Talkline | May 7, 2025 - MetroNews Talkline

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
It's a Metro News talk line and the Cove Insurance
Studios no taxes on overtime. Activists are upset in Morgantown
in a lawsuits aims to stop job cuts at niosh
lots to cover Let's jump into it. Metro News talk
Line is underway.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
Radio turned off from the studios of w v r
C Media and the Metro ne Who's radio and television network.
The Voice Up West Virginia comes the most powerful show
in West Virginia. It's Metro ne NEOs talk Line with
Dave Wilson and DJ Meadows.

Speaker 3 (00:53):
Activated switch that work can from Charles.

Speaker 2 (00:58):
Stand By to David DJ.

Speaker 4 (01:00):
You're on.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
Metronews. Talk Line is presented by Encoba Insurance, encircling you
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Speaker 1 (01:16):
Good Morning, Welcome Insaudy and Coba Insurance Studios. Dave Wilson
in Morgantown, TJ. Meadows in Charleston. Jake Link runs the
video stream, and Ethan Collins is our operator. Sitting by
today three oh four Talk three or four is the
text line. If you would like to participate, you can
always call the show. We welcome those at eight hundred
and seven sixty five eight two five five coming up

(01:39):
this morning, kind of a broad look at national look
at the impacts of potential cuts to medicaid. We'll get
into that at the bottom of the hour. Senator Jim
Justice is scheduled to join us at eleven oh six,
and later the new SSAC director Wayne Ryan will join
us as the show unfold this morning. Good morning, mister

(02:02):
Meadows and the Charleston Bureau. I can am I the
only one not hearing TJ. All right, TJ. There is
no TJ. Well. I can see TJ. I just cannot
hear him up the loop. As they say, all right,

(02:22):
check the setting. See see if the hamster is still
alive back there running this operation. We will get TJ
into this program momentarily. Hello, how about that for momentarily?
There he is, morning, TJ.

Speaker 2 (02:36):
Morning.

Speaker 5 (02:36):
Just reset the profile there. Apparently didn't take the first time.
I gotta start with this though, breaking news, at least
to me, I didn't see it. Mansion slams West Virginia
move to ban ranked choice voting.

Speaker 1 (02:49):
That's your issue, that's your top dim apples you and Mansion?
Why will.

Speaker 4 (02:55):
Well?

Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yeah, We'll just say it. Why will these retire guys
just retire.

Speaker 5 (03:00):
Because there are important issues like this to be discussed.

Speaker 1 (03:03):
Well, what shouldn't he have brought that up prior to
the legislature outlawing it.

Speaker 5 (03:09):
Well, that may have cost him politically, I don't know.
But he's retired, isn't he. Yeah, But look, he's not wrong. Somebody,
somebody has to somebody has to continue to carry the
torch here for the Common Sense Center ideas. We all
know how I feel about ranked choice voting, but I

(03:29):
just couldn't refuse the opportunity to.

Speaker 1 (03:32):
I was wondering I forgot to bring that up in
the pre show meeting, and then I thought, I wonder
if TJ saw the article on Of course you did.
Of course you did.

Speaker 5 (03:42):
Yeah, yeah, thank you for indulging me.

Speaker 1 (03:46):
You're quite You're quite welcome, all right. Going on this
morning at the Federal Courthouse in Charleston, there are testimony
is being delivered in a lawsuit that seeks to prevent
the federal government from make job cuts at the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health otherwise known as NIOSH
in Morgantown. Following that story and back, will mentioned news

(04:10):
talk line in the first time in more than a
week is mentioned New State like correspondent Brad Mclelhenny, who
makes his return to the program. Brad, good morning, Good
to have you back.

Speaker 6 (04:19):
Oh hi, Yes, I was gone for a week, not
for nefarious reasons, but instead I had daughters leaving various
colleges at locations around the country, so I was their driver.
I had to drive their stuff. Secondly, yeah, there is
a court hearing going on right now in US District
Court in Charleston, the courtroom of Judge Irene Berger. You

(04:42):
might notice I am on this program with you at
this moment. So credit to Chris Lawrence of the Mighty
Metro News staff, who is in the courtroom as we speak.
This issue with NIOSH, the National Institute of Occupational Safety
and Health hits West Virginia in a couple of ways.
One is the way you elluded hundreds of jobs in

(05:03):
the Morgantown area, decent federal jobs, good benefits, decent pay.
That is, so we're worried about the loss of those
jobs under the guidance of the Department of Government Efficiency.

Speaker 1 (05:18):
So who brought the suit, Brady, it's all come about.

Speaker 6 (05:21):
That's the other thing. This really though, is a lawsuit
focusing on what NIOSH does that occupational safety and health.
One of its significant roles is to do federally mandated
under federal law, it's got to be done black lung screening.
So if a coal miner, and the main plaintiff in

(05:44):
the case is a Kenaw County coal miner, if a
coal miner suspects and is preliminarily screened for black lung,
they typically would go to a clinic or to one
of NIOSH's own screen vehicles, and then that those medical

(06:05):
records would be reviewed by NIOSH to make a determination
either you're developing black lung or it doesn't show it whatever.
Under federal law, coal miners who are identified as having
black lung then are allowed to transfer to a non
underground job to keep them, you know, physically safe and healthy.

(06:28):
If NIOSH is shut down, if there are no employees,
if if it's gone dark, well who's screening those black
lung claims? Not me and Dave and TJ, that's for sure.
So the Kanawh County coal miner in this case, representing
himself and others similarly situated, is suing on those grounds

(06:48):
to say, I've I got a preliminary black lung screening
in the fall. That's that's what he says, and it
has been sent off to Niosh and it's been sitting
on a shelf, not going anywhere. Meanwhile, I'm still the
coal miner being, you know, exposed potentially to even greater

(07:09):
black lung threats because I'm still in the same job
that I was in before. What he and his lawyers
want first is a temporary injunction to halt the layoffs
at NIOSH, so somebody is still around to do these screenings.
That is the issue before the court today in Judge
Burger's courtroom.

Speaker 5 (07:31):
So, Brad, forget my ignorance. Is Niosh. I'm not saying
they don't do a great job, and look, I want
everybody to keep their job. Not what I'm getting at,
But are they the only entity that can do this?
Can't some health facility in the private sector undertake this screening?
That way the law is still fulfilled.

Speaker 6 (07:48):
You know. My understanding is that's the way it typically
kind of works. That first you either you would go
to a Niosh mobile unit for your initial screening or
you would go to a clinic and then NIOSH would
make the determination.

Speaker 2 (08:05):
You have touched.

Speaker 6 (08:06):
On the federal response, the lawsuit is against the Department
of Health and Human Services and it's Secretary Robert F.
Kennedy Junior. The lawyers on the federal side are US
attorneys acting in their civil capacity, and one of their
responses is that although the workers at NIOSH have gotten

(08:33):
reduction and forced notifications, that they have not set in,
they've not been made permanent, they've not hardened up. And
so the federal explanation is, well, that could be reversed,
it's not certain yet, or there could be a reorganization
of the federal government, and maybe it's not NIOSH anymore,
but maybe some other entity in the federal government takes
over this role. Too soon to be suing over this

(08:56):
is what the federal government is saying.

Speaker 1 (08:58):
That's new state wide course. Brad mclelhenny is joining us. Brad,
does a coal miner from Kanawa County have legal standing
to sue the US Department of Health and Human Services
and the Health Secretary.

Speaker 6 (09:14):
Yeah, we'll see. So a couple of things. The lawyers
on the federal government side are contending that there are
only certain areas of the law where the federal government
can be held liable by the citizens, that otherwise there
is protection against this kind of lawsuit. I am just
a caveman lawyer, and I'm not prepared really to dive

(09:36):
that far into that issue. But there is another question
on the federal side. The lawyers for Health and Human Services,
they contend in their most recent filing that the plaintiff,
the Kanaw County coal miner, actually had his black lung
screening processed, and that he got a negative response back

(09:59):
in December that he he was determined not to have blacklong.
Dave and TJ and Brad cannot, I think really sort
that out on talk radio today. But there is a
difference of opinion about this particular coal minor status, and
if he has been judged to have had his screening
already processed and deemed to not have blacklong, I think

(10:22):
that that would call into question his standing.

Speaker 5 (10:27):
So Judge Berger can do what today from a very
high perspective, I guess she can immediately grant relief or
she can take this under invisement. What's your understanding grant?

Speaker 1 (10:38):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (10:39):
The question is whether she would grant a temporary restraining order,
which would I think halt those reduction in forced notifications,
you know, as a practical matter, if she were to
make that determination, I don't really know what happens. I mean,
there's potential, I think under a ruling today that Niosh employees,

(11:00):
particularly in the black lung screening section, could come back
to work. I think there's potential for that. Eyebrad, I'm
not saying that that's happening, but it's it's a potential outcome.

Speaker 7 (11:11):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (11:11):
You know. The other question I think is the federal
government has now a track record of blasting what what
some representatives of the government will call, uh, left leaning,
out of touch judges and not abiding by court orders.

Speaker 7 (11:30):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (11:30):
So we'll see if it if it potentially blows up
in that direction. And then finally there's this element of
just absolute uncertainty, even even outside the court system.

Speaker 2 (11:41):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (11:42):
The federal government has issued rounds of reduction and forced
not notifications at Nioshi in Morgantown, initially left some managerial
employees in place.

Speaker 4 (11:55):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (11:56):
Mike Mike Nolting of Metro News has provided great coverage
up to the coverage, but those managerial level employees recently
got notification that they are losing their jobs. Meanwhile, some
employees were notified that they are coming back. Center Capitol
characterized that as a potentially temporary callback of employees. So

(12:17):
what I'm saying to you is, you know, pity the
employees themselves who are living in this purgatory of I
don't know if I have a job or not. It
might all come to an end in June or July.
Pity any minor out in West Virginia or elsewhere in
Appalachia who has a black lung claim that's now in purgatory,

(12:38):
or who maybe has a suspicion that, you know, they're
not feeling good and they wonder what to do. You know,
it's just all kinds of uncertainty on this issue. Potentially,
Judge Berger could take a step today towards straightening out
that uncertainty. But you know, I think even after today,
more to be said and done statewide.

Speaker 1 (13:00):
Correspondent Brad McIlhenny read his story at WDV metro news
dot com and not hearing underway this hour in Federal
Court in Charleston. Brad, thank you very much.

Speaker 6 (13:10):
Hey, thanks guys.

Speaker 1 (13:11):
Coming up, we'll check in with Ryan Schmels, the Canadian
Prime Minister met with President Trump yesterday. Did he open
with a joke? I don't know if we'll lead with
that question, but we'll find out. Mention News talk line
continues in a moment.

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Speaker 1 (14:51):
You're listening to Talkline on Metro News, the Voice of
West Virginia.

Speaker 3 (14:58):
It's two hours of sports conversation to wrap up your weekend.
It's the City Net Sunday Night Sports Line. Hey, this
Travis Jowes joining myself and Greg Hunter every Sunday night
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Speaker 14 (15:28):
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Metro News This Morning, the biggest story he's from around
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Speaker 1 (16:05):
To get the big going with all the information you need.

Speaker 2 (16:07):
In the Mountain State, Jeff Jenkins brings you the day's headlines.

Speaker 15 (16:10):
It's a slow goo for the company being paid to
make electric school buses in West Virginia. Story posted this
Morning by Metro News Statewide correspondent Brad mcclhaney at WV
metro News dot com shows Green Power has orders for
ninety one electric school buses from the state Partner of Education,
but so far produced just twelve buses. Company official site
and number of issues.

Speaker 2 (16:30):
Kyle Wiggs at the sports Desk Mountaineer baseball team.

Speaker 16 (16:33):
They defeat Central Florida four to three on Sunday, yet
another Big Twelfth Conference sweep for West Virginia, as the
Mountaineers had one four to one on Friday fifteen to
ten on Saturday. The Mountaineers are thirty seven and five overall,
sixteen and three in the Big Twelfth Conference after that sweep.

Speaker 2 (16:51):
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(17:14):
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Speaker 1 (17:20):
Text line is three h four Talk three oh four
phone numbers eight hundred and seven to sixty five Talk
eight hundred seven sixty five eight two five five. Meanwhile,
Governor Morrissey is in Hinton this morning news conference. Also
this hour, A lot of things happen in this hour,
celebrating the signing of bills eliminating DEI and state government

(17:41):
education Higher ED and a bill closing loopholes for UH
medication for gender transitioning in minors. That is going on
this hour down in Summers County, eight hundred and seven
to sixty five. Talk the phone number three or four.
Talk three oh four is the text line, texter says,
mag loves it when it's someone else getting hurt, long

(18:03):
as it's not them. Coal miners got exactly what they
voted for. No crying, says the Texter. You're absolutely correct, TJ.
If the Republicans want to save themselves from themselves, they
would do it. My ideal is totally open primaries, top
two vote getters, regardless of party affiliation, moved to general election.

(18:24):
It would get us back to common sense leaders in
a way from the crazy extremes, and we'll all get
ice cream and cakes afterward.

Speaker 5 (18:33):
The dirty secrets. There are plenty of Republicans who talk
to me off the record. They don't want their name
associated with it yet, but they like this idea and
the reason they like this idea, candidly is we have
a governor that was elected with thirty four percent of
the vote in the primary, and look at the relationships
he has today. Now, look, anybody would cry file right

(18:54):
if they don't like what's going on. But if fundamentally
you don't like that, there you go, what doesn't matter.

Speaker 1 (19:04):
It's banned. And I would actually it is.

Speaker 2 (19:06):
It's banned again.

Speaker 1 (19:07):
We went over this. We went over this already. If
you don't want somebody to win your primary, then get
as a party, get organized and select your candidates instead
of having six people run for the nomination and you're
going to split the vote, organize a little bit. Organize
and figure it out as a party.

Speaker 2 (19:28):
You used to do that.

Speaker 5 (19:29):
They used to do that the old smoke Field Room
and Dow too bad, did they? I mean the old
Smoked Field Room. Put a candidate together.

Speaker 1 (19:35):
Try that, Try that.

Speaker 2 (19:37):
I just like the issue.

Speaker 5 (19:38):
I'm fairly bought into it and invested now as you know,
so I can't pass the opportunity.

Speaker 1 (19:43):
Yes, we talk about it, by the way, and for
folks who are just catching up here, yes, ranked choice
voting came out. Senator Mansion was quoted in the articles
in The Hill, The Hill dot com ye blasting the
state's law that bans ranked choice voting. Interesting time to
do it, since that was golly, TJ. Did they pass

(20:04):
that in March? I mean that was one of the
early bills that got through.

Speaker 2 (20:08):
Yeah, he went through early, you know. Excuse me.

Speaker 5 (20:11):
He's also talking about closing the primary off here. He
gets into that a little bit too, about how independence
can no longer vote in the Republican primary. That's a
different issue, I guess tangentially linked. But yeah, as far
as why the timing, I don't know. I mean, I
haven't talked to Mansion or his folks on this is
his book out yet? His book's not out.

Speaker 1 (20:30):
Yes, Ray, he's got a book coming that comes out
the summer. I believe maybe this was pre orders are
available if you're interested, you know, honestly, I.

Speaker 5 (20:39):
Would look forward to reading his book. I think it
would be interesting, depending on what angle. I'm hoping he
mixes West Virginia politics and history with national I think
as a West Virginian that would interest me more than
just his national experience in Washington.

Speaker 1 (20:55):
But so TJ and Mansion on board with rank choice voting.
I like the needle you on that one particular issue
that's my favorite one is just in a little needle there.

Speaker 5 (21:04):
Well, you know we all need a little hell, right,
we all need something that we want to stand for.
I guess, Dave, in my mind, I see it. I mean,
is anybody happy with with government today and how things
are working in these far fringes? I feel like if
we really want to get back to a day of
compromising deal making, looking out a little bit for the
other guy, making sure they get something, and really focusing

(21:29):
on policy, I see this as a way to maybe
do it, But I maybe naive three.

Speaker 1 (21:34):
Or four talk three or four of the text line
text are pointing out gospel legend Squire Parsons from Newton,
West Virginia passed away over to Beulah Land. Yes, and
we have a story up at wv metro news dot
com about that and the guys over on Metro News
Midday David Amanda talked about that yesterday on their program

(21:55):
Dear Tjm'd be you. We have a difference of opinion
on if West virgin Ginians have a choice for vaccination
because in our state of Child Protective Services can investigate
and take action over medical neglect. This includes a parent
refusing vaccination. You may not believe this, but it happens.
In West Virginia. Doctors and do doctors do file paperwork

(22:17):
with CPS about medical neglect over non vaccination. I wish
you would understand the double speak you are pushing by
saying people have a choice when they do technically have
a choice, but also technically they can. And there have
been parents lose their children for non vaccination in West Virginia,
asserts the Texter.

Speaker 2 (22:37):
I'll look into that.

Speaker 5 (22:38):
I'm not aware of any section in code, and look,
I could be wrong, but I am not aware of
a section in code that mandates that.

Speaker 2 (22:48):
I am not either.

Speaker 1 (22:50):
And I'm not saying the text is wrong. I'm not
saying that doesn't happen. I'm just not aware of any
of those situations. Something that I'll make I'll I do
believe Ryan Schmelsa stood us up again two days in
a row, two days. He had better have a really
good excuse.

Speaker 5 (23:05):
I'm just saying, can you really trust a guy that
doesn't like one of the best short bread Girl Scout cookies?

Speaker 2 (23:08):
Ever?

Speaker 1 (23:09):
So you know when somebody shows you who they are, Dave,
you know you find out, you find their true colors,
you find their true callers. Coming up on the other
side of the break, possible Medicaid cuts and the impacts
those could have. We got a little bit of an
update actually yesterday regarding what is and what is not
on the table. We'll get into that subject. And activist

(23:30):
in Morgantown are upset over last week's municipal election. Why well,
we'll explore that topic as well. Metro News talk Line
continues running a Cove Insurance Studios three or four Talk
three or four is the text line eight hundred and
seven sixty five eight two five five. That is the
phone number. This is talk Line on Metro News, the
Voice of West Virginia. It is ten thirty. Let's get

(23:53):
a news update. Check in with the Metro News radio network.
Find out what's happening across the great state of West Virginia.

Speaker 15 (24:02):
West Virginia Metro News. I'm Jeff Jenkins. There's a court
hearing underway this hour in federal court in Charleston where
a Canaw County coal miner is seeking an injunction to
try and stop federal job cuts from going through at
NIOSH in Morgantown. That is impacting a coal miner's black
lung program. During an appearance Tuesday and Metro News Midday,

(24:22):
Nios retiree Anita Woolf call for cole supporter President Donald
Trump to intervene.

Speaker 17 (24:27):
He is taking away all of the health and safety
and all of the health and most of the safety
people that will take care of these miners and will
make sure they're not getting hurt or sick.

Speaker 15 (24:42):
We'll have more coming up at our website after the
hearing at wv metronews dot com. The fat County Board
of Education will vote next month on a classroom cell
phone ban. The school board had its first reading of
the policy at last night's meeting in Fadville. It will
now go out for public comment. School Superintendent Gary Host
says it won't be an al out ban.

Speaker 18 (25:00):
You know, there's a medical exception. If somebody has a
medical condition, they bring a right documentation. There's an exception
if they have a dual credit class because they need
it for authentication to be able to get onto the
dual credits at the universities and colleges. They need codes
that are sent to them. There are some exceptions to that.

Speaker 15 (25:15):
Governor Patrick Morris signed a classroom cell phone BAM bill
last month that allows counties to come up with policies. Meanwhile,
the Governor is in Hinton this morning for a news conference.
You're listening to Metro News, the Voice of West Virginia.

Speaker 19 (25:29):
The free Metro News TV app is the place to
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Speaker 15 (26:30):
Sunday is Mother's Day and those at CMC Cancer Center
in Charleston getting an early start with a Mother's Day
t in the center's Healing Garden Tuesday evening. Cancer survivor
April Bolstick says it's healthy to socialize.

Speaker 22 (26:43):
I think it's nice to be surrounded by people that
have had similar situations to you.

Speaker 15 (26:48):
CMC officials say cancer can be isolating, and the Healing
Garden is a place to get outside the building, take
a couple of deep breasts and feel refreshed. From the
Metro News anchor desk, I'm Jeff Jenkins.

Speaker 1 (27:16):
Metro News talk line continues from the Encoba Insurance Studios
three or four Talk three or four is the text
line in eight hundred and seven to sixty five, Talk
is the phone number. Negotiations continue on Capitol Hill, where
House Republicans are trying to put together the big beautiful bill,
and within that they're looking for eight hundred and eighty

(27:37):
million dollars in cuts, and a large chunk of that
could come from Medicaid. What would the impact of that
be here in West Virginia and across the country. Leslie
doc is head of the nonprofit Protect our Care, spearheading
a campaign to stop cuts to Medicaid and help Americans
stay safe. He joins us on Metro News talk line
this morning. Leslie, good morning, thanks for joining us.

Speaker 4 (28:00):
Pleasure.

Speaker 23 (28:01):
I hate to do this. We're going to start by
I think correcting you because I think you said eight
hundred and eighty million. It's eight hundred and eighty billion billion.

Speaker 1 (28:09):
Eight hundred and eighty million be a drop in the bucket.
They could come up with that by lunch today. You
are correct, Thank you, so, Leslie broad overview here eight
hundred and eighty billion dollars in cuts, a large portion
of that could come from Medicaid. What's the impact across
the country.

Speaker 23 (28:25):
Well, let me if it's okay, I'll talk to you
about West Virginia.

Speaker 1 (28:28):
Absolutely please.

Speaker 4 (28:30):
So there are six.

Speaker 23 (28:31):
Hundred and twenty five thousand residents of the great state
of West Virginia that all get their healthcare through Medicaid,
and that is forty percent of all berths, seventy seven
percent of seniors and nursing homes, forty almost two hundred

(28:53):
thousand children, and eighty six thousand people with disabilities. These
are people who are working, who have disabled children, who
count on, you know, Medicaid for their health care, and
this would be taken away from them. So, you know,
the estimates are that if you cut eight hundred and

(29:15):
eighty billion dollars out of Medicaid, you're going to have,
as message, depending on how they do it, as much
as twenty or thirty million people losing their health care
in America, and that has ripple effects, of course on
all of these families, but also on rural hospitals that
depend on Medicaid to pay their bills and to stay
in business. And so it's going to decimate lives if

(29:38):
it happens. And you know, the fact is none of
this has to happen because there's no mandate from the
public to do this. It's all about trying to sort
of have save money to pay for the Trump tax bill,
and the reality is that's blowing a major hole in

(30:00):
our deficit, most of which Congress isn't even isn't trying
to save, but they've zeroed Medicaid as a thing that
they say they.

Speaker 19 (30:10):
Have to reduce.

Speaker 23 (30:11):
And it's just not right because the American people don't
want to lose their healthcare.

Speaker 5 (30:16):
But Leslie, we're going broke. I mean, thirty six trillion
plus dollars approaching thirty seven trillion dollars in debt. I
don't want anyone to lose their Medicaid. I don't want
to see the ripple effects. But classic question, how do
we pay for it? And I don't think we can
pay for it by taking money out of people's till
they need more money too for other things.

Speaker 23 (30:33):
Yeah, well that's a great point, I think, But we're
looking at Congress and how they're managing. They are looking
to give a five trillion dollar tax cut to the
wealthiest among us and big book and big corporations at
the same time that they want to take Medicaid away

(30:54):
from people. They could easily make that tax, that tax
cut a little smaller and they would cover every penny
that they want to that they need to keep Medicaid going.
So they're taking billions of dollars out of the treasury.

(31:17):
They don't need to do that, and that money can
stay in the treasury and pay for people's health care.

Speaker 1 (31:24):
Leslie Doc, head of the nonprofit Protect Our CAREAG, joining
us here on Metro News talk line. So, Leslie, in
an instance where there are cuts to Medicaid, let's say
folks do lose their health insurance. Let's talk dollars and cents.
Is there does that ultimately become more expensive down the

(31:45):
road if these individuals don't have this coverage available through Medicaid.

Speaker 23 (31:49):
That's exactly right, because we all know that the best
way to save money in healthcare is for people to
have health care. The worst thing we can do is
to take away people's care so that they don't know
they have high blood pressure till they have a stroke,
and they're in the emergency room where they don't know
they have high blood sugar till they have diabetes. So,

(32:09):
if you want to save money in healthcare, you want
to get people covered early before they get sick. And
when you kick people off of Medicaid, they're eventually going
to show up in the emergency room with a serious
healthcare condition that's much more expensive to treat.

Speaker 5 (32:30):
Leslie, Is there a middle ground here where we perhaps
we don't give as much of a tax cut to
your point, but perhaps we also try to trim the
Medicaid roles or put some kind of qualifications in on
the state where the federal government doesn't pay as much.
Is there the opportunity to create, in essence, I guess,

(32:51):
a Medicaid that truly is last resort, and maybe trim
some of the enrollees in Medicaid as well and redefine
it that way so that look, everybody feels little pain,
everybody wins.

Speaker 23 (33:02):
Yeah, I don't know that everybody will win. This is
a high priority for the American people, Republicans and Democrats,
and you know, I think that there's always an opportunity
to sort of become a little bit more efficient in healthcare.
But you know, the ways to do that, frankly are
things like, let's control the price of prescription drugs. Prescription

(33:26):
drug you know, the inputs to the cost of health
care is really what drives the increase in costs. And
so you know, the Republicans at the same time, for example,
are trying to gut a lot of the Medicare negotiations
to reduce lower drug prices. So I think the way
that you would want to do this is not on
the back of working people, but to look at the

(33:47):
inputs that are making healthcare so expensive and reducing the
bill that way, and that could include being you know,
things that are happen when private equity companies buy up
your medical practices and raise prices for no reason. There
are ways to reduce the cost of healthcare that doesn't
require you to take the healthcare away from people. And

(34:10):
that's where I would you know, focus.

Speaker 1 (34:13):
Talking to Leslie Dock, head of the nonprofit Protect our
Care and the possible impacts of Medicare cuts nationwide. Leslie,
the Moderate Republicans meeting with House Speaker Johnson yesterday, Well,
there's a group of Republicans, but the Moderates are coalescing
around three main proposals. Additional work requirements for able bodied adults,
more frequent eligibility checks, and cutting off programs that allow

(34:37):
undocued undocumented immigrants to receive benefits. Are any of those
palatable to you?

Speaker 23 (34:44):
Well, I think first taking the last one on the
you know, the states that have chosen to provide healthcare
for immigrant children pay for that with their own money.
And what the Republicans are proposing here is actually to
penalize the states that have decided to use their own

(35:04):
taxpayer money for that purpose, So it's actually taking away
a decision making at the state level and replacing it
the federal level. There is you know, we all want
to be sure that the people who are on the
rolls deserve to be there, but I think we've learned
that if you have, you know, people get kicked off
because they can't handle the paperwork. So yes, you know,

(35:29):
sort of checking in on a regular basis to be
sure people are still in the economic bracket that they
should be makes sense, but not if you're going to
do it, you know, every quarter, because that just everybody
who's tried that shows it kicks people off simply because
they can't keep up with the paperwork. So yes, there

(35:49):
are some savings that could be done, but what the
Republicans are still talking about are hundreds of billions of
dollars out of the Medicaid program, which means millions of
Americans will lose their care and we'll see that in
the next few days from the Congressional Budget Office when
they actually look and do this analysis. I think the
other thing is we talk a lot about the House,

(36:11):
but particularly in West Virginia. You have two senators, Senator
Capito and Senator Justice, who are very familiar with these
issues and who are very sympathetic to medicate and have
been in their entire career. So there really is important
to this outcome as the members of the House, because
there are a lot of people in the Senate who

(36:33):
just think these cuts are too big and too much. Unfortunately,
it's very difficult for Republicans to sort of step out
of the cabal, but we have an opportunity here for
people like your two senators to make a difference through
their votes as well.

Speaker 5 (36:50):
Would this situation with Medicaid Leslie be better handled if
we looked at this holistically with other entitlements, under the
eyes of look, we just can't do it all anymore.
So Dave and I talk all the time about the
big drivers. It's Medicaid, Medicare, social Security, those kinds of things.

(37:12):
Would the country be better served if we could somehow
look at this again holistically entriage and say, okay, well,
if we want to keep Medicaid exactly as it is today,
we have to force ourselves to do something with Medicare
or Social Security because I'm not sure how we do
all three and continue on the path we're on. Kind
of back to the budget question. I was talking about,
what would be your thought there?

Speaker 23 (37:33):
I guess I have to say, and I understand your question,
and it's a good one, is that, at the same time,
it is not clear to me that the biggest corporations
need a big tax break. So we're spending money in
places that I think the American we don't need to.
I was on the Global Management Committee of Walmart for
seven years. We paid thirty four percent a year in taxes.

Speaker 5 (37:58):
Did you pay them or did your consumer pay them?
Because I mean, it's just a cost of good for you,
all right, wrapped into the price.

Speaker 9 (38:03):
Yeah.

Speaker 23 (38:04):
But what I'm saying is that Walmart did pretty good
on giving people low prices. So I sit about that.
But what's but they well, it's not as expensive as
paying for tarish, let me tell you that. So but
what I'm trying to say here is that you know,
these we never, in our wildest dreams, thought that we

(38:24):
could get a tax break as low as twenty one percent.
I mean I went to hundreds of meetings with members
of Congress trying to get our tax rate down like
we would have salivated a twenty eight percent, So I
think that we're going overboard in taking money out of
the treasury for reasons that don't really help America. While

(38:49):
we're hurt. We know we're hurting American citizens, and that's
that's how I look at this. So, yes, are there
ways to become more efficient, for sure, but they're not
going to be the solvers of this, I don't think.

Speaker 1 (39:03):
Leslie doc headed a nonprofit Protect Our Care. Leslie enjoyed
the conversation this morning. Thank you very much, Gay Care.

Speaker 2 (39:10):
Thanks for your time, Leslie.

Speaker 1 (39:11):
Great conversation coming up guests who called in Fox News Radios.
Ryan Schmells will join us on the other side of
the break. It's Mentioning's talk line from the Cove Insurance Studios.

Speaker 24 (39:21):
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Speaker 22 (39:52):
A new episode of Live Healthy West Virginia is now
posted on the podcast center of we metronews dot com
and the Metro News TV app.

Speaker 25 (39:59):
We talk about breakthrough stroke and rehab treatments offering patients
new hope.

Speaker 26 (40:05):
It needs to be a combination of therapy paired with
the vehicle nerve stimulation.

Speaker 2 (40:10):
The combination effect is pretty impressive.

Speaker 22 (40:13):
Listen to Live Healthy West Virginia for candid conversations with
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West Virginia is presented by WVU Medicine.

Speaker 2 (40:23):
Hey there, it's Dave Allen.

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I'd like to invite you to join myself along with
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(40:45):
Live anchor Amanda Baron brought to you by Selango law
On Metro News, the Voice of West Virginia.

Speaker 1 (40:51):
You're listening to talk Line on Metro News, the Voice
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(41:21):
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Speaker 2 (41:27):
West Virginia Outdoors is the Mountain State's only hook and
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Lawrence has been tracking down hunting and fishing stories for
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Speaker 29 (41:42):
And I knew he had a major thing over on
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ahead and put over on. See what a measurement a goat?
And he went over and laid it on the same
He's real, quietly real on here well, bullet, he said,
I might as well not call my.

Speaker 30 (41:56):
A.

Speaker 31 (41:58):
So the DNR girl was already on the way to
check yours out officially.

Speaker 32 (42:02):
Right, Well, he ain't called me back, and next reason
we can't fish and cause he ain't called me back.

Speaker 2 (42:07):
Whether it's hunting and fishing news or just compelling stories
about the enjoyment of the great outdoors, West Virginia Outdoors
covers it all Saturday mornings at seven oh six am
and for your daily fix, Outdoors Today brings you two
and a half minutes of news and notes from the
woods and water every weekday morning on Metro News, the
Voice of West Virginia.

Speaker 3 (42:27):
It's the City Net Sunday Night Sports Line. Hey, this
is Travis Jowes, joined myself and Greg Hunter every Sunday
night from six oh six until eight o'clock as we
wrap up the sports weekend. We talk mountaineers, high school,
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The Sunday Sports Line is listener interactive. You could call
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(42:50):
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Speaker 2 (43:10):
Metro News talk Line is presented by Kova Insurance, encircling
Visit incova dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (43:21):
Metro News talk Line continues yesterday, President Trump met with
the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carny. Better late than Never,
Fox News Radio. Ryan Schmels joins us on Metro News
talk Line.

Speaker 26 (43:33):
Good morning, Ryan, Yeah, yeah, I was doing something important
when I forgot to call in earlier and wasn't.

Speaker 9 (43:40):
No.

Speaker 1 (43:42):
I just assumed, Hey, I just assumed something came up.
You had to talk to the president or you know,
the one of the secretaries.

Speaker 4 (43:49):
Something came up.

Speaker 5 (43:52):
He was taking a cookie break, eating some treefulls. That's
what he was doing.

Speaker 26 (43:56):
No, No, don't go there. That's that's flanderous.

Speaker 1 (44:01):
So, Ryan, how did the meeting go between President Trump
and the Canadian Prime Minister.

Speaker 26 (44:06):
I'm sure you watched some of it. It was it
was it was interesting. I mean, like it was President
Trump definitely on brand, not anything over the top. It
was didn't get out of control, but you know, President Trump,
you know, kind of did what you'd expect her to do.
He made a couple of jabs about Canada becoming a
sixth first state. He made a reference to how it's
probably not going to happen because it takes two to tango,

(44:27):
and it doesn't look like the Canadians are going to
be willing dance partners in this one. And the Prime
Minister made it very clear that they're not going to
be uh fought by the United States anytime soon. But
I think President Trump made it very clear too that
wasn't even going to be a part of their discussion,
because nope, if Canada's not willing, they're going to talk
about other things like trade and national defense, because there

(44:49):
are some pressing issues there when it comes to how
much Canada is spending on its military and vice versa
versus you know, whether or not they're going to become
a member of our union.

Speaker 1 (44:59):
Jokes aside, did they get around to those discussions and
make any progress.

Speaker 2 (45:05):
I don't know.

Speaker 26 (45:06):
I think it's why two really tell they've made any progress.
I think that.

Speaker 1 (45:13):
After all that, I think we just got cut off. Well,
we lost Bryan, We had him from trying to get
got to give him credit for trying, Brian, Yep, he's gone.

Speaker 5 (45:24):
He gave you the you know, the click click.

Speaker 1 (45:28):
He tried. What can we say, Well, clearly they weren't
discussing uh broadband and infrastructure issues yesterday with.

Speaker 5 (45:34):
The white inside the White House there making sure that
the fiber runs to the press desks in the Office's
gonna blame a bad cell, that's what he's gonna say.
Oh yeah, here in the White House. Sometimes it's hard
where I work in the White House. It's hard, you know,
I work in the White House. I thought that'll be
where you're thrown that in.

Speaker 1 (45:49):
All right, three or four talk three or four is
the text line. We'll get to your thoughts coming up
next to eight hundred and seven sixty five eight two
five five is the phone number. May is Stroke Awareness
Month in West Virginia. Stroke is the leading cause of
disability and the fifth leading cause of death. On the
next Live Healthy West Virginia, they talk about promising new
treatments for stroke from faster clot busting drugs to improve

(46:11):
rehab with VNS therapy with doctor Mohammad Alvi, medical director
of the w Stroke Center. Find out what you should
be doing right now to prevent stroke. Tune in to
Live Healthy West Virginia, brought to you by WU Medicine,
now streaming on the West Virginia Metro News podcast platform
and the Metro News TV app. Live Healthy West Virginia
aiming to help everyone live a better, healthier life in

(46:34):
West Virginia and beyond.

Speaker 12 (46:37):
We are there for you to care for you at
the Health Plan.

Speaker 26 (46:43):
We are here.

Speaker 2 (46:46):
It all started with a vision.

Speaker 33 (46:48):
We've grown alongside West Virginia, becoming part of its fabric
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We've been here through thick and thin, supporting.

Speaker 33 (46:56):
Local families and businesses proudly serving West Virginia since nineteen
seventy nine. Your trusted partner in the community, the Health Plan.

Speaker 34 (47:05):
Let no one ever say President Trump isn't a friend
of coal. Posting recently on his truth social account, the
President said, and I quote, after years of being held
captive by environmental extremists, lunatics, radicals, and thugs, allowing other countries,
in particular China, to gain tremendous economic advantage over us

(47:25):
by opening up hundreds of coal fired power plants, I
am authorizing my administration to immediately begin producing energy with beautiful,
clean coal unquote President Trump, his energy team, and the
EPA are doing everything imaginable to increase the use of
coal to provide reliable and cost effective electricity. West Virginia's

(47:46):
leaders must follow suit. It's time we change the policies
keeping coal from reaching its potential, and let's follow the
President's lead and maximizing this once in a lifetime opportunity
to unleash our coal resources for the betterment of all
West Virginias. A messy Trump, The friends of Cole.

Speaker 1 (48:04):
West Virginia.

Speaker 16 (48:11):
Join us each Wednesday night along the Metro News Radio
network for high School Sports Line. During the winter months,
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Speaker 1 (48:25):
It's the High.

Speaker 16 (48:26):
School Sports Line as we talk it over with players
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Speaker 1 (48:42):
Hi, this is Dave Wilson along with TJ.

Speaker 4 (48:44):
Meadows.

Speaker 1 (48:44):
Join us weekdays at ten o six for Metro News
Talkline on this metro news radio station TJ. The more
things change, the more they stay the same.

Speaker 19 (48:52):
That's right, Dave.

Speaker 5 (48:53):
We'll continue to examine and discuss issues important to West Virginia,
hold elected officials accountable, and make you have a forum
to make your voice.

Speaker 1 (49:01):
Arny new host, Same talk Line, Join us week days
at ten oh six on this metro news radio station
and the Metro News TV at Hey, everybody, It's Tony
Courridi and I'm Brad Howe.

Speaker 21 (49:12):
And that makes two of the three guys that bring
you the podcast entitled Creatively Enough. Three Guys Before the Game.
It's our opportunity to really drill down on WVU football
and basketball. We break down the opponent and then review
every single game.

Speaker 32 (49:27):
We'll give you some numbers, we'll bicker back and forth,
we'll take your calls, your text your tweets and get
into some of your questions.

Speaker 21 (49:33):
And we invite you to join us each and every
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Speaker 28 (49:40):
Metro News Capitol Report bringing you the latest news from
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five legislative session. Jeff Jenkins, Brad McIlhenny and our rest
of the Metro News team bring you daily updates on
what's happening inside the House of Delegates and State Senate,
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Speaker 1 (50:02):
Each weekday, morning and afternoon.

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Get the Capitol Report on your favorite Metro News radio station.

Speaker 1 (50:26):
Better News talk Line in the co Insurance studios. I
have been informed Governor Morrissey will join David Amanda coming
up on Metro News midday. Later this afternoon. Get a
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(50:48):
thousand dollars top prize. The only piece left is to
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Three or four talk three of four, the richer and
so much pain. We need to lower their taxes further
and cut Medicare so they can afford those thirty dolls.
It's it I grow weary of the tax the rich argument.

(51:12):
I just grow no merit. Yes, because it has no
merit and logically it does not make sense. Logically, it
does not make sense. Did you benefit and not asking
this is the greater.

Speaker 5 (51:22):
You the tax Trump's everybody. Of course she did, and
the middle class got the largest benefit.

Speaker 1 (51:29):
Of course she did so.

Speaker 2 (51:32):
And what do people do with that money, Dave?

Speaker 1 (51:33):
They spend it. They put it back into the economy.

Speaker 2 (51:36):
Thank you.

Speaker 1 (51:36):
You put it back into the economy. And that grows
the economy, and that is better for everybody. The more
we grow the economy, the more tax revenue there is
to fund medicare or at the local level, fund your municipality,
your county, et cetera, et cetera. Three or four, talk
three or four. If a household has a big debt,

(51:58):
we reduce spending, and the last thing we would do
is reduce income. So with federal debt, I get it
to decrease spending, But why do we decrease income by
decreasing taxes for those that have the most money? Same argument, TJ.
You want to take a stab at at this time.

Speaker 2 (52:18):
You know, a funny thing has happened.

Speaker 5 (52:19):
And I just looked at the numbers, because I'm a
numbers guy. You are as the Trump's tax cuts have
been in place, I want to guess what's happened. Collections
have went up, Collections have went up overall, revenue has
went up overall. And look, that's not direct causation, but

(52:39):
it's part of it.

Speaker 2 (52:41):
Guys. I'm telling you.

Speaker 5 (52:42):
When when you give people more money and you take
less right off the top of the till, and you
give people more options in a capitalist society, they spend
that money, it turns over. It generates more money, more capital,
more transactions, and pie becomes bigger. If you want to
cut off the American economy and you really want to

(53:04):
see us in dire standards, keep doing what we're doing.

Speaker 1 (53:08):
Three or four Talk three oh four, tell you what
we'll save them. Because we're coming up on the top
of the hour. We got some good texts, some really
good texts coming in this morning. We'll get to those
coming up second. Our Senator Jim Justice is scheduled to
join us at eleven o six, and later we'll get
into why the activists in Morgantown are so upsets a

(53:29):
week after the municipal election. That's coming your wife, pleasure
phone calls and text three or four Talk three four
and eight hundred seven and sixty five talk. This is
talk line on Metro News, the voice of West Virginia.

Speaker 2 (53:47):
Metro News talk Line is presented by Incova Insurance, encircling
Visit incova dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (53:57):
Metro News talk Line our number two from the Coba
Insurance Studios. The phone number is eight hundred and seven
to six five Talk eight hundred seven six five eight
two five five. You can text the show three or four.
Talk three or four is the text line. Jake on
the video stream Ethan working the phones today, and of
course TJ Meadows in the Charleston studios. TJ another good

(54:20):
morning to you, sir.

Speaker 5 (54:21):
Good morning, sir. It's a beautiful day here in Charleston.
I hope it is as well in Morgantown. Thinking about
hitting the links after the show, Dave, I got a
nice little baby fade going the other day.

Speaker 2 (54:30):
Get out there and do a little golfin.

Speaker 1 (54:31):
I got to hit the yard. My yard is it
looks I'm three days from having to bail it if
I don't get a cut. Is that because all the
rains yes sprouting up? Yeah, yesterday was I thought, okay,
today's my day. I could get out there and then
about the time I got home, got a sandwich, the
rain came and it was just it was too wet

(54:53):
tomorrow and that was that. So if I don't get
it today, oh you know, I'm gonna get some goats.
That might be an option. Well I don't if the
city would like that very much.

Speaker 5 (55:03):
But I got caught in a hailstorm on the way
home Monday. Watch that happen and again today that'd be
my les. Oh yeah, big time. Yeah, second time in
as many weeks.

Speaker 1 (55:10):
Hey, coming up this hour, activist in Morgantown are upset.
We'll get into that coming up bottom of the hour,
and the newly minted director of the SSAC, Wayne Ryan,
will join us as well. But first, yesterday, West Virginia's
US Senator Jim Justice joined senators from Kansas, Alabama, and
Nebraska and a press conference to support the Overtime Wages

(55:34):
Tax Relief Act. To talk about that and more, joining
us on Much News talk Line this morning is the
Senator from the great state of West Virginia, Senator Jim Justice.
Senator Justice, good morning, good to talk to you.

Speaker 4 (55:46):
No, it's good to talk to you all. And I
understand about the rain and the grass. You gotta get
that mode and everything before you before you had enough
having the bail.

Speaker 1 (55:54):
If that's for sure, well, Senator, I got a problem.
My dogs are only about you know, six in off
the ground. I'm going to lose them if I don't
get the grass cut soon. You don't have that role, you.

Speaker 4 (56:07):
Know, baby dogs close to the ground too, So I understand.

Speaker 1 (56:12):
So Senator, why are you throwing your support behind this
bill that would to some degree eliminate taxes on overtime?

Speaker 4 (56:20):
Well, I mean, you know, in all honesty, we elected
a president that ran on this as well. You know,
our working people, you know how it stood forever more.
I mean, I've stood with our people that absolutely earned
wages every day. From the standpoint of biblically, biblically absolutely

(56:41):
what I said yesterday, it goes back to our wonderful
Father in heaven taught us absolutely that we need to work,
and we need to reward great work, and we don't
need to just ary talents in the ground and forget
about them and everything. We need to do stuff and
and literally what we're doing is we're the very people

(57:05):
that are stepping up and taking on an extra shift
or an extra couple of hours and they're really delivering.
You know, what we then do is we'd take take
a big chunk of their money away. And so you know,
it gives them a real opportunity in many ways to
fulfill the American dream. And uh, and it's just the

(57:26):
right thing to do. I mean, come on, it's just
the right thing to do. You know, I'm all eat
up about logic and that's what I did as a
governor and and uh and just good common sense and
so so I'm all, I'm all.

Speaker 5 (57:38):
In morning, Senator, it's TJ. Let me throw some stats
back at you. I'm not trying to say one way
or the other. I'm just playing devil's advocate here. Some
of the folks who are against this say it could
run up six hundred and eighty billion to one point
three trillion over a decade if we do this in
the deficit. What would you say to those folks.

Speaker 4 (58:00):
I would say, those folks, just this. I mean, you know,
at the end of the day, you know we will
Here's what we'll be able to do. I mean, you
know what I mean, let's just go back to when
I walked in the door. I mean, you know, in
West Virginia. What were we doing. We were absolutely just
continuing to cut and the more we got, the more
people left. And we know it's the truth. And absolutely

(58:22):
we were. We were as belly up as belly up
could possibly do. Now what did we do? You know,
we absolutely tried to get it rid of as much
waste as we could. We made our cabinet secretaries really
responsible to the people, so we we responded. We didn't
do red tape red tape red tape. We responded to
the people. We kept almost a flat budget and then

(58:44):
absolutely we then turned us loose to grow and grow revenue.
But that's what our nation's got to do too. I mean, guys,
I mean, if we just absolutely sit on our hands,
we'll be able to cut some significant waste out of government.
We'll do that, but then we'll turn around and they'll

(59:05):
still be a big hole. And the only way to
get rid of the hole is grow revenue. That's all
there is to it. And that's why I've said so
many times the key to Emerald City's energy energy is
our ticket to grow in revenue. And that's and literally
we'll be able to make a lot of cuts through
dog or whatever it may be we'll be able to

(59:26):
make some cuts and they'll be significant. If there won't
be enough, and then what we'll have to do is
we'll have to grow revenue.

Speaker 1 (59:35):
Senator Jim Justice joining us here on the Metro News
at talk Line this morning. Senator, let's change the subject
just a little bit here in Morgantown, in particular, the
job cuts at NIOSH have been front and center. Have
you had conversations with the Department of Health and Human
Services or Secretary Kennedy about those jobs and how have

(59:56):
those conversations gone.

Speaker 4 (59:58):
Well, I've not talking directly to Senator Can I'm into
uh you know, well, to to jfk Jr. I've not.
I've not taught directly to him, but our people on
the on the folks NonStop. And here's the whole dealal
and and guys, this is all there is to it.
First of all, you know, our coal miners are going

(01:00:20):
to be asked to really produce more energy now they are,
and our coal companies are going to be asked to
produce more energy because this country in a year and
a half of today, like it or not like it,
we're going to have such a demand on energy. It's
off the chart, and and we're gonna end up having
to do one of two things. We're gonna have to

(01:00:42):
decide between homes or industry and jobs. And and literally,
if we give up the industry and jobs, then we're
just absolutely just handing the keyston Will City over to China.
And we don't want to do that. So we've got
to have a whole lot more energy. So let's go
back to the Niosh and and the situation, and the
situation is just simple, as simple as this. There's no

(01:01:04):
way that President Trump, at the end of the day
is going to ask our coal miners that he really
loves and absolutely I know our coal miners really love him.
There is no way he's going to ask them to
give more, to absolutely put more energy in this nation's pocket,
to give more, and then at the same time do

(01:01:26):
something that may very well in danger their health. There's
no way. And so it may be a different animal.
And none of us want to lose the jobs. And
we sure don't want to lose the jobs in West
Virginia because they are great jobs and we're going to
battle for that till the end of the earth. But
at the end of the day, there's going to be
a mechanism to where our coal miners are not going

(01:01:47):
to be in danger, guarantee it.

Speaker 5 (01:01:50):
Senator, Let's talk about China. We're getting together in Switzerland.
Scott Bess and his team are going over to meet
with the Chinese in Switzerland. Starts talking about trade talks.
Of course, there's been a lot said about tariffs. You
see the Port of la talking about a thirty five
percent reduction on imports that are coming in, so supply
chain issues. What are your hopes for those meetings? What

(01:02:12):
do you think comes of it?

Speaker 4 (01:02:15):
Well, you know, I really I really think exactly this.
I think that the President is a business guy. And
and really, in all honesty, if you want to run
the store, right, you got to have a business guy,
you know, and uh and and he is that, and
we've got to give him his rope to negotiate to

(01:02:39):
be able to get the best deals for America. I mean,
you know, guys, it's it's as simple as this is.
We don't make anything in America now. And I'm exaggerating
to make my point, but we got it. We have
got to have we've got to have some balance with
the terrible imbalance of trade and to do. So you

(01:03:00):
know we've going to be able to play the hand. Now,
what do I think the ultimate result will be? You know,
the ultimate result will be we will move the ball
in a better direction. And what I mean by that
is the trading balance is today, Let's say the trading
bounce is three to one in the negative, and what

(01:03:20):
we'll end up doing is maybe move the trading bounce
to a two to one. But as far as the
terrace and just rocking our entire world, I'd say just
calm down, everybody, just stop running through the halls with
your hat hair on fire. Absolutely, this will get worked

(01:03:41):
out and at the end of the day, I hate
to say it this way, but China needs us a
whole heck of a lot more than we need them,
and we'll absolutely come to a resolution that may be
a great one. You know, I am very still hopeful,
especially for our farmers, that it is a great one.
But you know, you know how I feel about our

(01:04:01):
coal miners and all of our folks. We we absolutely
I think are on the cusp of good stuff.

Speaker 5 (01:04:08):
And Jim, can we can we trust the Chinese? Can
we trust the Chinese? I mean, we've made deals before
they don't have a great trick record of living up
to them.

Speaker 2 (01:04:15):
Can we trust them?

Speaker 4 (01:04:17):
You know, my opinion would be no. But but it
would always be trusting verify, you know. But at the
end of the day, they're a big, big player in
the world, and in this world, we've all got to
find a way to play. Play in the sandbox. And
if we don't play in the sandbox, you know, with
one another, that's a probably bad move on our part.

Speaker 1 (01:04:40):
Senator Jim Justice joining us on Metro News talk Line
this morning. Senator, earlier this week, or I guess it
was actually last week, the state Revenue Secretary released numbers
for April showing that tax revenues exceeded collections for the month.
This week, you put out a statement regarding the state
budget and uh, read just a little bit of it.

(01:05:02):
We left over two billion dollars to work with and
a robust outlook. We absolutely projected a two hundred million
plus surplus for this fiscal year. Say what you want,
but it ain't bragging if you're right, and we were
what and then there was more to the statement than that.
But Senator, why did you feel the need to put
that statement out this week?

Speaker 4 (01:05:25):
Well, I mean, listen, guys, at the end of the day,
you know, uh, I want I want got the Morsea
to succeed. I mean, I don't want this stuff, the
great stuff that we all put together and worked eight years,
really hard stuff and everything to blow up. I mean,
that's the last thing on ours you want, and you know,
if you're an adult. But uh, but we I mean,

(01:05:46):
we started out with this grand standing crazy stuff and everything,
and it scared people, you know, and it and it
and it caused a lot of uncertainty and everything. You know.
We let we did exactly what I just said. We
had a run in the state government for eight years
like none other. I mean, for crying out loud, you

(01:06:06):
know it. We walked in with an absolute bankrupt state
and left it with billions of dollars in all kinds
of accounts from the you know, the personal income tax account,
the reserve there or the rainy day finder, on and
on and on. There was money left in everywhere. And
you've got to, Matt, mind the store. You can't just

(01:06:27):
because one of your agencies comes in and says, I've
got to have you know, two hundred million dollars. I
got to have one hundred and fifty million dollars. Well, okay, okay, okay,
well you got up. You can make any number come
up to some inflated negative number. But to come out
and say We're going to have a four hundred million

(01:06:47):
dollar hole in the bucket and everything and I've got
to hop up on a white horse and save the day.
That's not right. It's just not right. You know. The
classy thing to have done, would have set would have
been to say Governor Justice and his crew did a
great job. I want to build on that. I want
to make all kinds of great stuff happen for our day.

(01:07:07):
And then everybody whoill just had a comback jaw moment.
You know. Now everybody's just kind of getting divided and everything,
and I just can't stand that. I don't want that
in any way. The great people of West Virginia need
to know that, absolutely without any questions, we left this
state and unbelievable shape. It's still in unbelieve You can't

(01:07:28):
screw it up because it's got so much money in
all kinds of different areas. We need to take care
of our roads. I mean, I mean literally, you know,
we went to a tough winter and the roads are
getting in tough shape. And we got to watch what
we're doing. Because from a standpoint of who wants to
come to Western well, the people that want to come

(01:07:50):
to West Virginia, really and true. The first thing is
how the schools, How the roads. You know, well, we've
got to maintain our roads. And let me just say this,
the legislature and I you know, sure we had our moments.
You always had little bumps, but literally and truly we
had a great run together. The legislature deserves so much credit.

(01:08:13):
And everything, you know, whether it be Roger or Craig
or now Randy and everything, you know, Vernon, even Eric
and everything. And we worked, we did stuff and did
it the right way, and really they deserve a bundle
of credit because at the end of the day, what
we did, we all pulled the rope together and to

(01:08:35):
the good Lord above, I mean, it worked. And so
so you know, we projected a two hundred million dollar
serverplus for the year, not not a four hundred million
dollar holding the buck and that kind of stuff. I
mean that was silly, silly stuff. And lo and behold booth.
You know here we all you know, we knew, we

(01:08:55):
knew the employment the tax year and everything that we
went through in twenty twenty four, and now you see
the reflection of it in the April numbers and everything,
because that the April numbers are a reflection of what
happened in twenty four or so. So I love it.
I think it's great. And the last thing I wanted.
I mean, I'm not going to be in a food
fight with anybody, especially because I want I want greats

(01:09:20):
for Patrick, Denise, the good people. Let's just have a
great run in Westernrgin and keep it going.

Speaker 5 (01:09:28):
So, Senator, I want to ask you. You talked about
President Trump being a business guy, and this seems like
a business deal to me. Seems like a good deal
to me, But what do I know paying one thousand
dollars for people to self deport where you at.

Speaker 4 (01:09:40):
On that, I'm one hundred percent on board with him
on that. I mean, because literally, this thing about this
guy is let me, you know, let me. I mean,
just just think Ice goes in. You know, there could
very well be guns blaze and we could lose some

(01:10:00):
good people. There could be somebody shan on the other
side of the fence. I mean, really and truly, Uh,
the from the standpoint of the cost of getting a
bad guy or bad actor out of this country and everything.
It's big time money, you know, to offer people and
everything to say, Okay, here's the deal. You know, if

(01:10:23):
you want to leave, you're not a bad, bad, bad person,
because we want to we want to send to bad
people to jail, you know. But but if you if
you want to leave and everything, here's what we'll do.
We'll give you. We'll give you a few bucks, we'll
get you a plane ticket and everything. You leave, and
we'll give you the opportunity to really come back and
come back the right way. Well, I mean, you know,

(01:10:44):
it's just smart. I mean, it's a business deal. You're
exactly right. It's a smart money and that's the way,
that's the way things should be done. And so no,
I'm all on board.

Speaker 1 (01:10:55):
United States Senator Jim Justice, of course from a great
state of West Virginia. Senator Justice, appreciate eighth the time.
Thank you for joining us this morning.

Speaker 4 (01:11:03):
Now, you doubs do great. I appreciate you. I really do.
Let's keep it going, West Virginia, you know, really proud
of all of you.

Speaker 1 (01:11:09):
Thank you, Neil, thank you very much. US Senator Jim
Justice three h four Talk three or four is the
text line at eight hundred and seven sixty five. Talk
the phone number. We're back in a moment.

Speaker 2 (01:11:18):
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Speaker 9 (01:12:19):
Rafters along the Lower Galley have reported sightings of a
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Speaker 1 (01:12:48):
You're listening to Talkline on Metro News. The Voice of
West Virginia.

Speaker 2 (01:12:55):
West Virginia Outdoors is del Mountain State's only hook and

Speaker 7 (01:13:09):
I'll go out on a limb because people won't like
my answer. Probably, I think there's fewer coyotes than most
people imagine. Really, because when number one, when you hear
a family group of them.

Speaker 1 (01:13:21):
This time of year, the pups are very vocal.

Speaker 7 (01:13:23):
The coyotes are getting They've been kind of shut mouthed
during the spring when they're young, and it's like a
bunch of teenagers. When they get to September, mom and
Dad can't keep their mouths shut anymore.

Speaker 2 (01:13:35):
Whether it's hunting and fishing news or just compelling stories
about the enjoyment of the great outdoors. West Virginia Outdoors
covers it all Saturday mornings at seven oh six am,
and for your daily fix, Outdoors Today brings you two
and a half minutes of news and notes from the
woods and water every weekday morning on Metro News, the
Voice of West Virginia.

Speaker 34 (01:13:55):
Hey everybody, it's Tony Gritty, I'm Greg Hunter and I'm
Brad Howe, and.

Speaker 21 (01:13:58):
We invite you to join us Sunday through Fridays right
here on the Metro News Radio network. It's the City
Net statewide sports line. We talk West Virginia University football, basketball, baseball,
you name it. If it's got anything to do with
the Golden Blue, we're on it.

Speaker 32 (01:14:14):
And don't forget the text line available every night.

Speaker 21 (01:14:16):
So we invite you to join us. The Senator Coach
Hunter and me Tony COURRITTI, it's the city nets state
wide sports line on Metro News.

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(01:14:46):
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Speaker 1 (01:15:10):
Mentioned news talk line continues from the Encoba Insurance Studios
three or four Talk three or four of the text
line Dave and TJ. Is it just me? Or does
it seem like Morrissey and Justice were governor of two
completely different states or maybe the same state, but thirty
years apart. Their speech does not add up, methinks Rod

(01:15:31):
in Charleston, Thank you for signing that. Rod Well. Yeah,
I guess if you're just tuning into that conversation, it
does sound like her coming from two different states. But TJ.
I get where the now senator former Governor Justice comes from.
You leave office and you feel like you've done a
pretty good job, and the next guy comes in says, well,

(01:15:52):
the guy didn't do as good a job as we
may have thought. You want to defend your record. I
get where he's coming from there. I also think Governor
Morrissey looks at the budgeting process differently, maybe more cautiously,
if you will, depending on how you want to describe it.
But I think two very different perspectives. I think trying

(01:16:13):
to achieve the same goal, and that is to be
fiscally responsible and dare I say a little bit frugal
in today's situation? Did we lose TJ? Again? TJ? I
cannot hear you again. I can see you if you're
watching the video stream. You look fabulous, by the way,

(01:16:35):
but I cannot hear you.

Speaker 5 (01:16:36):
There you are recycle? How about now?

Speaker 1 (01:16:38):
Yep? There you are?

Speaker 5 (01:16:39):
Okay, you were saying. I was saying that in this
day and age, in a state like West Virginia, where
everyone's a Republican, you have to be able to distinguish yourself.
Morrisey doesn't have a Biden. He's got a guy in
his own party, and it makes it a little difficult, right,

(01:17:00):
So that's new. You don't really see that. You don't
see the last Republican blaming the other Republican. But that's
how politicians move forward today, to your point, that's how
they create juxtaposition. So it's a little it's a little awkward.
We can debate about the budget methodology and all of that,
but that's gonna happen when you end up with a
single party like you have in West Virginia.

Speaker 2 (01:17:21):
It's new. We'll get used to it.

Speaker 1 (01:17:23):
Three or four Talk three or four is the text line,
of course, eight hundred and seven and sixty five. Talk
is the phone number. Dave Wilson in Morgantown, TJ Monos
in Charleston. This is Talk Linel Metro News, the Voice
of West Virginia. It's eleven thirty. Let's check in and
get a news update with the Metro News radio network.
Find out what's happening across the great state of West Virginia.

Speaker 31 (01:17:43):
West Virginia Metro News. I'm Chris Lauren Say. Federal court
hearing is happening this hour in Charleston on a motion
for a federal injunction against the closing of the NIOSH
program in Morgantown, which screens coal miners for black long
good on Keetny cole minor Harry Wiley filed that federal
lawsuit and roll on behalf of himself and others who
could be potentially harmed by the loss of the coal

(01:18:04):
workers' health surveillance program. While he's represented in his suit
by Mountain State Justice and Appalachia Mountain Advocates, Judge Irene
Berger is presiding. Several dozen high school students in Kanaha,
Putnam and Mason County have a fantastic opportunity to get
in on the ground floor with Toyota. They were recognized
as the next class of the company's fourty Academy on Tuesday.
That program allowing for them to work at the factory

(01:18:25):
in Buffalo while completing their school work in an Advanced
Manufacturing course track. Hurricane High School student Riley Wolfe is
eager to get started.

Speaker 7 (01:18:33):
I'm excited, ready to start it.

Speaker 20 (01:18:35):
Some of my family works at Toyota.

Speaker 31 (01:18:37):
I feel like give us a good opportunity, and those
students were welcome last night. While students are completing the
program from this year are going through graduation today, at
the factory in Buffalo. Faya County Schools working on a
policy regarding cell phones in school. Next fall, the legislature
passed to measure that allowed for phones to be banned
in class, which teachers have long indicated as a major distraction.
Superintendent Gary Hoes says, there's no doubt about that.

Speaker 18 (01:18:58):
No matter what it's in a class any place, people
seem to spend a lot of.

Speaker 35 (01:19:01):
Time on phones.

Speaker 31 (01:19:03):
That proposed policy, as stin, is now out for review.
You're listening to Metro News the voice of a West
Virginia time out.

Speaker 12 (01:19:12):
Oh right, Remember, we're a team.

Speaker 1 (01:19:15):
The place together. Listen, the winning will take care of itself.

Speaker 12 (01:19:19):
We just have to get everyone involved.

Speaker 36 (01:19:21):
In interscholastic sports. We celebrate what makes every one of
us unique, and in the pursuit of a common goal,
everyone in the huddle, in the bleachers, and in the
community comes together. This message presented by the WVSSAC and
the West Virginia Athletic Directors Association.

Speaker 37 (01:19:41):
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(01:20:03):
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Speaker 31 (01:20:11):
C AMC's Cancer Center hosted its first ever Mother's Day
t last night, allowing those who have battled cancer or
aren't going through it right now to come together and
get to know one another. Cancer survivor Shery setliv knows
well about the isolation that battle can bring.

Speaker 37 (01:20:26):
I had cancer during COVID, so it was it was
a lot, but it is nice to be able to
get out and and share.

Speaker 12 (01:20:34):
Your story with people.

Speaker 1 (01:20:36):
From the Metro News anchor desk, I'm Chris Lawrence. Mention

(01:21:00):
News talk line continues in COVI Insurance Studios. David TJ.
Wayne Ryan, the new executive director of the WSSAC, will
join us at about fifteen minutes TJ. Last week in Morgantown,
that was the municipal election. It was last Tuesday, a

(01:21:20):
week ago yesterday, and we talked about it on the
program because one of the issues in Morgantown that as
local officials are dealing with same as Charleston, Wheeling, Martinsburg.
Pick your city, pick your small town. They deal with
this in Kingwood, Fairmont, other cities how to handle the
homelessness problem, and one of those efforts has been a

(01:21:42):
camping band. In the city of Morgantown, city council passed
a camping ban last fall. Groups and individuals who were
opposed to that successfully submitted a petition of about thirteen
hundred signatures, forced the council to reconsider, and ultimately that
was placed on the ballot for a referendum vote on Tuesday.
The proposed repeal failed. The ban was affirmed by voters

(01:22:08):
in the City of Morgantown. It was close. It was
about eighty votes. Was the difference between affirming that or
repealing that ban? Well, you think that's the end of
that story, TJ. It is not man, it is not so. Activists,
the same activists who were opposed to the ban were
before Morgantown City Council last night upset that voters affirmed

(01:22:31):
the camping ban in Morgantown. Among those upset TJ were
Mountain State Justice activist Lindsay Jacobs and she says that
the general attitude reflects why that camping ban repeal failed
in Morgantown.

Speaker 38 (01:22:45):
It's so frustrating when I come up here and you
all like immediately looking to the corners or whatever, because
you don't care what any of us actually have to say,
and then you wonder why we don't respect you, She says.

Speaker 1 (01:22:55):
Supporters of the repeal will remain active, and we're going.

Speaker 38 (01:22:57):
To train up the citizenry so they know what to
look for. We'll make sure that all of you are invited,
because it'd probably be really good for you all to
know we're not done, and we're going to keep shown
up and look forward to continuing to press you to
solve the dual problems of keeping people housed.

Speaker 1 (01:23:13):
Paige Rearing is a Morgantown resident and says the vote
doesn't really reflect what the city of Morgantown thinks.

Speaker 39 (01:23:20):
Action behind my words and there's authenticity to my values.
I gave my time and my resources, and in return,
I built a community. In spite of the nine hundred
and eighty six people who voted to.

Speaker 1 (01:23:34):
Uphold the ban, she says, residents have intentionally abused unsheltered individuals.

Speaker 40 (01:23:40):
How cruel of a community have we cultivated. I approached
people suffering in our community to offer a helping hand,
a key element supposedly of Christian values, and yet they
are treated so horribly that they thought my kind gesture
was a joke meant to torture them.

Speaker 1 (01:23:59):
Charlie, Uh, excuse me. Charlie is a resident in South
Park and says the fact that they were able to
get thirteen hundred signatures for a petition but not that
many people to come out to vote just doesn't add up.

Speaker 30 (01:24:11):
We had thirteen hundred signatures more than that of people
who are now upset with us and disappointed because they
thought that doing all that work going out in Kansas
and getting those signatures, advocating for neighbors and doing all
of this activism, learning how to canvas, they thought that
was going to do it.

Speaker 1 (01:24:27):
And Charlie says, despite the camping ban being affirmed during
the vote, don't take that as an indication that it
should be enforced.

Speaker 30 (01:24:34):
Eighteen hundred people showed up to vote. It was very,
very split. But I'll remind you that when we went
out in the street and we got people to bath
putting the ordinance on a referendum on the ballot. We
had more than thirteen hundred signatures from registered voters who
just didn't make it out to vote this time.

Speaker 1 (01:24:51):
So that was during the public portion of the Morgantown
City Council meeting last night. TJ. Again, this is not
an issue exclusive to Morgantown. Charleston had dealt with the
homeless issue. They've dealt with camping bands, Wheeling has had
its version of a camping band try to deal with
these issues. The ban itself, first of all, is not
meant to be a silver bullet, one size fits all.

(01:25:13):
This cure as the problem. But what it does say
is we're not going to tolerate public camping. We're to
tolerate people setting up en campments when we have services
that are available. That's the idea behind this is to
get people into housing and if you refuse to help,
say look, okay, we are going to help you, but
we're not going to allow you to camp on the

(01:25:33):
side of the rail trail or set up another encampment
like Diamond Village in the city. And unfortunately here in
Morgantown and I can't speak to other cities. I've covered
this one very closely for a lot of years. Now
there is a small minority, and it is a small
but loud minority that absolutely one percent is unwilling to
compromise on how to address this issue and quite frankly,

(01:25:56):
are more interested in being agitators and causing problems then
actually working to a real sustainable solution. And you heard
that last night?

Speaker 2 (01:26:06):
Did you ever?

Speaker 5 (01:26:07):
I just heard that audio and man, it's uh, we're
up here right, maybe we can take it down a
few notches, uh and respect one another. That's quite quite
the Hubris. Let me ask you a question. Did make
sure I understand these encampments that we're talking about, these
pop up cities that we're talking about, they're on public property.

(01:26:29):
They're on they're not on private lands, right because number one,
you got no, I'm sorry. Yeah, there are some that
pop up on and we're not talking about there's the
one big diamond village that that was an nsity of itself.
But there are campers if you are almost individuals who
will set up.

Speaker 1 (01:26:45):
Camp on private property. Now you can trespass them if
you own the property right, you can trust absolutely have
them removed.

Speaker 2 (01:26:52):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (01:26:52):
But this would apply to public property, so parks along
the trail trail, et cetera.

Speaker 5 (01:26:56):
You know, why would we think that someone has the
right to set up a tent village and interfere with
the quiet use and enjoyment of the rail trail or
the city park or whatever it may be of another citizen.
There's absolutely no justification for that at all, at all.

(01:27:20):
So I don't know what we're talking about here. And
then as far as the signatures, I made a note
of that. You know, number one, people will sign a
petition to get you out of their face. I mean,
let's just be honest. Number two, there is something to
be said for someone who signs a petition, even if
they don't agree with the essence of the petition, and

(01:27:40):
they say, you know what, this is America. I may
not like the topic, but let's put it on the ballot.
Let's see what the citizenry thinks. So I don't think
it is too far fetched to suggest that there may
still be some traditionalists out there who would say, absolutely,
let's put this on the ballot. I think it's a
horrid idea, and I'm going to vote no on it,
or I'm going to vote in the non affirmative on it,

(01:28:03):
but we'll put it on the ballot.

Speaker 2 (01:28:04):
Why is that so hard to grasp?

Speaker 1 (01:28:05):
I completely agree with both of those sentiments. And look,
this was the idea working its way through. Well, it
shouldn't be up to just the seven people. It should
be everybody in Morgantown should get an opportunity to weigh
in on this. Well, welcome to city elections. This is
why in twenty thirty two cities are going to have
to line their elections with state elections. Nobody comes out

(01:28:28):
to vote. Eighty six percent of voters in Morgantown could
not be bothered to go to the polls. You're going
to get eighteen hundred people. That's what you get. And
the voters it was close, Yes, it was close, but
decided this band did not need to be repealed. So
to stand up there and say don't take that as
an indication of what the community thinks is misguided. And
again you're more concerned with causing trouble and agitating than

(01:28:51):
actually trying to affix this problem. And I wrote about
this last week TJ. Morgantown was close. About ten fifteen
years ago, Morgantown was close to setting up a sustainable
model that could have been something that was duplicated around
the state, and what happened was it fizzled out and
now the problem is worse than it's ever been.

Speaker 5 (01:29:11):
So put your energies into figuring out what that model
did and did well and tried to revive that rather
than refusing to understand that the game is over. You
have played the game and lost strong leadership and move on.
Strong leadership, collaboration and a willingness to compromise.

Speaker 1 (01:29:28):
And accountability. I'll throw that fourth one in there. Accountability
has to be in there as well. And it's not
just Morgantown again, Wheeling has dealt with this, Charleston deals
with this, Martinsburg, even places like Kingwood, TJ. Are trying
to figure out. You have these homeless individuals, and look,
the problems are complex. There are so many factors that
go into it. It's not just you know, Dave lost

(01:29:51):
his job and he needs he needs a second chance.
There could be drug issues, there could be alcohol issues,
any number of things that factor into it. And you
have a very compassionate community here, believe it or not
that does want to help. But they also say we're
not going to tolerate certain behaviors.

Speaker 5 (01:30:05):
But how does letting someone live on the rail trail
or off to the side of it, And how does
that help someone? To your point, if they have a
drug issue or their mental health issues, whatever the situation,
and these are all terrible occurrences. We should absolutely help
these people, but that's not help. How is that help?
That's what I still can't get through my head.

Speaker 1 (01:30:28):
You can read more from last night's meeting. By the way, WAJAR,
our flagship in Morgantown has been covering this in great
detail for better part of a decade. Now you can
read over at WAJR dot com. We will completely shift
gears and we'll talk to the new executive director of
the WVSSAC, Wayne Ryan. Right after this, this is talk

(01:30:49):
line on Metro News from the Encove Insurance Studios.

Speaker 9 (01:30:53):
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Speaker 10 (01:31:53):
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(01:32:14):
are here now and always to improve the health of
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Speaker 12 (01:32:18):
A message from.

Speaker 10 (01:32:19):
The West Virginia Hospital Association Online at WVJA dot org.

Speaker 1 (01:32:23):
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Speaker 3 (01:32:35):
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Speaker 14 (01:33:00):
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Speaker 15 (01:33:42):
It's a slow go for the company being paid to
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They're so far produced just to buses. Company official site
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Speaker 2 (01:34:02):
Kyle Wiggs at the sports desk.

Speaker 16 (01:34:04):
Mountaineer baseball team they defeat Central Florida four to three
on Sunday, yet another big Twelfth Conference sweep for West Virginia,
as the Mountaineers had one four to one on Friday,
fifteen to ten on Saturday, the Mountaineers are thirty seven
and five overall, sixteen and three in the Big Twelfth Conference.

Speaker 2 (01:34:22):
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(01:34:42):
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Speaker 1 (01:34:53):
We'll get to your text three or four Talk three
oh four. Yesterday, the West Virginia Secondary School's Activities Commission
didn't have to go to find it's next executive director.
Wayne Ryan was named to the post. He has been
with the SSAC since the summer of twenty sixteen, and
he's been named as replacement for David Price, who'd had
that role for a couple of years. Joining us on

(01:35:14):
Metronews talk Line is the new executive director of the WVSSAC,
Wayne Ryan, Wayne, Good morning, congratulations.

Speaker 35 (01:35:23):
Well, good morning, and thank you and I appreciate you
having me on this morning.

Speaker 1 (01:35:26):
So why do you want this job? Wayne? Why do
you want to be the guy? Because the guy that
comes with a lot of responsibility, it does.

Speaker 35 (01:35:35):
Indeed, you know it's just a continued service to our
schools and to athletics have played a major role in
my life, and I have great respect for education based
athletics and for what sports and athletics offer as part
of the educational process in developing our young people, and

(01:35:55):
I just want to continue to serve in that role
and hopefully we can make, you know, some additional changes
and do some things that impact our young people in
a positive way as they participate in athletics.

Speaker 5 (01:36:07):
When you talked first off, congratulations sir, you talked about
those challenges or changes. What are the challenges, what are
the opportunities? What are you talking about there?

Speaker 35 (01:36:17):
Well, I think yeah, I think first of all, the
WVSSAC is not understood at all. I don't think people
know what and who is the WVSSAC, And I think
there's a big lack of understanding in what we do,
who we are, how we do it, and why we
do it. And so I think we've got to immediately
work to open the lines of communications and grow and
develop relationships with all of our stakeholders so that we're

(01:36:40):
better understood and it's clear that we're here for the
good of our young people. Everybody wants policy, guidelines, rules, procedures,
but they don't necessarily want them when they apply to them,
and they don't understand certain aspects of things. So we
just have to do a better job of educating the
public and all our stakeholders as we move forward, because
things are changed in the landscape of athletics, even at

(01:37:02):
the high school level. We all know.

Speaker 1 (01:37:03):
That Wayne the SSAC has been under increased scrutiny. So
do you really view this as an opportune time to
do what you just said, educate and form and allow
people to understand have a better understanding of what the
organization does and its role in high school athletics.

Speaker 35 (01:37:22):
Well, I think it's essential that we do that because
I think if we don't, then we continue to be misunderstood.
And you talk about an inopportune time, that just makes
it a good opportunity, a good opportunity to teach and educate,
and I think a lot of times the reason is
an inopportune time. As like I said, it's misunderstood. So

(01:37:44):
I think it's a perfect time really to educate and
to improve in the lines of communications and build these relationships.
And I think people will understand that really the WSSS
represents the principles, the member schools, the student athletes, and
we're trying hard all the time to do things that
serve their best interest.

Speaker 5 (01:38:02):
Let's talk a bit about the student athletes. When I
was coming up, I played football, played baseball, high school sports,
did that for four years. I enjoyed doing a little
bit of everything. Played in the band, kind of did
it all. Nowadays, it seems like there's unbelievable pressure and
focus on these kids to just do one thing right

(01:38:23):
or not be a kid and not be in the
game for what it teaches in terms of leadership, skills,
team work.

Speaker 2 (01:38:31):
Have you seen that change?

Speaker 5 (01:38:32):
I mean, you've been a coach for a while, Wayne,
have you seen that change?

Speaker 35 (01:38:36):
I think you're spot on. You know, it's interesting. I
literally just walked into my office and left stepped out
of our Sports Medicine committee. And our sports Medicine committee
is a great group of professionals from around the state
in the sports medicine realm. And you know, one of
the things we were just discussing what was burnout and

(01:38:56):
procedures that we need to have in place to identify
that and help coaches see it. And the fact that
you know, sports specialization, you know, under the age of
fourteen is is very negative. It's negative on socially, it's
negative physically, and there are more mental health issues coming
from sports specialization of our young people. We need our

(01:39:20):
young people to enjoy playing sports and play as many
sports as they have interested in. And I think, you know,
all data supports that, and I think we need to
push and educate and encourage our young people to play
numerous sports and enjoy being a multi sport athlete and
have fun playing sports.

Speaker 1 (01:39:41):
And we're talking to Wayne Ryan k New, executive director
of the SSAC. I know I'm preaching to a choir here, Wayne,
but I cringe when I hear folks when we're talking
about high school sports to go well, you know, it's
just high school sports. Yes, in one sense, don't take
it so seriously that you have a negative impact. But
the lessons learn I try to tell people the lessons
you learn while playing sports. Talk to anybody who played

(01:40:04):
varsity sports and didn't go on to college to play.
But you learn about teamwork, you learn about having to
work with others, you learn about competition, you learn about disappointments,
which a lot of people need those lessons these days
wayan there are so many valuable lessons you take away
from secondary school and school sponsored sports that you can
apply to the rest of your life, whether it be
personal or in your career. I'm not trying to over

(01:40:27):
romanticize or overstate it, but there are a lot of
positives to take away. It's not just just high school sports.
I cringe when I hear those types of statements.

Speaker 35 (01:40:37):
No, you're hundred percent correct. The lessons that you learn
being a part of a team, setting goals and achieving
those goals is a wonderful feeling. But sometimes you learn
that it's the process and the commitment and the lessons
learn along the way are just as valuable. And sometimes
you do come up short. And again that is a

(01:40:59):
lesson well learned in life. If you only learn when
things go well, then you haven't valued from your participation
in athletics. And I think it's your point is very
valid about that, and I think you know we call
athletics the other half of education. It truly is. It
plays a huge role in many people's lives, in their

(01:41:20):
development and in their ability as adults to achieve to
cope with things when they don't go well and to
be a part of a team, a society and a workforce.

Speaker 1 (01:41:32):
Wayne, we're up against the clock. We'll have to let
you go. But congratulations on your new role as executive
director of the SSAC and look forward to seeing you
here in a couple of weeks because spring sports postseason
underway and the final round of championships not far off.

Speaker 35 (01:41:47):
It is tournament time and not appreciate it. And thank
you very much.

Speaker 1 (01:41:51):
Wayne Ryan, the new Executive director of the West Virginia
Secondary Schools Activities Commission, back to wrap up this edition
of talk Line right after this.

Speaker 21 (01:42:00):
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Speaker 3 (01:44:36):
It's the City Net Sunday Night sports Line. Hey, this
is Travis Joes joined myself and Greg Hunter. Every Sunday
night from six oh six until eight o'clock as we
wrap up the sports weekend. We talked Mountaineers, High School,
Mountain East Conference, and the latest in the national scene.
The Sunday Sports Line is listener interactive. You could call
or text the show at three oh four Talk three

(01:44:58):
oh four. It's a perfect weekend sports wrap up on
your favorite Metro News affiliate, or watch the show at
wb metronews dot com.

Speaker 1 (01:45:21):
A couple of texts before we call it a day,
three or four Talk threeh four. Guys, the legislature went
against the majority of voters on bills they had voted against,
and federal government does it on daily basis. West Virginia
needs to put abortion on the ballot like other states.
We've done that, already did that a couple of years ago.
There was a constitutional amendment about it, whether or not

(01:45:43):
that it should be a right enshrined in the constitution,
and voters said no. So we've done that. We've already
done that. Three or four Talk three or four TJ.
Have you all decided who is more accurate regarding the
states finances? Morrisey or Justice? Thanks asks the text.

Speaker 5 (01:46:01):
And of course I have like sixty seconds to be
able to respond to that now candidly, I don't see
the four hundred million dollar hole.

Speaker 2 (01:46:11):
You want my take on it and the.

Speaker 5 (01:46:13):
Way I do the budget and the way the way
the budget has been done, in the methodology that has
been done. Because here's the thing, we have surpluses right
now in the budget that went forward and the out years.
There are plans there to handle them. We've had Eric
Carr on many times other folks in the past, So
my perception, no, I think it's fine. I don't think
there was a four hundred million dollar hole.

Speaker 1 (01:46:35):
You're not the only one there. I know several several lowmakers.

Speaker 2 (01:46:38):
Who would agree with you.

Speaker 1 (01:46:40):
Three or four talk through a four Texter says, I'm
fairly liberal, but I'm very glad the band on homeless
encampments was upheld in Morgantown. Appreciate all the guests this morning,
Senter Justice, take it some time to be on the show.
We got Brad mcelhenni back today. Good to hear from.

Speaker 2 (01:46:56):
Brad, Always good to hear from Brad.

Speaker 1 (01:46:58):
He just he got a few days up. Believe it
or not, we do allow Brad mcwhinny to take a
couple of days off a year. If you missed any
of the show, catch the podcast. It'll be up in
a mere matter of moments until tomorrow. Appreciate it for TJ.

Speaker 4 (01:47:13):
I'm Dave.

Speaker 1 (01:47:14):
This is Metro News talk Line on Metro News, the
voice of West Virginia.

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Talkline | May 7, 2025

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