that's an impediment to getting people into the workforce.

(14:08):
So we've we spent a lot of time working with
our friends at the State Chamber of Commerce, the Manufacturers Association,
some of the childcare providers themselves about you know, just
what would help? What what what would help? Is it?
Is it on site facilities, is it helping to launch
and create and grow new independent providers? Just what is it?

(14:31):
And there's there's not a clear consensus around that yet.
There's a very successful program that's been piloted now in
a few counties of West Virginia that is modeled on
a three part sharing program, whereby the employer provides a portion,
the employee provides a portion, and in this case of
the pilot program, it's a grant funded agency that provides

(14:52):
a portion of the service. So we're looking at that,
but it's certainly not the only model.

Speaker 5 (14:58):
This seems like an agenda, and you look, let's be blunting.
You don't need them, you have the numbers. But this
seems like an agenda that you would be able to
work with your Democratic brothers and sisters on. In the
House as well as in the Senate. They've been going
around talking about quote unquote kitchen table issues. This would

(15:18):
seem to be an agenda that common ground could be
found on and we could illustrate an example of how
both sides of the aisle could come together.

Speaker 6 (15:27):
Well, I sure hope. So, I mean, these are We
didn't roll these things out to be partisan. We didn't
roll them out to be even be political. We rolled
them out to let people know that, look, we're going
to spend twenty twenty six focusing well, well, we'll focus
on a lot of things, right, Every bill is important
to somebody, but our primary goal in the House of
Delegates this year is to keep our eye on the
ball of the economy.

Speaker 1 (15:47):
Roger, have you spoken to any of your counterparts over
in the Senates and are you confident you can get
these bills to the finish line this year?

Speaker 6 (15:55):
Oh, I spoke to Center President Smith probably half an
hour ago. He and I worked together in our art
together here in the Capitol today. If you'll notice what
I said yesterday was, and I'll reiterate it now, each
of those things that we talked about are things that
we intend to introduce and begin consideration of. We don't
know what they'll look like at the end, because we
need our Senate colleagues to weigh in with opinions and ideas,

(16:17):
we need the executive to weigh in with opinions and ideas.
We'll need industry and private citizens across West Virginia to
weigh in with opinions and ideas. So our goal was
for the next month before we head into the twenty
twenty six regular session, for West Virginians and Americans who
watch West Virginia to know that the things we're going
to introduce and consider in the House are things that

(16:38):
relate to the economy and jobs.

Speaker 5 (16:40):
Have you spoken with the governor about the agenda and
if so, what did he say?

Speaker 6 (16:45):
Not about these items, but we talk often. Our team
and his team are in almost daily communication. I have
no doubt that the Senate will roll out it's agenda.
I have no doubt the Executive will be rolling out
an agenda over the next few weeks. That's what normally
happens here or where weeks. We're looking forward to it.

Speaker 1 (17:01):
House Speaker Roger Handshaw, you can read Brad mclaheney story
over at wv Metronews dot com. And we'll have at
least sixty days to get into all the details of
these priorities and more. Roger, we appreciate it and we'll
see you soon down at the State Capitol.

Speaker 6 (17:16):
Thanks guys, have a great day.

Speaker 1 (17:17):
Absolutely eight hundred and seven to sixty five talks. The phone
number three h four Talk three or four is the
text line your reactions next.

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Speaker 8 (17:55):
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Speaker 1 (17:59):
No one saw coming.

Speaker 5 (18:01):
It's showtime.

Speaker 9 (18:01):
The holiday hit Maker walks the office halls with West
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Speaker 1 (18:08):
What are you doing.

Speaker 5 (18:10):
Bringing the holiday Hyope here? Enjoy scratch off?

Speaker 3 (18:13):
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Speaker 1 (18:14):
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Speaker 9 (18:17):
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Speaker 3 (18:36):
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Visit Encova dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (18:46):
Three or four Talk three oh four Texter says, I'm
glad someone is listening to the people of West Virginia.
Enough with the social agenda. Bring on the jobs, says
the Texter. P E I A CPS, teacher, pay prison
guards dot dot dot. Roger said that data proves that
social ills are decreased when job opportunities are more prevalent,

(19:08):
but that simply is not true. Some of the most
economically successful states and cities have desperate social ills that
the economy has not and will not solve. It's very
secular and narrow view of humanity. Any pay raise for
teachers and service personnel that's any less than one thousand
dollars per month is a slap in the face, says
the Texter Man Dave and TJ. Wouldn't it be easier

(19:31):
just to lwer the taxes on businesses, at least in
the border counties near Ohio that share and share that
revenue with every county I've watched business after business leave
West Virginia just to set up across the river. Also,
locality pay would be a terrible idea. We do not
do that with We don't do that with the legislature.
Equal pay for equal work, says the Texter thoughts mister

(19:53):
Meadows on all the above, any of the.

Speaker 5 (19:55):
So I think, and I wrote about this today. I
think it's good that you get it out there and
you send a message. Now, Roger, very diplomatically as he
always does, characterized it that, look, we're not necessarily sending
a message. But if you caught him there, he said,
I thought we did send a message. And I think

(20:16):
that's important because we talk about the vaccine issue, done
and over, done and over it's in the courts. Let
the courts handle it. Focus on something. And I do
think anytime someone is working and has a job, it's
a lot easier to address other issues if that person
does not have a job. So, you know, this is
an agenda I think everyone can get behind. I think

(20:37):
Democrats can get behind this. I mean they've been going
out talking about the kitchen table issues. We need more
jobs in West Virginia, we need more people working, labor participation,
I mean it cures a lot of ills, may not
fix all of them, but it puts us in a
better position.

Speaker 1 (20:51):
Dave to the Texter's point, Yes, it doesn't cure all
of them. But TJ, if you're talking about wanting to
get more people off of welfare, off of snap benefits,
what do you do? Put them to work, put give
them the skills, or give them the opportunity to obtain
the skills that are going to be needed in the
aviation industry. You know, what does Toyota need, What does

(21:13):
new Core need? What do we need for the jobs
that are here?

Speaker 2 (21:16):
Now?

Speaker 1 (21:16):
What do we need for the jobs that are coming?
You know, offer that find a way to give that opportunity.
You can't make people obtain the skills, but you can
give them a path to obtaining those and moving on
and bettering their lives and some of the other stuff
will help take care of itself.

Speaker 5 (21:32):
I like it. I think it's a strong agenda. Hopefully
the Senate will embrace it. Hopefully the Executive will embrace it.

Speaker 1 (21:37):
We'll talk about it more coming up. We'll also talk
to Jim kaffin Hospital Association. Next, this is talk Line
on Metro News, The Voice of West Virginia. It is
ten thirty times to get a news update. Let's check
in on the Metro News radio network find out what's
happening across the great state of West Virginia.

Speaker 10 (21:56):
West Virginia Metro News. I'm Jeff Jenkins, Say Dad. The
General Jim's Sewart is reporting a Christmas miracle in a Washington,
DC hospital room. West Virginia Air guar staff Sergeant Andrew
Wolf continues to show improvement after being shot two weeks ago.

Speaker 5 (22:09):
Today.

Speaker 10 (22:09):
Read Sewart's post at w v metronews dot com. Next
up on the calendar for state lawmakers is the start
of the sixty day regular leslatest session on January fourteenth.
House the Delegate Speaker Roger Hanshaw says the House's main
focus will be the economy.

Speaker 11 (22:23):
We have the perspective of every West Virginia represented here
in the front of the room today, and that means
that opinions are different. But what unifies those opinions, what
unifies all those communities is the reality that putting jobs
first works everywhere.

Speaker 10 (22:38):
Metro News State White Course band A Brad Michailhaney writes
about the specifics of that plan. A story posted at
w v Metronews dot com. There's a new monument coming
soon to the grounds of the state Capitol. State lawmakers
created the State Monument Construction Committee directly that committee to
develop a memorial for the forty West Virginias that died
in the US War on Terror. House majority of Deer Pat
mcgeann's on the committee.

Speaker 12 (22:58):
What I really like is I want it to express
not necessarily like the aspect of war Quah war itself,
but the values of warriors, of soldiers, loyalty, sacrifice, brotherhood,
and never leave in a man or woman behind.

Speaker 10 (23:16):
The committee met earlier this week, you're listening to Metro
News for forty years, the voice of West Virginia.

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(24:14):
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Speaker 10 (24:22):
Bill has said at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
cash only for a thirty five year old man who
allegedly caused a head on crash in Mercer County last month.
They claimed the life of longtime state lawmaker Tony Whitlow.
Please say Chad Noel was driving drunk on November twelfth
when he went across the center line of US L
four sixty, struck the car that ninety two year old
Whitlow was driving. Noel was arrested on Monday. A blizzard

(24:43):
warning goes into effect this hour for parts of Webster, Pocahontas,
and Randolph Counties. From the Metro News anchor desk, I'm
Jeff Jenkins.

Speaker 1 (25:11):
Text line three h four talk three oh four. Did
anyone else see Trump's word salad speech last night. Watching
him do the weave is by far the highest level
of intelligence I've ever witnessed. It's like watching human evolution
in real time. We're so lucky to have such a
steady hand of sound mind as a guiding light for
the free world for three more years, says the Texter.

(25:33):
I hit detect just a hint of sarcasm in that text.
By the way, we will discuss Jared Halperton will join
us Fox News Radio coming up about eleven twenty this morning,
eight hundred and seven six five Talk three oh four,
Talk three oh four is the text line. Jim Kaufman
is president at the West Virginia Hospital Association, and we
see him often during the legislative session. I'm sure we'll

(25:55):
see him often again this year. What are the priorities
going into this year's session for the hospital Association? Let's
find out. Jim Kaufman joins us. Jim, good morning, Good morning.

Speaker 2 (26:06):
Thanks for the opportunity to touch base with you, and
hopefully you're all set for the holidays.

Speaker 1 (26:10):
I've I got most of my I'm only responsible for
buying for my wife, and I've got most of her
Christmas done, So I feel like I'm off to a
good start. Two weeks to go.

Speaker 2 (26:21):
You're ahead of me, So that's good, all.

Speaker 1 (26:24):
Right, Jim? Looking ahead to January fourteenth, that'll be the
first day of the legislative session. What will the Hospital
Association's priorities be going into twenty six.

Speaker 2 (26:34):
Well, really, thanks for the opportunity to talk about our agenda.
I mean, our agenda really looks at a couple of things.
I mean, we put our priorities into four buckets, but
really the whole overall goal is how do we make
sure the hospitals continue to be able to provide care
twenty four to seven, three hundred and sixty five days
a year. And our overarching goal is how do we
continue to strengthen the overall community that we serve in.

(26:55):
But when you look at the fourth big buckets, it's
really looking at the financial viability of the hospitals, because
when you look at it right now, everybody thinks the
hospitals are doing very, very well financially, and that's not
the case. I mean, with seventy five percent of the
average patient being on a governmental program Medicaid Medicare PIA
that pay below cost The average operating margins for our

(27:16):
smaller critical access hospitals is only three percent, and the
operating margins for our larger hospitals is actually negative one percent,
And that gives you an idea. And that's before some
of the cuts come down from the big beautiful Bill
and some of the federal changes that are coming down.
So that's why our top goal is that financial viability
to the hospitals. Second, looking at how do we reduce

(27:36):
some of the administrative burdens on hospitals and providers so
we can be more efficient and cut unnecessary costs. A
third is maintaining our public health infrastructure, and that actually
includes maintaining the Certificate need program that's absolutely critical for
hospitals and to ensure appropriate statewide planning. And one of
the things that's our top priority that actually fits into

(27:58):
the Speaker's announcement yesterday they was workforce. I mean, West
Virginia hospitals are often the largest private employer in their
community and we still have bacont jobs that we need
to fill. So we really look forward to working with
the legislature and the governor to create more opportunity and
getting people employee that we need.

Speaker 5 (28:17):
A Jim. First off, meet me on December twenty fourth
and we'll knock our shopping out together. That's when I'll
be doing mind So you're you're you're welcome to meet
up with me if you want to knock it out
at that point. Secondly, when it comes to the financial viability,
we know that we're very heavily public insured. We know
they pay under What specifically can the legislature do to

(28:41):
help you make up that gap? I mean, can they
take some of the REGs off and allow you to
expand in terms of more elective procedures that are private
pay to help you know, fund the overall cost structure
of hospitals. Can can they allow you all to look
at merger and consider mergers where they make sense? I mean,
what can they do to help you get those numbers?

(29:01):
Help and you know, help you help yourself right now?

Speaker 2 (29:04):
I mean, the hospitals actually have the opportunities to do mergers.
They're doing a lot of great things to get economy
of scale, and that's something important. I mean, just like
I'm going to look at, you know, Chick fil A.
You don't have some communities with a Chick fil A
that would love it because there's not enough people, and
that's where we need patient population to support these programs.
I think the biggest thing the legislature can do to

(29:25):
help the hospitals continue to grow and be financially viable
is something that the governor, the President, and the Speaker
will talk about, is developing the state economically. I mean,
I love that job's first opportunity everywhere because the more
people that are employed, that strengthens our commercial insurance pair mix,
which then helps the hospitals overall financially because then it

(29:48):
can re do some of the cost there because it
would reduce the burden medicated medicare where right now we
have such a high reliance on those programs.

Speaker 1 (29:58):
Jim Kaufman joining US West Virgia HOSTPE Middles Association. Let
me combine two issues here for just a second. Jim,
over in the Eastern Panhandle, that was the strongest push,
as I remember, it was the strongest push to repeal
certificate of need. The argument being they need more medical facilities,
they need more competition over there, so make the case

(30:20):
for maintaining certificate of need. But also there's a huge
commercial insore based population over there in the Panhandle, like
you're talking about that we need to keep them in
West Virginia. So how do we do both.

Speaker 2 (30:33):
That's a great question. I mean, one, when you look
at certificate of need, there is need an opportunity submit
the con and actually go through the planning process. And
I've had several legislators up in the Eastern Panhandle note
to me, oh my god. Well, you know, in one
corner you have Valley Health. On another corner you have
WVU Medicine, and I'm like, yep, and that's under con
and you actually have competition up there. And it is

(30:57):
interesting to note that you know, some of the hostels
that are out that are in health systems that are
hospital headquartered out of state, they actually support maintaining con
in their home states. So this is when it shows
you it is an effective planning tool and it does work.
As you see with some of the services up in
the Eastern Panhandle, hospitals are working to expand services and

(31:20):
we do want to keep those patients in the state.
And that's where you're looking at some of the hospital
systems looking at how do you better leverage patient population
and create market share. So you do have the patient
population so you can expand services. I think one of
the biggest challenges that we see across the country is
the national shortage of healthcare providers. I mean, there's national

(31:43):
reports out there noting that we have a nationwide shortage
of ninety thousand physicians today, there is one hundred and
seventy five thousand vacant nurses positions. I mean, right here
in West Virginia our data from the hospitals, we have
three thousand vacant physicians just in nursing, diagnostic, imaging, medical, laboratory,

(32:03):
and respiratory. So it's not a question of hey, can
we expand services. We need the staff to expand services.
So getting rid of con is not going to expand
the services when you don't have the staff.

Speaker 5 (32:16):
So do we have those vacancies because we're trying to
bend the cost curve because the public ensured monies aren't
at they don't pay cost right, So is that provider?
Is that the industry trying to bend the cost curve
so that they can clear financial hurdles I mean, or

(32:36):
is it just we can't find the staff or is
it both?

Speaker 2 (32:38):
Frankly, it's combinations thereof I mean, one, I got to
plaug the governor and the legislature for trying to do
more on the higher education space to create opportunities. The
challenge that we have is as we're producing more nurses
or doctors or respiratory therapists, they can go to any
of the surrounding states and make more money. And while
there's great opportunities living here in the Mountain State, usually

(33:03):
the first thing somebody's book can't when they have a
job opportunities how much are you going to pay me?
And because of our strong pair mix with Medicaid Medicare,
we have less resources to offer competitive salaries. So that
is a challenge number one. So changing that overall pair
mix is critical. Now. The hospitals are trying to maintain
that financial viability and that's why our operating margins are

(33:26):
razor thin. They're trying to maintain their financial viability long
term so that facility is there to serve the community
tomorrow while making sure they're recruiting and maintaining the staff
that they need today. And it is a typewrope that
the hospital leadership is walking every single day.

Speaker 1 (33:45):
Jim Kaufman is joining US. He's president Westernian Hospital Association.
Jim give me an example of administrative burdens that could
make the system more efficient and cost effective.

Speaker 2 (33:56):
Sure, I mean one of the things we're actually looking
at is two things and provider enrollment. Right now, we're
hearing the time that it takes to get a physician
enrolled with our state managed care plans. So for example,
they have electronic paperwork, but then some of the plans
will require additional documentation. That's an unnecessary administrative burden. That

(34:19):
common form gets all the information that's already needed. So
why are we allowing the plans to have all this
additional documentation. All it's doing is creating administrative work in
creating more barriers. Another opportunity. There is a briefing yesterday
in the Joint Health Committee about hospital price transparency, and
I know some states have looked at additional requirements. Well,

(34:41):
there is already strong requirements under the Trump administration for
federal hospital price transparency. So we don't want to create
bigger state government, and all it's doing is adding to
administrative costs unnecessarily. Another thing we're looking at is working
on workforce. Can we get a new physician licensed fast
in the state, And that is something we appreciate, you know,

(35:03):
looking at the opportunity, how do we make it easier
if we're recruiting a position to the state to get
them licensed to provide care faster.

Speaker 5 (35:12):
Jim, help me identify a state that has similar challenges
and hurdles that you've described as West Virginia. Does that's
doing it right? You talked about other states. It seems
to me, if there's a roadmap out there, let's not
create our own. Let's go borrow and read somebody else's roadmap.
I mean, is there a state that's doing this right,
that's figured it out.

Speaker 2 (35:33):
That's a great question because I think when you look
at each state, you know, we do look at opportunities
in other areas and what are we doing well? What
could we steal from others. I don't know if there's
any one state that has a perfect solution, because everybody
is struggling with workforce. When I talk to my counterparts
around the country, financial viability and workforce is the top

(35:53):
two issues for every single one of my counterparts in
all fifty states. So I think we're all struggling with that.
And one of the advantages that they have that we
don't have is the payer mix. So I think that
is one of the things. And I go back to
that is probably one of the fundamental things. And every
time Governor Morrissey announced a new company coming here and
the Speaker and the President talk about job opportunities, I

(36:15):
applaud because I know that's good opportunity, not only when
economic development for the state, but it helps the hospital.
As I say, you know often the hospital is the
largest private employer in any community, and you ask that CEO.
They don't want to be the largest private employer. They
want businesses thriving in the community because it shows the
community is growing.

Speaker 1 (36:36):
Jim coffin wes Vinion Hospital Association, Jim, we appreciate the
perspective and we'll see what happens here in about a month.

Speaker 2 (36:43):
Thanks for the opportunity and happy holidays, and I'll see
you during session.

Speaker 1 (36:46):
I see you here, take care. In twenty twenty six,
Spratt mclhenna joins us next to care you at the
health job.

Speaker 15 (36:58):
We are here.

Speaker 5 (37:01):
From all of us here at the health Plan. We
want to make your season bright.

Speaker 16 (37:05):
Whether you're wrapping gifts are planning next year's goals, we
are here for you. Happy holidays and merry Christmas, from
our family to yours, We.

Speaker 17 (37:17):
Are here. Did you know Marvel Production make Clarksburg the
Marvel Capital of the world by Acroagat up until the
late nineteen fifties, and today those Marvels are worth thousands
of dollars Clarksburg, Yes, Clarksburg. Did you know that Clarksburg's

(37:38):
Robinson Graham was the first theater in West Virginia to
introduce talking pictures in nineteen twenty seven?

Speaker 1 (37:44):
Clarksburg, Yes, Clarksburg.

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Explore more at Come Home to Clarksburg dot com.

Speaker 3 (38:03):

Speaker 1 (38:14):
More of your text coming up three oh four Talk
three oh four phone lines always open at eight hundred
and seven sixty five Talk. Yesterday, in the US Court
of Appeals Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia, there were arguments
heard about whether or not West Virginia violated constitutionally guaranteed
equal protections by declining to cover circle surgical treatments for

(38:35):
gender dysphoria. Metron New Statewide correspondent Brad mclehennick joins us
for more. First of all, Brad, good morning, going to
talk to you again. Uh oh, do we have a
bad phone line with Brad? Brad you there?

Speaker 18 (38:50):
Good morning?

Speaker 1 (38:51):
Hey Man. Tell you what, Brad? We got a real
choppy line. Can we try to reconnect. I'm going to
put you back on hold if I could do that
without hanging up on him? Yeah, there we go.

Speaker 4 (39:04):
All right?

Speaker 1 (39:05):
Uh, Ethan checked that phone line for us, and we'll
get to Brad. Man. When's the last time we talked
to Brad on the show? Feels like it's been a
hot minute.

Speaker 5 (39:13):
It's been a while, and we got a bad way
and he draws a bum phone line. Look at that all,
you know, Dave thinking about what Kaufman said to kill
some time here. If our insurance mix is primarily Peia,
Medicare Medicaid and it's not paying at cost, you know,
hospitals can try to better that. But to me, that
necessitates consolidation. And we're seeing that in the news. You

(39:36):
read about hospitals where you can't have a baby anymore
at the local hospital you have to go to a
larger city. I mean, I don't like that any more
than anybody else, but I don't know that economically there's
another answer. I mean, that's why I asked about mergers.
I think it's going to have to happen.

Speaker 1 (39:48):
I don't know if it's I don't know if this
is an answer, but I do know it is a
focus for some Look the Eastern Payanhandle. You know what's
over there, A bunch of patients with private and insurance
a better mix.

Speaker 2 (40:02):
Are we.

Speaker 1 (40:04):
Keeping them in West Virginia or are they going to
Winchester or are they going you know, to Maryland. Are
they going to Fairfax County or Loudon County that for
those medical healthcare needs? Or are they staying in Jefferson County?
Are they staying in Berkeley County. I don't know what
the answer is, and I don't know what the overall
impact would be, but I know there's a significant population

(40:25):
over there that are not on Medicaid. Let me put
it that way.

Speaker 5 (40:29):
PPOs aren't prevalent anymore. Most people have high deductible plants
and they have HSA's and so a chunk of it
is coming out of their pocket. So if that's happening, what.

Speaker 1 (40:38):
Am I doing?

Speaker 5 (40:38):
If I'm in the Panhandle, I'd shop around let's see now,
Brad McElhenny there.

Speaker 19 (40:44):
Oh hi, it's me and I hope I sound fine.

Speaker 1 (40:46):
Yes, much better. So what's going on in the Fourth
Circuit down in Richmond. This case had been there once.
Why is it back again? Oh?

Speaker 18 (40:56):
Well, it's the case about whether West Virginia is violating
equal protections by not allowing Medicaid recipients to receive gender
affirming surgery. And this case was before the Fourth Circuit,
a full panel. It was an eight to six decision

(41:18):
in twenty twenty four that said, yes, West Virginia is
violating equal protections. But you know that was a split
eight to six, as closed as it can get. However,
a similar case, United States versus Skurmetti, went to the
US Supreme Court earlier this year, and in that case,

(41:39):
the Supreme Court Justice is upheld a Tennessee law banning
gender affirming medical care like puberty blockers and hormones for
transgender miners. So there are some differences there. In particular,
the Tennessee case dealt with minors. So the West Virginia
case was remained back to the Fourth Circuit, which covers

(42:03):
the states including West Virginia and the three judge panel
heard it again yesterday.

Speaker 5 (42:10):
So Brad, not to make light of the situation, but
I think it depends on the Fourth Circuit and how
froggy they're feeling with Scurmetti. It would seem that there's
enough corollary, enough precedent there. So is this going to
come down to whether or not the Fourth Circuit will
honor Scermetti. If they don't, I would imagine this kicks
back up to the Supreme Court. Or if they do,

(42:30):
it should be the end of the matter. Am I
do I have the calculus right there?

Speaker 19 (42:35):
So awkwardly, I was off Monday transporting a kid from
college and rolled in Tuesday and got into this case cold,
and I was completely unfamiliar with Scrimetty. So I'm just
going to acknowledge to you and the listeners, but I
am I have no depth of knowledge of the Scermetti case,
the West Virginia case.

Speaker 20 (42:56):
However, Yeah, hey Brad, Brad, it sounds like the robots

(43:26):
dying there on you buddy, uh phone.

Speaker 1 (43:28):
Maybe we should be talking infrastructure instead. Maybe we should
let me interpret.

Speaker 5 (43:32):
I think he said something about the West Virginia vaccine
case will somehow play into this and that will make
everything better?

Speaker 1 (43:39):
Is that what you said? Brad? You're still there? We
have officially lost him, all right, O man, I hate that?

Speaker 21 (43:45):
All right?

Speaker 1 (43:46):
Sorry Brad. Well, we'll get a better phone connection next time.
Brad mcleahny Metro new statewide correspondent. You can read his
story over at wv metro news dot com. We're up
against the clock anyway, final break back to wrap up
our number one in a moment.

Speaker 8 (44:00):
Some say he's a man of mystery. Others say he's
the holiday hitmaker. No one saw coming.

Speaker 5 (44:05):
It's showtime.

Speaker 9 (44:06):
The holiday hit maker walks the office halls with West
Virginia Lottery holiday scratch offs and an unstoppable spirit.

Speaker 1 (44:13):
What are you doing.

Speaker 22 (44:15):
Bringing the holiday Highope here, enjoy scratch off.

Speaker 1 (44:18):
It's on me.

Speaker 20 (44:19):
Whoa ticket?

Speaker 1 (44:20):
My work here is done.

Speaker 8 (44:21):
Be the surprise hit maker. West Virginia Lottery games fun, festive,
and full of flare.

Speaker 23 (44:27):
Please play responsibly. Hospitals drive West Virginia's economy. They produce
jobs and create opportunities while keeping our communities healthy. Employing
nearly fifty four thousand people, West Virginia hospitals rank among
our state's largest and most dependable employers. They provide more
than one billion dollars in community benefits and generate nearly
seventeen billion dollars in total economic impact each year. Hospitals

(44:48):
are investing were accounts, advancing health, ensuring access to care,
and powering West Virginia's economic future.

Speaker 5 (44:54):
A message from the West Virginia Hospital Association online at
wvaj dot org.

Speaker 24 (45:03):
The West Virginia Farm from dawn until dusk. Through hard work, dedication,
and resilience, these folks supply their communities with a safe
and reliable product. And the West Virginia Farm Bureau while
we are right there with them as the voice of
agriculture in West Virginia, Join us today as we build

(45:23):
a better future for all of us. To learn more,
visit us at wvfarm dot org.

Speaker 1 (45:48):
Jackpots are growing in West Virginia. Jackpots are on the
rise every week. Power Ball hits Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Mega Millions lights up Tuesdays and Fridays. That's five chances
to get in on life changing jackpots. Play in store
and online eighteen plus to play, Please play responsibly. The
Powerball jackpot is nine hundred and thirty million dollars. Mega

(46:10):
Million's jackpot is seventy million to go ahead play today
texta says Dave and TJ using Field of dreams idea
that that have the jobs, the youngsters would come. My
recent time in Rino, Nevada, where a young, diverse population
is so obvious, you immediately wonder what in the world
are they doing. Their plan is to provide the stuff

(46:31):
that kids want, Mike trail skiing, numerous amazing athletic centers,
and the kids will come and the jobs will follow.
The result is also so obvious with economic and population growth,
says the Texture. This sounds like chicken or the chicken
in the egg. Do you create the jobs and the
people will come, or do you create the amenities and
the people will come and the jobs will follow. I

(46:52):
tend to think you need jobs first, But to the
Texter's point, you do need those amenities. But we have biking,
we have hiking. I think we've tried to capitalize on that,
see the initiative launched by Brad and Lee Smith over
the last couple of years.

Speaker 5 (47:05):
If we had better population density, that would be a
lot easier of a hurdle to surmount as well. That's
a big part of it.

Speaker 1 (47:12):
Charlotte Lane PSC chair will join us. Coming up. Also,
we'll reveal the Metro News Player of the Year. It's
all coming up talk Line. Metro News, the voice of
West Virginia.

Speaker 3 (47:28):
Metro News talk Line is presented by Encova Insurance, encircling
you with coverage to protect what you care about most.
Visit incova dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (47:39):
Second hour of Metro News talk Line from the Encova
Insurance Studios. Dave Wilson in Morgantown. TJ. Meadows is in Charleston.
Our phone number is eight hundred seven sixty five Talk
eight hundred and seven sixty five eight two five five.
You can text the show at three oh four Talk
three oh four. Coming up bottom of the hour, Joe
Bricado Metro News Sports will join us and we will

(48:01):
announce the Metro News High School Football Player of the
Year for twenty twenty five. That's coming up bottom of
the hour. We already have the Class single A All
State team that's posted for you at WDV metronews dot com.
Also a recap of the Mountaineers win over Little Rock
at the website. This morning. Jared Halpern will stop by

(48:23):
as well. TJ Meadows is in Charleston once again say
good morning to TJ. Good morning.

Speaker 5 (48:29):
I have a theory. I think the government and the
cell phone carriers have teamed up to silence Brad McElhenney
to keep his important information from getting out to the public.
That's what I'm going with, and I'm gonna get to
the bottom of it.

Speaker 1 (48:42):
Okay, we can go with that. Seems like something that
would come up on the Overnight Show. But yeah, that's
a George Norrie type of topic right there.

Speaker 5 (48:51):
There you go.

Speaker 1 (48:52):
Yeah, Well, you know, Brad McElhenny, you know, you can't
let the secrets get out. You know what, he's probably
got the missing Watergate tapes.

Speaker 5 (49:00):
May he may? I mean, you know, I can't confirm
or deny.

Speaker 1 (49:05):
I mean, I mean, who are we to say he
does not have those tapes. I think that's how you
do conspiracy theories.

Speaker 5 (49:11):
Well maybe it is, but you know, Brad can't be silenced.
He has important information to share with the people. But
it seems like he's had some phone issues lately.

Speaker 1 (49:19):
So yesterday at the or was it yesterday or the
day before? My day's run together anymore? Anyway? Public Service
Commission at chair Charlotte Lane testified before lawmakers on Monday,
saying that she has no plans to vote in favor
of closing any coal fire power plants in West Virginia.
Joining us on Mention News talk line this morning is

(49:40):
the chair of the Public Service Commission, Charlotte Lane. Charlotte,
good morning, Thanks for the time.

Speaker 25 (49:44):
Good morning.

Speaker 1 (49:46):
So why make such a definitive statements about the future
of coal fire power plants in West Virginia.

Speaker 25 (49:53):
The role of the Public Service Commission is to make
sure that the lights stay on and that our citizens
have reliable, affordable electricity. The coal fired plants are necessary
to provide reliable electric service to our citizens, and so

(50:19):
that is why I said we will not be closing
any coal fired plants. These plants are important for reliability purposes.
They provide lots of jobs, and the indirect economic benefit
to the state is astronomical of keeping those plants open.

Speaker 5 (50:44):
So, Charlotte, let's start with the value that those plants
have from a capacity perspective. You got into this a bit,
I think on the floor, I think you're going to
get into it more with legislative rules. But utilities either
have to have what's called a fixed resource requirement, meaning
they provide their own capacity, or they have to buy
it on the PGAM market via the auction. Those plants

(51:07):
would have to be replaced with some kind of capacity,
and they're still useful, they still have and they do
well in the capacity market. So by keeping them that
keeps bills lower than having to build new plants. Am
I describing that correctly? Along your line?

Speaker 25 (51:22):
Thought that is correct. To replace those plants, the cost
would be much more than keeping them running. And part
of the legislation that the legislature passed last year was
for us to look into what it would take to
extend the life of these plants. And so we have

(51:47):
two cases pending now that we will have here into
May for the utilities to tell us what it's going
to take to extend the life of those plants and
how much it's going to cost. And I was just
looking at some information this morning.

Speaker 2 (52:05):
There are.

Speaker 25 (52:07):
Forty six plants in the United States that have announced
that they are going to retire they're cold generating plants
between twenty twenty five and twenty twenty eight. As I
said on Monday, a lot of states now are starting
to recognize that this is not a good idea because

(52:30):
to replace those plants, it would take too long and
it would be more expensive. So West Virginia has been
quite steady that these plants are important for electricity purposes
and are important for the economic and tax benefits to

(52:53):
the state.

Speaker 1 (52:55):
Charlotte Lane is joining us chair of the Public Service Commission.
What's the message you are sending to the owner operators
of these plants that we will not entertain shut down plans.

Speaker 25 (53:08):
I think they've gotten the message and we will be
working with them to try to extend the life of
these plants, make them afford more affordable as as can be.
And part of the legislation also encourage the use of

(53:30):
indexed coal contracts, meaning that the price of coal should
bear some similarity to what it would cost to buy
power on the pjam market. And if the utilities entered
into indexed contracts, then they should be able to run

(53:54):
more and which would benefit everybody.

Speaker 5 (54:00):
Talk to me about this legislation that has been floated.
I don't know if it'll actually get brought up, but
that seventy percent capacity factor on the energy side has
been talked about. Is that legislation something that you can
get behind or does the PSC already have that in
its purview. When an operator comes in for an E

(54:22):
E NEEC case or base case, do you already have
the ability to take action in that traditional framework.

Speaker 25 (54:29):
Yes, we do. We have put out orders encouraging the
utilities to run at sixty nine percent capacity and taking that,
what we have to take into account is is it
economic for them to do that? And so what we
have said is we encourage them to do it, and

(54:53):
we are going to be working with them to come
up with tools to try to achieve that. And that
means cold contracts that are more in line with what
it would cost to bypower on the PJAM market. And
so we already can require a certain capacity and we

(55:17):
have it required to sixty nine percent. We are just
encouraging them to try to achieve it. Now, the legislation
that you're talking about, I haven't read it yet, but
I have heard about it, and I expect to be
meeting sometime soon with some of the proponents of that
legislation to discuss it with them and find out exactly

(55:41):
what it is they are trying to achieve and work
with them to try to achieve that without it actually
hurting what we are doing in order to keep the
plants running and to keep prices affordable as possible.

Speaker 1 (56:02):
Charlotte Lane is joining us PSC chair. Charlotte taking this
position that we will not approve the PSC will not
approve any coal fire power plant closures. Is this in
the best interest of the rate pair?

Speaker 25 (56:13):
Yes, it is. To replace these coal fired plants would
cost a lot more money and it couldn't be brought
online anytime soon. Now, having said that we are going
to keep the coal fired plants running, we are open

(56:34):
to all sorts of new generation, whatever the source of
the energy is. We would be very open to looking
at nuclear facilities. We have a track record of approving
solar and wind farms, so we are doing everything we

(56:54):
can to have a diverse supply of generation in this state.
But for reliability purposes, you need to have facilities that
can be dispatched and.

Speaker 2 (57:14):
That is not.

Speaker 25 (57:17):
Renewable energy. So it has to be coal. And until
we get gas fired plants, it is coal.

Speaker 5 (57:26):
So Charlotte, let me say, I don't envy you. I
think your chair may be the hottest chair in the state.
You've got a lot of people and a lot of
constituencies that you have to try to bring together and
please so your job is tough enough and we appreciate
the job that you do. Let me ask let me
ask you this. You talked about gas. If any of

(57:47):
the utilities would want to refire and look at moving
from coal to gas on existing units, is that a
no go too? Does that fall into the same kind
of parameter that you've talked about and paradigm that you've
taught with keeping existing coal open. Yes, So, just to
illustrate and expand on that. If I'm hearing you right,

(58:08):
you're saying that that conversion and that cost would still
be more and higher to rate payers than what they
would otherwise pay if the environmental REGs continue to allow
coal to be burned and the things that aren't under
your control don't hamper what you want to do. Is
that a fair characterization?

Speaker 25 (58:25):
That is a fair characterization. And as I said on Monday,
First Energy is going to be filing sometime soon a
request to build twelve hundred megawatts of gas fire generation,
and we will look at that very carefully because, as
I said before, we recognize that we need all sorts

(58:49):
of generation, but that will not replace any of the
coal fired generation.

Speaker 1 (59:00):
Carlett Lane, chair of the State Public Service Commission, Charlotte.
Always appreciate the time. Thanks for coming on this morning.

Speaker 25 (59:06):
Thank you have a nice day, and Merry Christmas.

Speaker 1 (59:09):
Merry Christmas. There you have a nice day as well.
Coming up, Jared Halper will check in. President Trump was
in Pennsylvania last night talking about a lot. We'll get
into that right after this.

Speaker 22 (59:19):
Coal based generation remains the backbone of West Virginia's energy portfolio,
ensuring reliability, security, and affordable electricity throughout the region. Our
coal plants are engineered for performance, designed to run most
efficiently at or near a seventy percent capacity factor. This
level of operation is not arbitrary. It's based on sound

(59:40):
engineering principles, scientific analysis, and has been formally adopted by
the West Virginia Legislature as a reasonable target.

Speaker 5 (59:47):
For optimal performance.

Speaker 22 (59:48):
When our coal fleet operates near that benchmark, it provides
stable power to the grid, maintains cost efficiency, and supports
thousands of good paying jobs across our state. Coal generation
also drives local tax revenue that sustain schools, infrastructure, and
community services. Working in partnership with state leaders and the
Trump administration, we're ensuring that our coal meat remains modern,

(01:00:11):
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Metallurgical coal builds the world, and the Met Coal Producers
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our industry. Joined today, visit Metcole dot com. Metcole makes
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Speaker 1 (01:01:36):
Coming up bottom of the Hour, Joe Bricano joins the
sud In Studio will reveal the Metrodos High School football
Player of the Year. Citty net makes technology simple for
your business, from network monitoring to IT management or experts
keep you connected and protected. Learn more at sitting neet
dot net. Citty neet Connects, protects, and perfects. Yesterday, President

(01:01:57):
Trump was in the Poconos in Pennsylvania, launching a tour
to talk about affordability in what his administration is doing
to lower the cost of living. He spoke for a
tidy ninety seven minutes last night. Fox News Radio is
Jared Halpern joins us today Jared, good morning.

Speaker 4 (01:02:13):
And all of it right on message.

Speaker 1 (01:02:15):
Oh, I'm sure he never went off prompter, did he?

Speaker 4 (01:02:18):
But it's a good listen. It's a good insight into
what the strategy here is for President Trump going into
the midterm elections. We heard from Susie Wiles, the White
House Chief of Staff, earlier this week that President Trump
is going to treat twenty twenty six as if it
were twenty twenty four.

Speaker 2 (01:02:34):
Again.

Speaker 4 (01:02:35):
Expect the President to do a lot of these rally
style events in critical states, in critical swing type districts
where Republicans need to win to hold on to the majority,
and certainly the economy is going to be top of
mind for voters. The other challenge for Republicans is trying

(01:02:57):
to rebuild the Trump coalition from twenty twenty four, which
was made up by a lot of lower propensity voters
who historically don't show up to vote if the President
isn't on the ballot. Republicans know that they are aware
of that. The White House seems to be taking note
of that, and that's part now of President Trump's strategy

(01:03:19):
is essentially to put himself on the ballot despite not
being on the ballot in the midterms, trying to turn
out that vote that was so critical to his success
last year.

Speaker 5 (01:03:30):
Jared break down what the President said yesterday this idea,
and I think there's some some validity here. You know,
inflation spiked double digit numbers under the Biden administration, and
so that big swim may not have Yeah, yeah, haven't
you know, they haven't fully recovered that. At the same time,
you've got what the president is doing with tariffs that
can potentially up prices. How should how should people be

(01:03:53):
thinking about reconciling what the President is saying, this is
what he's.

Speaker 4 (01:03:56):
Doing are going to have to reconcile it. President Trump
is not facing an unusual problem or an unusual concern
for presidents. It's this idea that you know, voters are
gonna You can't really tell voters the economy is great
if they don't feel it right. And so, you know,
you hear presidents talk about, you know, the metrics of

(01:04:20):
the economy, unemployment rates, job creation, job growth, all of that,
but voters have to feel it right. And so that's
always the challenge of an administration that wants a lot
of credit for things that they see that are good,
but sometimes those don't take hold right away. When the
president talks about investments into the US from foreign companies,
When the President talks about new manufacturing plants or new

(01:04:42):
AI facilities, that's good for the economy long term, but
it may not have the type of impact short term
that voters are going to demand when they go to
the polls in twenty twenty six.

Speaker 1 (01:04:53):
So, Jared, what is the Trump administration's message.

Speaker 4 (01:04:58):
That they are You know that the the President's policies
are working, that prices are lower than they were a
year ago. The President points to gas prices which have
fallen the President points the grocery prices, which is kind
of a mixed bag for the administration, and says that
you know, the tariffs are working, that they don't believe
that the tariffs are going to be inflationary, that it
is generating a lot of economic stimulation in the economy,

(01:05:23):
and that you know, the President's plans will continue to
bring down costs. The question for voters will be do
they believe that, do they feel that? Is that their
experience when they go to vote in November of next year.

Speaker 5 (01:05:37):
Yeah, Ja, to your point, I think a lot of
this is who you are and what you're looking at.
I mean, if you're a market guy, you're looking at
the SMP you're up sixteen, almost seventeen.

Speaker 4 (01:05:46):
Yeah, most that's not most folks relationship with the stock market, right,
And so you're right, the market's good, it's gone up,
and you know, people can look at their four O
one k's and all of that stuff. But at the
same time, you know, those again are kind of long
term strategies. What people are most attuned to are their

(01:06:07):
day to day expenses, gasoline, groceries, childcare. We are going
to see likely health insurance premiums for an awful lot
of Americans on the Affordable Care Act spike. Who gets
blamed for that politically? Those are the costs that people
are most aware of, generally on their sort of day
to day experience with the economy and Jared.

Speaker 1 (01:06:29):
People go to the grocery store, and when they talk
about lowering prices, they're not just thinking about getting inflation
under control. They're talking about whatever it costs for a
carton of eggs in twenty nineteen. And that's not going
to happen. But that is the challenge that Republicans and
the President face in this upcoming lesson cycle.

Speaker 4 (01:06:47):
And the other challenge is that, you know, voters have
a pretty quick expectation. President Trump was elected because of
this satisfaction with the economy. He promised quick results. You
look at some of the polling that has come out
in recent weeks, the president is lagging on the economic front.
Those approval ratings have fallen in some cases to the
high thirties the load of mid forties. That is not

(01:07:10):
where a president wants to be. And when voters are
asked kind of who is you know? Whose economy isn't
you know, increasingly the answer is President Trump's and every
president talks about kind of the economy that they inherited.
Generally it's the party in power, it's the guy, you know,
behind the desk that voters look towards. And that's going

(01:07:30):
to be the other challenge here for President Trump.

Speaker 5 (01:07:33):
Quickly, he did hit on a few other hot topics.
What did he touch?

Speaker 4 (01:07:37):
You know, he talks a lot about obviously foreign policy,
the wars that he has ended. The President talks about
that kind of on an economic aspect too, because he
talks about the tariffs and kind of how important that's
Supreme Court decision is. And you know, he talked a
little bit about Ukraine, his views on that. Again, important

(01:07:58):
issues that have global implications generally not top of mind
for voters who tend to focus, especially in midterm years,
on more of those domestic and economic issues.

Speaker 1 (01:08:09):
Fox News Radios Jared Halprin, Jared, thank you so much
for the time. Appreciate it. Perthec coming up, Joe Briccado,
the hardest working man in sports media, will join us
in the studio. We will reveal the twenty twenty five
Metro News High School Football Player of the Year. Got
a plethora of text to get to We will get
through those as we get into the final thirty minutes

(01:08:29):
of the program. You can weigh in at eight hundred
seven to sixty five Talk eight hundred seven six five
eight two five five. You can also text the show
at three oh four Talk three oh four. We always
forget to do this. We're also on X Believe It
or Not TJ. What's your Twitter hint or X handle
on TJ Meadows three oh four and Dave Well at
Dave Wilson, MN. That's where you can find us over

(01:08:51):
on the X machine. Joe Briccado up next will reveal
the Metro News high school football Player of the Year.
Your text coming up as well. Eight hundred seven to
sixty five Talking three or four Talk three or four.
This is talk Line on Metro News for forty years,
the voice of West Virginia. It is eleven thirty. Time
to get a news update. Let's check in with the

(01:09:12):
Metro News radio network. Find out what's happening across the
great state of West Virginia.

Speaker 21 (01:09:18):
West Virginia Metro News, I'm Chris Laurens. The weather taking
a drastic turn as a blizzard warning for the state's
higher elevations took effect the last hour. National Weather Services
that blizzard warning is for parts of Webster, Randolph, and
Poconnas County and runs through ten am tomorrow. Four to
eight inches of snow possible and wins in the forty
five mile an hour range. Parts of the lower counties

(01:09:38):
in central West Virginia under a winter weather advisory. The
Republican supermajority in the House of Delegates is ready to
get the regular session started, and they're ready to use
it to try and make drives in the state's economics.

Speaker 10 (01:09:49):
The Republican majority is calling this their job's first economic
opportunity for every one package. House Speaker Roger Hanshaw outlined
three pillars at the news call conference. First, he said
their legislation will focus on workforce education, which includes a
proposed five percent teacher pay raise. The second pillar will
focus on job creation with a renewed focus and an

(01:10:12):
extra focus on aviation jobs. And the third pillar will
be called responsible economic growth. Now, these three pillars and
the proposed legislation came out of surveys with the ninety
one member majority that were taken over the last few
months at the state capitol. I'm Jeff Jenkins, WV Metronews
dot com.

Speaker 21 (01:10:31):
State Board of Education meeting in Charleston this morning and
last hour approved plans to close and consolidate schools in Logan, Roan, Barber,
Upshur and Randolph Counties. You're listening to Metro News for
forty years, the voice of West Virginia.

Speaker 13 (01:10:46):
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Speaker 26 (01:11:15):
Metallurgical coal builds the world and the met Coal Producers
Association is the network that makes it possible. The MCPA
unites America's met coal producers, giving members a powerful voice
in policy, partnership and progress. Producers, suppliers and innovators come
together here to build relationships, drive growth, and strengthen our industry.

Speaker 5 (01:11:37):
Join today.

Speaker 26 (01:11:38):
Visit metcoal dot com, met Cole makes it possible, MCPA
makes it personal.

Speaker 21 (01:11:45):
The West Virginia Air National Guard staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe
is now sitting up in his bed, lifting his head
on his own and moving his arms. That update from
State Ashdon General Jim Seward in a social media post.
The twenty five year old wolf along with twenty year
old specialist Backstrom, were shot two weeks ago as they
were patrolling the streets of Washington.

Speaker 17 (01:12:03):
D C.

Speaker 21 (01:12:04):
Beckstrom died on Thanksgiving Day. Her funeral was held yesterday.
From the Metro News anchored ask, I'm Chris Lawrence.

Speaker 1 (01:12:37):
Three Aho four Talk three oh four is the text line.
You can give us a call at eight hundred and
seven to sixty five eight two five five. That is
the phone number. We'll get to your text coming up
next segments. A lot of you commenting, weighing in. We'll
get to your thoughts in just moment Over at ww
metro news dot com. By the way, we have the

(01:12:58):
full Class single A All state football team for you today.
They will be revealing those as the week goes on.
Also on the Metro News TV app. I believe do
we have the full game broadcasts up already? You've believe.

Speaker 15 (01:13:10):
So.

Speaker 1 (01:13:11):
Yes, you can rewatch the high school football championships over
on the Metro News TV app. The tones you hear
coming from just to my immediate right is the hardest
working man in sports media. One Joe Bricado. Joe, good morning.
Good to see about it.

Speaker 15 (01:13:26):
I'm just happy that I got the memo that it's
dark blue shirt day for all three of us, or
at least it looks like it's dark blue for TJ.

Speaker 1 (01:13:34):
But that you're okay, you're on. Yesterday was Green Day.
We were in all different shows of green Yeah. Well, okay,
see what it did there, Green Day band and shirt.
So anyway, all right, this seems like a good point
to digress and get to the reason you are here.
So several years ago, when do we start giving this out?
Twenty fourteen, twenty twenty thirteen, we established the Metro News

(01:13:57):
Football Player of the Year. Some of the previous zippients
include Ross Comas from Weirton, Madonna, Cody Mitchell, Point Pleasant,
Jeremy Dillon Mingo Central. I'm not going to name them all,
Hudson Clement from Martinsburg, Koy Fagan last year from Martinsburg,
Dom Collins from Princeton. Just some of the previous winners
of this award. Now explain the award and then we'll

(01:14:18):
get to the winner this year. So how do we
determine the Metro News Player of the Year.

Speaker 15 (01:14:22):
As you said, this is the thirteenth year that Metro
News has awarded the Metro News Player of the Year
to the top high school football player in the state
of West Virginia. The polling is done by those of
us that participate in the weekly poll, the weekly high
school football rankings that go on throughout the course of
the regular season. And that's people within Metro News, broadcasters, writers,

(01:14:45):
all sorts of different members of the sports media, and
there's those beyond Metro News family as well that also participate.
So that same group that produces the poll produces the
final balloting for the Metro News Player of the Year.
It's done on a five five point three point one
point basis, so we ask all of the pole participants
to give us their number one pick, their number two pick,

(01:15:07):
and their number three pick. The number one pick gets
five points, three points in one point respectively.

Speaker 1 (01:15:12):
So it's all the guys. I assume some girls in
there too who cover high school sports, on a very
close basis throughout the entire year.

Speaker 15 (01:15:20):
Yes, throughout the all corners of the state. We have
representatives from both panhandles, Southern West Virginia, Canal Valley, North Central,
you name.

Speaker 1 (01:15:28):
It, all right, I do not have a drum roll
queued up.

Speaker 15 (01:15:30):
I was going to ask you if you did. I
was assuming that that was somewhere in the vast recesses
of your computer.

Speaker 1 (01:15:36):
TJ's taking care of it. So it's further Ado Joe.
The twenty twenty five Metrolos High School fotball Player is.

Speaker 15 (01:15:41):
We are proud to announce the twenty twenty five Metro
News High School Football Player of the Year is Princeton
senior wide receiver Brad Mosser. Monster wins the honor for
helping to lead the Tigers to their first ever Class
Triple A state championship in an undefeated season. Monster's performance
that he put together in the championship game will be
the stuff of legend if you put his entire numbers

(01:16:03):
for the season together ninety three receptions for one thousand,
five hundred and twelve yards and fourteen touchdowns. Receiver his
primary position, but he also spent a lot of time
at running back one hundred and twenty five rushes nine
hundred and fourteen yards. If you add up his rushing,
receiving and return touchdowns forty nine, it breaks down fourteen

(01:16:23):
receiving touchdowns, twenty eight rushing touchdowns, and seven by way
of return. And the performance that he put forth in
the championship game. Princeton scored thirty six points in that
thrilling class Triple A state finally against Nitro, thirty four
of them came from Rad Moster. He counted five touchdowns
and the conversions as well to put the Tigers over
the top.

Speaker 5 (01:16:44):
John'm taking a look at the footage we're running of
him on the web stream and man, all around, he's
got it all around. What's the future look like for
this dude.

Speaker 15 (01:16:54):
No question about it. He is going to be a
tremendous player at the college level.

Speaker 1 (01:16:57):
Now.

Speaker 15 (01:16:58):
His recruitment has picked up a little bit, as you
probably expect late in the season. He's had a number
of offers from Mountain East schools and he recently picked
up his first Division ie FCS offer from Morgan State University.
He received that offer early this week, and we're gonna
have him on the final edition of high school sports
line coming up tonight and we'll kind of get an

(01:17:19):
update on where his recruiting stands. But Brad Moser has
certainly elevated his profile with a tremendous regular season, a
tremendous postseason, and obviously having a state championship is a
great line on that resume.

Speaker 1 (01:17:30):
Having that performance in the state championship game, and you
could say the same for Malachi Thompson. You could say
the same for k Coronas or Maddox Twig at Morgantown.
To have that type of a game in that setting,
and really, if anybody had not had a chance to
see these guys play or had heard about him and
well you know, orally only seen the highlights, that performance
on that stage is exactly what you would expect from

(01:17:52):
your best players in the state.

Speaker 15 (01:17:53):
Right And I think that that's a major reason that
Koy Fagan won the award last year from Martinsburg because
he played just out of his mind in that Class
Quade state championship for Martinsburg last year against the Spring Mills.
And I do want to emphasize I know some other
awards stay Wider are done on a little bit differently.
We do not accept any ballots from the voters until

(01:18:14):
after all games are completed. So those votes came all
of them came out. Now, some people may have made
up their mind. I can't speak for everybody that you
know may have participated in the voting, but we don't
accept any of the votes until after the state championship
games were played.

Speaker 1 (01:18:28):
I think I submitted mine from the press box after
the final game. It was Saturday night. I don't know
if I made it back to the hotel.

Speaker 15 (01:18:35):
The responsible citizen that you are, that does not.

Speaker 1 (01:18:37):
Surprise me, but I don't know if you who are
others in consideration?

Speaker 15 (01:18:43):
Yeah, and this was the in the thirteen year history
of this award, this was the closest vote. Mosser collected
seventy three points. Mattox Twig of Morgantown is the runner up,
and Twig was unbelievable in Morgantown's victory over Martinsburg in
the Class Quad A state championship game. The margin was
two points seventy three points from Brad Moster seventy one
points for Maddox Twig. Previously, the closest balloting was back

(01:19:07):
in twenty nineteen when Martinsburg's Gerrod Bowie edded out Brandon
Panda Parkersburg South by two votes as well number three
through five, respectively, Wheeling Parks tremendous running back in Brennan Wack.
Boston Todd from Martinsburg was fourth, and Bridge Sports Gavin
Williams was fifth in the balloting.

Speaker 5 (01:19:26):
So, given how close it was over and obviously as
close as it's ever been over the years, tough to pinpoint, obviously,
but anything pop into your mind about that. Are we
seeing more and more kids start earlier and earlier and
specialize in certain sports and that's growing the stock and
making everyone better. I'm just kind of curious if there's
any kind of X factor, Joe, that you think resulted

(01:19:48):
in that close balloting.

Speaker 15 (01:19:49):
It's kind of tough to tell because you do have
some multi sport athletes, certainly in this group. Gavin Williams
is a tremendous basketball player for Bridge Board, Boston Todd
competes and other sports as well, So you know, you
do see some sports specialization that may, you know, be
a bit of a factor for some of the players.
But you know, Max Twig as we know, and Dave
Wilson can a test he's going to be a very

(01:20:12):
busy person over the next winter months as well.

Speaker 1 (01:20:15):
Yeah, he's got a basketball game coming up Friday night
with Dave Tollman's bunch. And for the reck, I'll throw
it out there. Voters need to be accountable and if
Shaan Buser's listening, I did vote for Attix Twig number one.
Master was second. I had Brennan Whack. I thought he
had a tremendous year, was injured and still put up
just video game like numbers there for Wheeling Park. Here's
what pushed me over the edge was twigs presence on

(01:20:40):
defense and that was the just nosed him ahead for me,
ahead of Master because you could see the difference when
he was in at safety Saturday for Morgantown and winning
he was not and that made a difference, and that
just nedged him ahead of Brad Moster. And of course
I mean I am voice full disclosure and voice of
the Mohegans. So there's that. But try to look there

(01:21:00):
were all so many good players this year. Malachi Thomas,
we have talked about him, Kay Coronas. You can look
down there in Class single A as well Class Double A.
There's but there were a lot of great football players
this year.

Speaker 15 (01:21:10):
Yeah, and I do think there Again, I can't speak
for all the voters, but Mosser was a tremendous defensive
player as well for Princeton. And I think a lot
of voters do kind of gravitate towards guys that do
play on both sides of the ball because we circulate
a ballot that has a lot of their offensive stats.
But I know a lot of the whole voters come
back and say, well, does he play on defense or
how much? You know, what can you quantify in terms

(01:21:32):
of what he was able to give in terms of
tackles or any defensive numbers as well. So the offensive
numbers catch everybody's attention, but certainly the defense as the.

Speaker 5 (01:21:40):
Factor as well well. Congratulations to all those who had votes,
and I would be remiss if I didn't say that,
I'm just absolutely thrilled that Dave Wilson participated in a
ranked choice voting system.

Speaker 15 (01:21:55):
You've been holding that in for nine minutes.

Speaker 1 (01:21:58):
Absolute two of those.

Speaker 12 (01:22:00):
By the way.

Speaker 1 (01:22:00):
Also, you know, I also voted in another little award
over the weekend, but I'm not allowed to say who
I've voted for for that one.

Speaker 15 (01:22:07):
Are you saying that we need to abandon the rank
choice and go with the primary system for this, and
we lit down to two candidates and then vote on
the two.

Speaker 5 (01:22:14):
I'm saying the state legislature could learn a thing or
two in the way you conduct this contest. Joe, I'll
leave it at that.

Speaker 15 (01:22:21):
Well, you know, all of a sudden, my microphone doesn't work.
I don't know what's going on here.

Speaker 1 (01:22:24):
Let's have sessions coming up. We can always introduce a bill.
By the way, second Tiger in three years to second
Tiger in three years.

Speaker 15 (01:22:29):
Dom Collins two years ago a tremendous wide receiver for
the Princeton Tigers, and obviously Mosser was a big ingredient
on that twenty twenty three team. But at the third
time in the last four years that the winners from
Southern West Virginia Duda Price from Independence now at Marshall
University one back in twenty two.

Speaker 1 (01:22:46):
All right, Brad Mosser the Metro News high School Football
Player of the Year twenty twenty five. We've got a
profile and highlights up at WDV metro news dot com. Joe,
what's coming up? Final high school sports line of the
Year of the season of the.

Speaker 15 (01:23:00):
Yep we will the high school Sports sign will reconvene
in early January once basketball season gets in full swing,
although it did start for the boys last night. We'll
hear from all four of the championship pointing head coaches
on the show tonight, and also Brad Mosser as well.
In studio here in the Dale Miller Building will be
Dave Jecklin and Fred Persinger.

Speaker 1 (01:23:20):
In your seat, all right, that's coming up tonight seven
oh six to nine on many of these same metro
news radio stations. He is, without a doubts the hardest
working man in sports media. Joe Bracado, Joe, you em bellish,
Thank you very much, buddy, got to take a break.
Your text are next.

Speaker 23 (01:23:35):
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(01:23:56):
counts advancing health, ensuring access to care, and powering West
virginia economic future.

Speaker 5 (01:24:01):
A message from the West Virginia Hospital Association on Mina
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To care for you at the Hope Come, we are here.

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From all of us, here at the Health Plan. We
want to make your season bright.

Speaker 16 (01:24:48):
Whether you're wrapping gifts or planning next year's goals, We're
here for you. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from our
family to yours.

Speaker 26 (01:25:00):
Black Here.

Speaker 3 (01:25:16):

Speaker 1 (01:25:26):
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(01:25:46):
seventy millions. To go ahead, play today. Let's get some
text in three or four talk three oh four. Oh
that was good TJ Rank Choice voting, laughing face emojis
from the Texter.

Speaker 5 (01:25:58):
I couldn't pass it up.

Speaker 1 (01:25:59):
Sorry, you were sitting on that though you were waiting.
You thought of that early in the segment, and you
were waiting on it, you know, honestly, it didn't.

Speaker 5 (01:26:06):
It came to me when Joe talked about the one, two,
three things because I didn't know, and then I was like, oh,
that's ranked choice. And then when you admitted who and
how you voted and stuff, I was like, oh, so
he participated. He's on the record, So going to participate,
I know, I know, I just don't have to like the.

Speaker 28 (01:26:24):
System for good clean fun Dave, Good clean Fun Texter
wants to know how come other states are retiring their
coal fired power plants?

Speaker 1 (01:26:34):
Are we ahead of the curve this time, I'll defer
to you TJ.

Speaker 5 (01:26:39):
I mean, that's a two hour topic, but I'll just
say this. Every state has to weigh a number of variables.
Those variables have to account for what interconnection they're in.
We're in PJAM. So what are their rules and methodologies?
What do they allow? What do they not allow? Charlotte
talked about balancing the economic prosperity the states and what

(01:27:00):
is in the best interests of the state in this
industries versus supplying power at the cheapest available price. So
utilities get together. That's why they do what's called an
internal resource plan or an integrated resource plan. I should say,
it's why we adjudicate these issues at the PSC, and
it's why all the constituencies make their case and the
PSC decides. The biggest takeaway that I heard there from her,

(01:27:23):
and I think she's right those kinds of decisions should
rest with the PSC and not the legislature and not law,
because that's why the PS is there. Because these are
very detailed, very deep, and they have to be explored
here's the.

Speaker 1 (01:27:34):
Only thing I don't like. I don't like definitive statements
because you don't know what is going to happen six
weeks from now, a year from now, two years from now.
So to definitively say we are not going to do this,
I just don't like that because there may be a
situation in which it makes sense. But now you've already
declared we're not going to do this thing, or we

(01:27:55):
are going to do this thing. I don't like the
position it puts you in down the road if it
becomes feasible or economically advantageous to do the thing you
said you're not going to do.

Speaker 5 (01:28:07):
Let me tell you why I think she can do
that and why it will hold at least during her tenure.
If we continue to roll back these EPA REGs like
one to eleven, which the Trump administration has done, that
will make coal more viable, especially from a capacity standpoint,
And if you can continue to run those plants, maintain them,
and have them on standby for the really really cold

(01:28:28):
days and whatever you need to meet your peak. Clearly,
it's less expensive than building a brand new power plant
now when you have to retire them, and your capacity short.
Then that's a different scenario. So I think what she
is doing is saying that I want to give her
grace on it. I think she's saying it in a
five maybe ten year period, but closer to a five

(01:28:50):
year period would be my humble guess.

Speaker 1 (01:28:52):
I'll put it that way, and I will add to
what I just said. I still don't like the defenditive short,
but I would also that she is smart enough and
has been in the U, been in the business, been
in the position long enough. You also don't make that
statement without knowing with some level of confidence and uncertainty,
nobody's going to be filing to close those plants anytime soon.

Speaker 5 (01:29:16):
Yeah, go look at a or go watch a rate case,
and look at all the constituencies that she has to
balance and all of the voices and all of the
Once I was very sincere when I said I would
not have her job, and she has a thankless job.
And it's important that we have commissioners that understand these processes.
And you know, frankly, that's why I've never been a
big fan of the idea that will elect commissioners, because

(01:29:40):
you need people that have to have the knowledge to
know what they're doing. Sorry about that, No, no problem,
Let's get some more text in here. You guys are liars.
Prices have fallen and gas prices are under two dollars
a gallon. Drug and grocery prices my new word, people
don't use, have come down fifteen percent in some places.
People have told me that, says the Texter. I don't
know about but I mean, I will say, wholesale gasoline.

(01:30:02):
You're to date, Dave. And Trump's in office. I don't
know that he can take credit for it. I don't
know that any president can really take credit for the
price of oil. But it's down twelve percent.

Speaker 1 (01:30:10):
Well they will take take credit for it, surely. And
here's the price. And I brought this up with with Halpern.
Inflation is under control. I mean, it's still probably a tick.
It's still a tick higher than where the Fed would
want it, but it is under control. It's not nine
percent anymore. However, deflation is not a good thing, right TJ.
You're you're my unofficial financial advisor. Deflation is not a

(01:30:33):
good thing. So returning to prices what they were in
you know, December of twenty one, when did the deflation
really spike? Was twenty two anyway. Yeah, my point being,
going back to where prices were five years is not feasible.
It's not going to happen.

Speaker 5 (01:30:47):
Huge swings are never good. You want movement in moderation,
and you know that narrative. As Jared said, it is
a tough sell though, because do I really care? I
just want stuff cheap? Do I really care now that
I've already elected Trump, if I don't think it's moved enough,
Do I really care? And am I really moved by this?

Speaker 1 (01:31:06):
Well?

Speaker 5 (01:31:07):
Look, we're still trying to recover from Biden three years.
I don't know that people care.

Speaker 1 (01:31:11):
If you are canceling your vacation this year, Yeah, you
don't care, right, you don't care if you're not going
to go to that ballgame with your kids because it's
too expensive, or you know, whatever the case may be.
You don't care. You don't care. Who's who you going
to blame the people that are in the majority and
who are in the White House. It happens. It happens
to every administration. All right, got to take another break.

(01:31:32):
We'll wrap things up. Talk line from theing COVID Insurance studios.

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(01:32:30):
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Speaker 1 (01:32:56):
Coming up tomorrow on the program former governor former US
Senator Joe Mansion. We'll join us on Metro News Talk
LIMB if we get to tomorrow. Some of the Mountain Counties,
parts of the Mountain Counties, parts of Preston, Tucker, Poconnis,
Randolph under a blizzard warning. Oh that does not sound

(01:33:21):
like fun. Others are under a winter weather advisory as
a clipper system moves across the state later today, tonight
and into tomorrow. Well that sounds like fun.

Speaker 5 (01:33:32):
How'd you like to be the guy at Green Bank
that has to clean out the telescope?

Speaker 1 (01:33:40):
No, no is the answer we use.

Speaker 5 (01:33:44):
Maybe it doesn't matter. I don't know.

Speaker 1 (01:33:45):
Here in Morgantown, we don't have to anymore. When it snows,
the satellite dishes get full, just like the telescope. Right, yeah,
you gotta go clean them out so we can get
signals out, we can get signals in. It used to
be up on the roof. We had to climb up
a kind of a sketchy ladder, get up on the
roof with like a square or a push broom and
pull the snow out of these giant satellite dishes. Now,
thankfully they've put them on the ground now, so you

(01:34:07):
don't have to, you know, risk life and limb to
clean out the dishes and make certain talk line gets
on the air. I didn't like that job when I
had to do it here. Well alone, go to the
Green Bank and do it on the giant telescope.

Speaker 5 (01:34:19):
I know we're soft now we used to. You know
we're soft.

Speaker 1 (01:34:23):
We established that yesterday, of course. Soft. Speaking of soft,
Dave Allen going to be in with Amanda baron fro
Mention News Midday coming up. You got it on many
of these same Metro News radio stations. We'll talk to
you tomorrow at What's on ten oh six s Metro
News talk Line on Metro News. For forty years, the
voice of West Virginia,

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Talkline | Dec. 10, 2025

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