Talkline | Oct. 15, 2025

Jim Kaufman, WV Hospitals Association President & CEO, discusses the Rural Health Transformation Program. Jim Thorton, the Voice of Wheel of Fortune, is in town for Marshall Homecoming festivities. Michael McKenna weighs in on the theatrics of the government shutdown. Plus, Steven Allen Adams, of Ogden Newspapers, stops by. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:13):
Coming up on Metro News talk Line, we'll talk about
the Rural Health Transformation Program. Also a little bit later
on the latest on the Kabookie Theater shutdown. We'll explain.
In the second hour. It's Metro News talk Line and
we are underway.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Turned off from the studios of w v RC Media
and the Metro News Radio and Television Network. The Voice
Up West Virginia comes the most powerful show in West Virginia.
This It's Metro News talk Line with Dave Wilson and
DJ Meadow up activated.

Speaker 1 (01:02):
Job switch with control from Charleston to morning.

Speaker 3 (01:06):
Stand by you. David, DJ, You're on.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
Metro News talk Line is presented by Encova Insurance, encircling
you with coverage to protect what you care about most.
Visit encova dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (01:23):
Good morning, Welcome inside the Encova Insurance studios. Dave Wilson
with you in Morgantown. TJ. Meadows is in our Charleston bureau.
Phone number is eight hundred seven sixty five Talk eight
hundred seven sixty five eight two five five. You can
text the show at three oh four Talk three oh four.
A little bit later this hour, we're going to talk

(01:44):
to the Voice of the Wheel Fortune. He's also the
Grand Marshall of Marshall homecoming coming up this week. Jim
Thornton going to join us later. Steven Allen Adams All
Good Newspapers will stop by. Jonathan Savage Fox News Radio
will get the latest on that tenuous piece deal in Gaza.
A little bit later on, Michael McKenna will join us.
Washington Times columnist, political commentator and Good Morning CJ. The

(02:09):
last thing I read before coming into the studio was
his column, and that's why I was still chuckling about
the headline Kabuki theater shutdown proves politicians more addicted to
drama than duty. Kabooki theater shutdown. That one got me.

Speaker 4 (02:23):
And here's the thing about our buddy McKenna. He's not
gonna sugarcoat it, and he also has inside access. He's
he's plugged in in the hill. He's before remember the
Trump administration, still very tied in. But at the same time,
he preaches from his own hymnal so to speak, so
you get the straight skinny with him. I'm looking forward
to getting into our conversation with him, But Dave, first

(02:45):
I did want to share something with you from my
vacation if I could kind of a surprise, I didn't
spring this on you before the show, so you'll have
to forgive me. I picked up a hat just before
my vacation. I don't usually wear a hat. As you know,
you've got one on quite a bit during our pre
show meetings. You're always splitting the Marshall gear. Looks great, Jake,
you want to pop up my hat?

Speaker 5 (03:05):
There?

Speaker 4 (03:06):
Trying to send a message to folks, to remind them
just how important things are popped up yet I can't see.

Speaker 1 (03:15):
Yeah, it's up. What does that say?

Speaker 4 (03:17):
Deficits are bad?

Speaker 1 (03:21):
Where do you even find such a hat?

Speaker 4 (03:23):
Deficits are bad? This little jewel was on Amazon, and
you know what I said, I want to own that hat.
So there you go. Deficits are bad. Just casual reminder.

Speaker 1 (03:36):
If you're watching on the Metro News TV app, you
can see and the aviators and the Joe Biden aviator
sunglasses as well.

Speaker 4 (03:44):
Had had to pull that up.

Speaker 1 (03:49):
If you're watching on the TV app or if you're listening,
we all cross the Great City, West Virginia on our
more than two dozen great affiliates. We appreciate you being
part of the show. This morning. Well, Jinny's fast approaching
a November fifth deadline to apply for the Rural Health
Transformation Program that was created under the One Big Beautiful Bill.
That application could be worth one hundred million dollars in

(04:10):
funding annually and more. The programs aimed at supporting rural healthcare.
Jim Kaufman is the president and CEO of the West
Virginia Hospital Association. He join Just on Metro News talk
Line this morning. Jim, good morning, good to talk to
you again.

Speaker 6 (04:25):
Good morning, Dave and TJ. Thanks for having me on
the show again.

Speaker 1 (04:28):
Appreciate you stopping by. So these dollars that are going
to come from the Rural Health Transformation Program, part of
them are going to be split evenly among the states.
The rest are going to come through a competitive application process.
So Jim, why is it so important to West Virginia
that the state receive as much of this funding as
it's possible.

Speaker 6 (04:49):
Well, first of all, this is a part of the
Big Beautiful Bill, And when you really look at that
package as a whole, I mean it was more than
a two thousand page bill. First, there was more than
one one trillion dollars in Medicaid cuts across the country
over the life of the bill for ten years. Now,
just for West Virginia hospitals, we're going to lose about
a billion dollars a year if the cuts are fully implemented.

(05:12):
So Congress edit this Role Transformation Fund to try to
help transform real health care, specifically knowing that they were
taking so many dollars out of the Medicaid program. Now
that one hundred million dollars or more. It's only for
five years, and that's assuming we have an approved application,
and then depending on how we score with the state
initiatives and the overall numbers, we'll probably see between one

(05:34):
hundred to one hundred and fifty million dollars in my guess,
but it all depends on other states.

Speaker 4 (05:39):
So one hundred to one hundred and fifty million dollars
is a far cry. I think. I heard you say
from what we would lose, how do we make up
the difference?

Speaker 6 (05:47):
You are exactly right, and that's why I mean. I've
heard people talk about these dollars here.

Speaker 7 (05:50):
One.

Speaker 6 (05:51):
People have referred to them as a role hospital fund.
That is not true. It is a rule health Transformation Fund,
and it's supposed to help transform oral health care. But
it is not, as you pointed out, going to replace
the more than one billion dollars will lose if the
cuts are fully implemented. Now there is a great opportunity
with these dollars, and the governor and the legislatures really
looking at how to use this opportunity to support a

(06:15):
transformation in roal healthcare.

Speaker 1 (06:17):
So, Jim, what are we talking about? Transformation rural or
transform royal healthcare? It sounds like we're going to do something.
What is it that we're going to do well?

Speaker 6 (06:28):
And actually, the West Virginia Hospital Association, our Board of Trustees,
which is made up of nineteen CEOs, we created a
work group back in July of for members and we
solicit an input for different ideas of what these dollars
could be used for. And they were meeting almost weekly
from July until we submitted the proposal to the Governor's
office back in September. And really what the work group

(06:50):
looked at was how do we use these dollars to
really transform roal healthcare. Now, it's important to note some
of these dollars under CMS rules cannot be used for
like increasing reimbursement. So if something's already paid for by
health insurance, these dollars cannot be used, and it's also
to understand that these are one time dollars, so it
really has to be seed money or demonstration. And then

(07:14):
how do we think about sustainability in year six and
our work, We've really thought about three big buckets and
put together several proposals. One was a wellness initiative, second
was a workforce and access initiative, and the third was
using technology to improve access.

Speaker 4 (07:32):
So how quickly can that really make a difference. You
talk about wellness programs and trying to get people to
take a role in their health and be more active.
We've been doing that, I would suppose I don't think
we're where we want to be in terms of results.
Like you said, the program lasts for a year or two.
How confident are you that we can make a difference
in a meaningful amount of time to actually cut back

(07:56):
and close the gap on some of these dollar shortages
and what you put out.

Speaker 6 (08:00):
The dollars are annual, but we are eligible for five years.
So in our wellness initiative, what we suggested to the
Governor's office was creating what we refer to as a
pathway to wellness and really focusing on some of our
metabolic conditions, you know, specifically diabetes, obesity, and how do
we help individuals through a medical model with coaching and

(08:23):
home technology improve their health. I mean, we know right
now when you look at the cost of care, we're
doing really, really well in West Virginia. I mean, the
average inpatient cost we score six lowest in the country,
but we lead the nation in obesity, and we're the
second highest for the number of prescription drugs per person.
So our thinking was developing a model over five years,

(08:45):
getting more people into this program, doing it as a demonstration,
and then showing to the insurance companies that this initiative
and these wellness efforts can reduce the overall cost long term.
But you're right, it's not a one time fix and
it's going to take time to show the success of this.

Speaker 1 (09:00):
Jim Kaufman's joining US president and CEO of the West
Virginian Hospital Association. What criteria are going to be evaluated
in this application process?

Speaker 6 (09:10):
Great question. I mean the application that CMS releases one
hundred and twenty five pages, and there's a lot of
various efforts in there. One, as you noted, every state
that has an improved application will be evenly receiving twenty
five billion dollars over five years. So that's where one
hundred million dollars comes from. The second part of money,
the other twenty five billion. A part of it is

(09:31):
for the state to administer the program, so up to
ten percent, and then the rest of those dollars will
be allocated to the states based on their application. And
there's two parts of the application. One Congress laid out
various criteria such as the number of rule facilities, rule
population area of the state, so there's various factors that

(09:52):
are fixed that the states are already locked in. The
Other part of the application is their initiatives in state policy.
That's one where the governor and the legislature has really
been so listening ideas of what could we do creatively
to your point, transform care long term and make a
difference in the cost of care.

Speaker 4 (10:13):
Jim, I wonder and correct me if I'm wrong taking
all this in, but I heard you say that some
of these dollars are competitive in nature, so we would
be competing against other states for these monies. Do I
have that right?

Speaker 6 (10:24):
First off, that is correct, So about twenty five billion
half that total fun over five years is competitively awarded.

Speaker 4 (10:31):
Okay, would we be better in your opinion? I know
sometimes government grants will encourage the opportunity for a coalition
to form. Would we be better to talk with other
rural states, our border states and go at this from
an Appalachian region perspective? Would West Virginia be more likely

(10:51):
if that's possible, to get money that way rather than
trying to directly compete with our neighbors.

Speaker 6 (10:57):
That's a great question, and I have to admit I've
been working and help policy for thirty years all around
the country, and state lines are a challenge. I mean,
for example, even when you talk about the Medicaid program,
you know, hospitals all across the state are treating Medicaid
patients from other states, and every policy is different and
really create some challenges. So a regional approach could resent

(11:20):
some opportunities, but I do think it's an administrative challenge
to move it forward, especially when an application is doing
two weeks.

Speaker 1 (11:28):
Jim Kaufin joining US president and CEO of the West
Virginia Hospital Association. Jim, it's no secret staffing is always
an issue here in West Virginia, whether it's looking for
physicians looking for nurses. President Trump issued a proclamation introducing
the one hundred thousand dollars fee onto new petitions for
H one B visas that allows foreign workers to be
employed here in the United States. West Virginia already has

(11:51):
a high rate, among the highest rates in the country
of foreign born healthcare workers in the country. So how
concerned are you at this proclamation and what kind of
conversations have you had with folks in DC about possible
exemptions for health care.

Speaker 6 (12:06):
That's a great question. We are very, very concerned about
that barrier they're getting, you know, foreign trained providers into
the United States, and you're right, West Virginia and rural
communities all across the country utilize those programs to try
to improve access. I know there has been talking DC
about exempting out of healthcare, but we have not seen
anything specific at this point. One of the things in
the Rural Health Transformation Fund we actually recommend it to

(12:27):
the governor and the legislature is creating a rule residency
program to try to increase the number of provider residency
slots because we know about eighty to ninety percent of
physicians end up practicing in the area where they do
their residency. Another initiative we suggest it is a loan
forgiveness proposal because we believe it's not just for doctors

(12:48):
and nurses, but because we have such a challenge recruiting
and retaining health professionals, whether it's respiratory therapists, ems, you know,
a surgical text, we really need to use these dollars
to help recruit and retain those individuals, especially in rural community.
So that is another opportunity for these dollars.

Speaker 4 (13:05):
As the shutdown continues. I think depending on how you
count or what day, fourteen, day fifteen, now, anything practically
that you're hearing from your members that hospitals across the
state are experiencing because of the government shut down, any
unintended consequences, harder to do this, harder to do that.
Just curious if you're seeing your members affect it or not.

Speaker 6 (13:26):
Sure. A couple of things are happening. One in the
bill was a real an extension of Medicare coverage for telemedicine.
So right now, since that is suspended, we know some
providers are actually holding off or canceling their telemedicine visits
for Medicare beneficiaries, because we're unsure if that'll actually be
covered retroactively. Another thing, because the claims processing for Medicare,

(13:49):
we know some providers are actually sitting on claims and
not submitting payment to Medicare CMS, specifically for Medicare payment
because things are a shut down in or are quite so.
We do believe there's any some cash flow problems in
the future of government does not reopen.

Speaker 1 (14:06):
Jim Coffin, West Virginia Hospitals Association, President and CEO. Jim
always appreciate the conversation. Come back anytime.

Speaker 6 (14:14):
I appreciate the invite. Anytime you want to talk healthcare.
Let me know, love to talk about it because it
is a complicated topic and it affects every single person
in the state, and it's also a great economic development opportunity.

Speaker 1 (14:23):
Absolutely, Jim, anytime. Appreciate. Jim Coffin, President and CEO of
the West Virginia Hospital Association. We'll get the latest from
GOZAM when we return.

Speaker 6 (14:32):
We are there for you.

Speaker 1 (14:34):
To care for you at the health Plan.

Speaker 8 (14:38):
The health plan is still growing, giving you a large
network of doctors, friendly and helpful customer service for representatives,
and competitive flexible pricing.

Speaker 1 (14:46):
Plans that meet your needs.

Speaker 4 (14:48):
Log on to health plan dot org for more information.
We are there to care for you.

Speaker 1 (14:57):
We are here.

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Speaker 2 (15:44):
Metronews talk Line is presented by Encova Insurance, encircling you
with coverage to protect what you care about most. Visit
Encova dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (15:55):
Part of the fragile peace deal in Gazo was the
return of the deceased hostages some two dozen deceased hostages
from Hamas. However, they have not been returned and Hamas
claims that they don't know where all of the remains are.
Setting the first stage, or first test, of this fragile
peace deal. Let's goet London Fox News Radios. Jonathan Savage

(16:16):
has more. Jonathan, good morning.

Speaker 5 (16:19):
Hello, good morning.

Speaker 1 (16:20):
So the living hostages were returned, but the bodies of
those who died in Hamas custody have not been returned.
And like I said, this is the first test of
a very fragile peace deal here.

Speaker 11 (16:32):
Yes, some of those have been returned. Seven Israeli hostages
who have been passed back across to Israel. Their bodies
have been identified interestingly and not at concerningly or the
four bodies handed over by Hamas last night, one, according
to Israel, does not match any of the hostages, so
that could be any individual. There was a previous occasion

(16:55):
when Hamas said they'd handed back and Israeli woman to
Israel ill her body but actually identified as a Palestinian
woman and the Israeli ladies sheer Vivas. Her body was
only returned a day later before it was positively identified.
So that is going to add to the concern being
felt by families in Israel right now and the government there,

(17:17):
because Hamamas is meant to hand over the bodies of
twenty eight Israeli hostages. Now they say they don't have
all of the bodies in their possession, and it may
not be possible to track down every single one because
the devastation of Gaza because of the rubble there. But
the Israelis absolutely insist that all must come.

Speaker 4 (17:35):
Home, Jonathan. As Israel has withdrawn Hamas, has cracked down
on its rivals in Gaza, so to speak, tell us
about the fighting that's going on there now that Israel
has left.

Speaker 11 (17:47):
Yes, Hamas is trying to reassert itself and fill the
security vacuum, which is very clearly in evidence there right now.
And what we have seen is what appeared to be
extra judicial killings, executions in the street of individuals identified
as being collaborators with Israel. There's a complicated pitch here

(18:10):
because in Gaza there are a number of clans or
other groups to which people are loyal, some of which
have received a support from these really defense forces who
have now of course left the area. Those clans have
tried to move in and take over areas of territory
during the conflict, and now Amas appears to be coming
along saying we're back and we'll take this area back.

Speaker 1 (18:30):
Please, Jonathan. Yesterday, President Trump told reporters when asked about
disarming Hamas, they'll disarm. If not, we will do it,
or he said it will, they will disarm. It will
happen quickly, perhaps violently. Don't want to misquote the president
there that sounds I don't know if you want to
call that a threat or a promise, But that puts

(18:51):
this ceasefire deal into jeopardy, doesn't it.

Speaker 11 (18:55):
And whichever way you interpret it, arguably it does. So
President Trump said we do it if they don't. Now
it's unlikely he would be referring to putting American troops
in Gaza, because he's always said that wouldn't happen. It
could mean him supporting Israeli forces disarming Hamas in Gaza,
and that would of course mean reopening the conflict. Or

(19:19):
there's a third way, perhaps doing so in a way
which is collaborative, I suppose with Hamas, which is the
ideal way. People want a mass to give up their weapons,
and there are various international organizations, countries and experts who
are coming together trying to put together a plan to
engage with Hamas and disarm the organization. Now Hamas publicly

(19:43):
has not said it has agreed to disarm. They have
perhaps hinted they would give up some of their heavy weaponry,
maybe some of their rocket launchers, but clearly they feel
that they need some sort of military in order to
exert their authority over Gaza and very least, if not
the threat in Israel.

Speaker 4 (20:03):
As I read more about the situation, Jonathan, it appears
clear that various analysts, even the Israeli military, are arguing
for the return of the Palestinian Authority, that being brought
back into Gaza as really the only alternative to Hamas rule.
But net in Yahoo has issues with that. What kind
of reconciliation do you see moving forward?

Speaker 11 (20:27):
Sorry you broke up there, Could you repeat that again?

Speaker 1 (20:29):
Sorry, no problem.

Speaker 4 (20:31):
The more I read about this, it seems clear everyone agrees,
analysts the Israeli military, that the Palestinian Authority has to
be brought back into Gaza as the only viable alternative
to Hamas, but net in Yahoo has refused the calling
the Palestinian authority corrupt and inept. I'm wondering where we
go from here.

Speaker 11 (20:49):
Yes, yeah, I mean the Palestinian authority has a lot
of credibility issues, credibility issues with the Palestinian people and
of course credibility issues with the Israeli government as well,
the President Trump's peace plan does suggest that the palsying
the Authority could play a role in the future, providing

(21:10):
it tackles corruption, providing that it reforms. The chairman, Makmura
Bass was in Charmel Shak in Egypt the other day
for the signing of the peace agreement and for discussions
with world leaders, so clearly he is involved. The PA
will be involved to some extent, and the extent to
which Israel will allow them to be evolved is very
much up in the air. Perhaps there will be pressure

(21:31):
on Israel from the US and others to allow the
Power Policing Authority some sort of involvement.

Speaker 1 (21:36):
Jonathan, we appreciate the update, Thank you very much. Coming up,
we're going to talk to Jim Thornton, the voice of
Wheel of Fortune. This is talk Line on Metro News,
the Voice of West Virginia. It is ten thirty time
to get a news update. Let's check in on the
Metro News radio network. Find out what's happening across the
great state of West Virginia.

Speaker 12 (21:57):
West Virginia Metro News ign Jeff Jenkins. The ongoing federal
government shutdown would not impact this Saturday's Bridge Day celebration
in Fayette County. Governor Patrick Morrisey announcing Tuesday the state's
deal with the Park Service allowing the state to finance
keeping services up and operating, will be extended past Friday's
original deadline. Asaid Venture Resort director of sales and Marketing

(22:17):
Haines Mansfield says keeping the parks open also helps golly
rafting season. He praises the state for quickly stepping in.

Speaker 13 (22:25):
The quick action of Chelsea Ruby and Governor Morrissey to
let it be known that we are open. I do
not even recall having questions asked about is the National
Park going to be open? Do we need to consider
rescheduling our rafting trip? That did not happen? And we
are going to finish strong, and I thank.

Speaker 14 (22:40):
You for that.

Speaker 12 (22:41):
Morrisey says the deal is costing the state about seven
thousand dollars a day. The life of political conservative activist
Charlie Kirk still being remembered in West Virginia. Crowd gathered
at Jackson Square in downtown Clarksburg last night to look
back at Kirk's September tenth assassination. He would have been
thirty two on Tuesday. Harrison County GP spokesman Brian Paine
says Kirk gave a voice to young people who generally

(23:01):
do not have a voice.

Speaker 15 (23:03):
Older folks always say, well, what do they know? But
Charlie was able to communicate with those individuals and was
very instrumental in the election with young people of Trump's
second term.

Speaker 12 (23:13):
Across West Virginia. On this Wednesday morning, thick fog, some
of that is starting to lift. You're listening to Metro
news for forty years the voice of West Virginia.

Speaker 14 (23:25):
Governor Patrick Morrissey a set of very bold goal fifty
gigawatts of new energy capacity by twenty fifty. Thanks to
House Built twenty fourteen, West Virginia's coal plans will be
upgraded to run longer, stronger, and more efficiently, thus delivering reliable,
affordable base load power. Our families and businesses will be

(23:46):
able to count on. West Virginia Coal Association President Chris
Hamilton stated Governor Morrissey's plan to grow West Virginia's energy
generation capacity to fifty gigawatts by twenty to fifty is
a dynamic approach to economic development which will supercharge our
state's coal industry and broader economy. With Governor Morrissey's leadership

(24:07):
and the action of the legislature, West Virginia is once
again America's energy leader. Coal is powering progress. Coal is
powering West Virginia. Brought to you by the West Virginia
Coal Association.

Speaker 12 (24:23):
Back to the courtroom this hour in Kanawh County over
the state's school entry vaccination requests. After a new state
white course by a Brad mclahaney says a Cannaug County
mother is seeking a religious exemption for her son.

Speaker 16 (24:34):
The case in Kanauh County was fouled on behalf of
a family of an elementary school student asking for a
temporary injunction to allow the student to attend public school.

Speaker 12 (24:43):
Family got an exemption from the state, but those aren't
being recognized by the state Department of Education. We'll cover
that hearing today from the Metro News anchor desk. I'm
Jeff Jenkins.

Speaker 1 (25:11):
Text Line three or four Talk three h four phone
numbers eight hundred and seven sixty five Talk coming up.
We'll reflect on our conversation yesterday with Fayette County Senator
Brian Help. We'll do that in just a couple of minutes.
A little bit later, on Stephen Alan Adams will join
us on good Newspapers. He'll join us at eleven o six.
This week is homecoming at Marshall University, and the Grand

(25:34):
Marshal of the homecoming parade is a familiar voice. You've
probably heard it a time or two. He is the
voice of Wheel of Fortune. But alwa, he's done so
much more than that. He's at Marshall grad He's a
fellow w m U l alum, and he joins us
on Mutro News talk line. Jim Thornton Jim, good.

Speaker 17 (25:50):
Morning, gentlemen. Here's Dave.

Speaker 1 (25:52):
How you doing.

Speaker 17 (25:52):
Am I Buddy Walker?

Speaker 2 (25:54):
Yes?

Speaker 1 (25:54):
Walker Tatum with us as well. Walker is director of
alumni Relations. That I get at right, Walker, You're good? Yeah,
that was going off the top of my head. So, Jim,
good morning. Are you excited Bill to be here? You
excited to come back to be part of homecoming festivities
this week?

Speaker 5 (26:11):
Yeah?

Speaker 17 (26:12):
I mean, I feel like this is, you know, the
culmination of so many years I've been coming back to Huntington.
It's like I never left Huntington. I love the people,
I love Marshall, and I just love Huntington so much.
I feel like what I'm doing. It's kind of hard
to put into words, but like I am sort of
the lightning rod. I'm living everybody's experience through myself, and
I'm I just love that because everybody you know here,

(26:35):
I think there's just so much civic pride and and
you know, alumni pride and everything for Marshall and Huntington,
and so I'm getting to live sort of that dream
for everybody and through everybody.

Speaker 4 (26:48):
Jim, did you wake up one day as a young
man and say I want to be the voice of
will of fortune? Or do you just happen to find
your way there?

Speaker 17 (26:55):
You know, I wanted to do this since I was
like five years old, I literally and I think it
was from watching The Wizard of Oz and seeing the
man behind the curtain, you know, with that power. It's like,
here's this average dude when they throw the curtain back,
but he has this microphone. And also I remember also
something that I think stuck with me about the same
time I was probably five. We were I went to

(27:19):
Trinity Episcopal and during the service or before the service,
but during Sunday school they let us kids go up
and check out the sanctuary all the different parts of
it and so forth. One of the things that little
Jimmy got to do was be on the microphone and
I said hullo, and I couldn't get enough. Finally they
pried me away, but I was kicking and screaming from
the microphone. But you know what I mean, you guys,

(27:39):
It's just it's a wonderful thing that you can sort
of emote and you can make that microphone be whatever
you wanted to do to be.

Speaker 1 (27:45):
Jim Thornton is joining us on Metro News talk Line
this morning. He's Grand Marshall of the Marshall University homecoming
parade coming up tomorrow tomorrow or Friday, Walker Friday, Okay.
Homecoming parade is on Friday, and of course the game
against Texas State is on Saturday afternoon. So Jim, at
nineteen years old, you move across the country, you go
to La, right, was there anything waiting on you? Are

(28:08):
you just a nineteen year old who's going to go
to LA and beat the odds and make it? Well?
You know a guy?

Speaker 17 (28:14):
And I did not graduate from Marshall, which is a
fact which I always, for years was just so insecure about.
And I hated that. I even then, I hated leaving Marshall,
So I should say that right up front, because how
does a nineteen year old, you know, graduate, But I
missed everybody, but yeah, I did feel like I needed
to get out and spread my wings, you know, But

(28:34):
nineteen you don't know what you're doing. I had a
buddy who was at Marshall and he was twenty three,
so he just graduated, so oh, you got to come,
You got to get you know, you got to do this.
And I, you know, I just felt that that tickle,
and I knew that there was stuff that Huntington didn't
hold for me that I did need to try. So
in retrospect, i'm, you know, in hindsight, I'm glad I

(28:54):
did it. But it was some lean years at first.

Speaker 1 (28:57):
When did the break? When did your big break come?

Speaker 17 (29:00):
Well, I mean I got a job in radio reporting
traffic when I was twenty years old, so that was
you know, right up. You know, within months I was
at least working in some capacity, and then a couple
of years later. It seems when you're doing it, it
seems like so slow because it's just happening in real time.
But within a year or two I was working at
various radio stations. They heard my work and I disjockeyed

(29:21):
a radio station, and then things just you know, progressed
from the air. They kind of just took little forks
and right and left turns and so forth, and eventually
they led me to Wheel of Fortune in twenty twenty eleven. Really,
you know, so.

Speaker 4 (29:35):
With Wheel of Fortune being your main gig, I'm curious, though.
You do a lot of commercials, you do voiceover work,
you do other things as well.

Speaker 17 (29:42):
I have, Yeah, I have, I do less now because
I just I had sort of let my agent kind
of go because they were just taking ten percent and
not to you know, to their credit, they had given
me a lot of auditions over the years. But you
do a lot of auditions, you get a little bit
of work voiceover, and so I did all that. I

(30:03):
did a show called Celebrity Death Match for two years.
That was a lot of fun. It's on MTV. It
was on MTV. You can download those. It was a
lot of fun. I did a movie called Monsters Incorporated.
I was, for the beginning of the film a part
in that those are things that people might know. But
I also did a lot of commercials. I didn't you know, Bacardi.
I did Washington Apples I did. These are just things
coming in my head, but I did let's say, dozens

(30:25):
of commercials which were great, and some narration for like
the History Channel documentaries and things like that. Some of
that stuff you know enough to enjoy it. And now
I just leave town and I come here or else.
I go to our home in northern California, where my
wife and son are full time. When I'm not working,
and if I'm working, I'm in La you know, at

(30:45):
our house there.

Speaker 1 (30:47):
So I imagine you just don't walk up to the
studio there in La knock on the door and say, hey,
I'd like to be the voice of Wheel of Fortune.
How does that happen? How does that come about?

Speaker 5 (30:58):
You know?

Speaker 17 (30:58):
In my case, the producers of the show knew my
name from the radio station. That's a calling card, you know.
I worked for kN X ten seventy for many years
and it's KNX ninety seven one FM and simulcast as
well today. If you're ever in La, an all news
radio station that because traffic is so bad, people knew
me from the traffic. And also I anchored at that point.
I started anchoring in two thousand and five. And then

(31:20):
when the call came out to the various agencies because
Charlie O'Donnell had passed away. At that point, the producer
will call around the agencies and say, excuse me. They'll say,
who what voices do you have? And they played my demo,
I guess, and they knew my voice, they knew my
name is Oh, we know Jim Thorton. We'd like to
give them a try. And my agent called me and said,
they they know of you. Because I had not sent

(31:41):
in a demo. I don't want to be that guy. Hey,
somebody died and I'd even go to knock on the door,
you know.

Speaker 1 (31:47):
And so it was great.

Speaker 17 (31:48):
And then I met the producers and they liked me
and I love them, and one thing led to another.
They auditioned me, They had me come in and do
a show or two, and some other people as well.
That they sort of rotated in and out over the
course of a couple of months. I knew by March
this was in. It started in December. I knew by
March that I'd gotten the job. I couldn't say anything

(32:09):
until June, though, because the season was not done yet.
I think it was season twenty eight. I think now
it's forty three. So whatever, So there you go.

Speaker 4 (32:19):
What do you think is more important the voice or
the delivery and what you do or maybe it's both.

Speaker 17 (32:25):
I think it's just the thought behind it. So if
you ought to say the delivery, yeah, it's really what
you're plugged into and who you're talking to, and every
it's the most it's the easiest thing to forget and
the easiest thing to say that the most important part
of reading good copy. Whether you're delivering news and I've
done a lot of that, or whether you're doing a commercial,

(32:45):
who are you talking to? And your best defense is
to make it somebody who's non threatening to you. It's
one thing. If you have a piece of copy, you're tonight,
we're going to do this that you know, if you
want to get into an angry mode, for example, picture
that you're talking to the person who just put a
parking ticket on your car windshield. Okay, that'll bring it home.
If you have something generally though, I will talk to like,

(33:08):
let's say, like my son or a kid. You know,
somebody who's just not great. And I'm giving you this
great advice because you need to know this so I
would say it's always a delivery where it's always what
you're thinking, what you're plugged into. The voice really is secondary,
it really really is. We stopped paying attention to the
voice after a little while. I could talk like this,
but if you're if I'm if I'm talking away, that's

(33:28):
very sweet and loving you. You're listening to how I'm
saying it because I love you so much and you
just you know that was this? I like the guy
from Star Wars, right Yoda? Yeah, yeah, oh you guys
will love this. And I'll tell it real quick. A
great radio story. There was a radio station and I
think out of the San Joaquin Valley in California. They
years ago they were having a remote and they said

(33:50):
come down and get a free toy Yoda. They gave
people a toy Yoda a dollar.

Speaker 1 (33:56):
That's well done.

Speaker 17 (33:57):
That's a promotion's off of them. Yeah, they got sued
those badly. So anyway, that's neither here there.

Speaker 1 (34:05):
Jim Thornton joining us. He's a Marshall University homecoming Grand Marshall.
The parade coming up on Friday, of course the game
on Saturday. Jim, do you when we're in these moments,
whether and TJ and I can speak from experience being it,
whether you're covering the state capitol, you're interviewing you know, politicians.
In my case, I get to cover sports and sometimes
you're in stadiums that you never thought you would be.

(34:28):
You have to take a step back and just go,
this is not too bad. Do you still do that
for as long as you've done that? Just kind of
you know, maybe during a taping, just kind of look
around and go, this is all right.

Speaker 17 (34:39):
Yes, every day. I mean, and I love walking around
the stages because we're on the Sony lot, which was MGM.
So it's exactly like what you're talking about when you're
working at a big stadium. If you know, hey this
word Marty Brenham and Joe Knucksausat you know you're well,
here's or the riverfront, you know. But yeah, so yes,
it never gets old that way. And we've done remote.

(35:01):
We're like in Hawaii where we were on the on
the Big Island and you know this, you have this
beautiful stage, it's set up and they tear it all
down when we go home, but it's beautiful. And I
did Madison. I would say Madison Square garden. Yeah, Madison
Square Garden in New York. We were there and it
was like twenty five hundred people or whatever it was.

(35:22):
It was otherworldly. And the thing is too for me.
I got it easy. I don't have to win anybody over.
I'm not, like, you know, I'm not the guy at
the laugh Factory on Sunset Boulevard or whatever telling these
jokes and hey, you know it's people are already won
over by the time they come in. So to me,
it's like a birthday party or it's like something and
that we would put on at Marshall University. I was
telling somebody, it's just like it's there's a comfort level

(35:44):
there that begin with.

Speaker 4 (35:45):
You know, give you a free card here, you got
a Pat Vanna or Ryan story? You want to tell us?

Speaker 17 (35:51):
Oh, let's see. Well, I mean Vana. I did get
to pick out a dress for Vana one time. That
was kind of cool. Hey, Jim, what do you think
which dress do you think? I was a red one,
I said, and I asked her what tie do you
think I should be? You know, so we've given each
other advice. Evannah just great. I mean, what you see
is what you get. I went down a year ago

(36:12):
as October, we went and we taped some shows down
in Myrtle Beach because I was going there anyway. Actually
this coincidentally, and the producers said, oh, really, well, let's
get you, you know, so we rode the double decord
bus and toward her hometown. You can see those. She's
just exactly like what she seems, very very sweet and
real nice. And Ryan is too. I mean, he's a
great guy. I feel like, you know, TJ and Day,

(36:33):
You guys know what it's like working with guys who
you're all in the same radio broadcasting industry, TV, and
there's just a camaraderie and there's sort of a shared
experience there to begin with, which Ryan I feel that
because he did radio for so long in LA I
did a lot of radio and some TV, and you know,

(36:53):
it's just real comfortable.

Speaker 1 (36:55):
Jim Thornton Marshall University Homecoming Grand Marshall and Walker Tatum
there as well with the Marshall alumni. Walker give folks
the schedule rundown here for the next couple of days
because there are events all the way up to the
game on Saturday.

Speaker 7 (37:09):
Of course, so of course Monday and Tuesday are over
today on Wednesday, this evening, we actually have an event.
Jim's a huge fan of Jim Spaghetti, so we thought
it was definitely nice, only fitting for us to have
an event called Meet Jim at Jim's. So that's going
to kick off at six point thirty tonight at Jim
Spaghetti on on Fifth Avenue. So make sure to come
out to that and Jim will be there taking pictures

(37:31):
and just meeting the community and enjoying great spaghetti.

Speaker 17 (37:34):
And I have a Marshall blazer right he does, and
it's like multi checkered, so I will put that on
instead of this white because you.

Speaker 7 (37:42):
Know he's going to be dressed at part for sure. Yes,
And then looking us into tomorrow. Here in the Alumni Association,
we do office decorating, so a lot of our offices
on campus have participated in decorating around the theme, which
is Wheel of Thunder, you know, to pay a nod career.
We're gonna be doing that all day tomorrow, and then
that'll lead us into Hoops and Huntington tomorrow evening. So

(38:05):
that's downtown. That's where people we will be able to
meet the athletes, the coaches, get some autographs and things
like that and watch some great basketball and then leading
into Friday, We've got a big day on Friday with
a couple of events going on on campus. You know,
the largest events that are cro on Friday are the
parade and bonfire. So the parade starts, starts at six

(38:26):
o'clock and it starts down at the Keith Albi and
comes on campus, and then the bonfire starts at seven
in harless Field.

Speaker 2 (38:32):
And then on.

Speaker 7 (38:33):
Saturday, we have our annual alumni tailgate that we partner
with Marshall University Black Alumni on and that's in the afternoon,
right before kickoff, and then we take on Texas.

Speaker 1 (38:43):
State too, shining.

Speaker 17 (38:46):
That's like a long song unit. How do you remember
all those places?

Speaker 11 (38:50):
That's why I.

Speaker 1 (38:51):
That's why you keep him around, you know, Jim Thornton.
He is the Grand Marshall of Marshall University Homecoming voice
of Wheel of Fortune Walker Tatum, also with Bars alumni. Guys,
thank you so much for simpening some time with us
this morning, and look forward to seeing you on Saturday.
Then go Heard, Go heard, Daves. Have you guys coming up?
We'll get some of your text three or four talk
three oh four. This is talk line from the Encove

(39:13):
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power jack pott is two hundred and seventy three million,
Mega Millions jack pot is six hundred twenty five million,
So go ahead play today. Yesterday we spoke or mostly
TJ spoke with Faye County Senator Brian Helton. They discussed
energy policy, and TJ you reflected on that and wrote
about it this morning in your commentary.

Speaker 4 (41:18):
I did. First off, my thanks to Senator Helton for
coming in. I think it's a good debate to have.
He and I disagree on the premise of his plan,
which is that the Public Service Commission, the State Code,
whatever device you want to use, should force West Virginia
coal plants to run sixty nine percent at the time.

(41:39):
He believes Dave that that'll be a macro win for
West Virginia. He believes it'll put and create thirty five
hundred new coal jobs. That's a good thing. Thirty five
hundred new jobs. Not something to dismiss. However, my humble opinion,
I think what it will do in reality is raise
power bills for West Virginians who already struggled to afford them.

(41:59):
I think it will do very little, if anything, to
curb the use of renewables in our energy mix, which
is something the Senator desires. And I also think that
it will hurt our natural gas industry because if we
artificially subsidized coal into the market, the most feasible option
that would come offline because it controls most of the market,

(42:20):
is natural gas, and we obviously have a big natural
gas industry here in West Virginia. So that's my take.
I wrote about that today. I do apologize for monopolizing
the conversation. Yesterday I got going my apologies to you
on that.

Speaker 1 (42:34):
No, no, ma'am. You spent twenty years in the field.
I know mulane when it comes to energy policy. Just
let the man go. Just let the man go. And
because of that, I was viewing this from more of
a political lens. I guess TJ in that this, to
me is an example of the pitfalls of having the

(42:57):
super majority, where everybody wants to be in one place
because that's the party that gets elected. This does not
sound like a Republican proposal to me. This sounds more
like something you would have seen from the Democratic Party
fifteen years ago, where you're trying to put more requirements,
more mandates, more restrictions and tell a business, a private
sector business, how to run its business. That does not

(43:20):
seem like a that it doesn't seem like it is
not a conservative, traditional conservative value coming from the Republican
and this is coming from the Republican Party. This isn't
a Democrat bill. And that struck me as when you
are the super majority, you have very differing opinions on
how the government should and should not operate. How much

(43:41):
is too much big government, little government, varying opinions when
you have that wide ranging of individuals.

Speaker 5 (43:47):
Part of it.

Speaker 4 (43:48):
Yeah, that's really good point. And he mentioned that he
doesn't like markets that are manipulated, because my thing was, well,
I like markets, I don't like man and he said,
I don't like markets that are manipulated. But this Republican populism.
Is that what we should call it. I don't have
a better word for it. I guess far right republican populism. Yeah,

(44:13):
it's it's just anti fundamental to what conservatism used to be.
And I struggle with it because I used to consider
myself a conservative and if that's what conservatism is now,
I guess I'm out of the club.

Speaker 1 (44:26):
Got to take our final break for the hour. We'll
revisit this coming up in the second ark. This is
talk line from the in COVID Insurance Studios.

Speaker 14 (44:32):
Governor Patrick Morrissey has set a very bold goal fifty
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(44:54):
able to count on. West Virginia Coal Association President Chris
Hamilton stated Governor Moore He's planned to grow West Virginia's
energy generation capacity to fifty gigawatts by twenty to fifty
is a dynamic approach to economic development which will supercharge
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(45:14):
leadership and the action of the legislature, West Virginia is
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Virginia Coal Association.

Speaker 1 (45:49):
Posted right now at wv metronews dot com over the
high School Sports section the latest SSAC playoff ratings. As
we head into eight this week nine Hey week eight
week to the high school football season. Coming up tonight,
it is the Metro News High School Sports Line. Fred Persinger,
Dave Jacklin, Joe Bricato will be with you from seven

(46:11):
oh six till nine. Among the guests Jefferson football coach
Craig Hunter, Buffalo coach Andy Anderson, the individual state golf champion.
The first high school championships of the year going on
this week, Mark Sampson, Fairmont senior, Jason Hickman from Work County,
and I Leading Anybody Else Haiti forod Tung Valley will

(46:31):
also join the show. So it's spread, Dave and Joe
coming up tonight. Metro News High School Sports Line seven
o six until nine o'clock on many of the same
Metro News radio stations. A couple of quick texts. Guys,
this is not Republicanism, it's trump Ism. Three or four
Talk three or four. Morsey's backyard brawl is going about
as well as W's football season, says the Texter. Coming up,

(46:55):
Steven Allen Adams, friend from Ogden Newspapers, will join us.
We've got a couple of things We're going to chop
it up with Steven about a little bit later on.
Mike McKenna, Washington Times columnist political commentator, his thoughts on
the theater of the shutdown. Good first hour. Let's do
it again next hour. Go get you a cup of
coffee a donut. This is Talkline on Metro News for

(47:16):
forty years, the voice of West Virginia.

Speaker 2 (47:29):
Metro News talk Line is presented by Encova Insurance, encircling
you with coverage to protect what you care about most.
Visit incova dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (47:40):
Second hour Metro News Talkline. Hope you're having a good
start to your Wednesday morning. Appreciate you listening in on
one of our great affiliates across the state of West Virginia,
or if you're watching on the Metro News TV app.
We appreciate that. Zach Carrolchick is our video producer this morning.
Ethan Collins is handling the phones. He's the operator sitting

(48:01):
by at eight hundred and seven sixty five Talk eight
hundred and seven six five eight two five five Text
the show three or four Talk three oh four. We
have a couple of open segments for your thoughts. Also
Mike McKenna, Washington Times columnists, political operative, political commentator. He'll
join us. We'll talk about the theater of the government shutdown.
David Morgantown TJ in Charleston, Good morning, TJ.

Speaker 4 (48:24):
Good morning, sir. This came across my feed from Senator
Jim Justice Facebook post baby dog six years old today.

Speaker 1 (48:32):
Dave, Happy birthday. It's a baby dog. I don't have
any happy birthday music cued up where we would celebrate appropriately,
my bad. Do you think she gets a cake? Oh?

Speaker 4 (48:41):
I would imagine more than one, I would say, I mean,
you know, trolling around the Capitol there, going from meeting
to meeting. Surely each chairman of each committee meeting has
a cake ready.

Speaker 1 (48:52):
No doubt about. We'll talk about baby dog actually in
just a couple of minutes. Joining us this morning from
his office in the bow of the State Capitol of
West Virginia. Please welcome to the program. Capitol reporter columnist.
He works for Ogden Newspapers with publications all across the
great state of West Virginia. Front of the program, Stephen
Allen Adams, Steven, Good.

Speaker 10 (49:12):
Morning, gentlemen. Thanks for having me on the show today,
live from the Capitol Press Room in the basement of
the State Capitol Building.

Speaker 1 (49:21):
So let's start, Steven. Last week the state health Officer,
doctor Mark McDaniels on the stand in Raleigh County. His
testimony raised some eyebrows. Governor Morrissey yesterday said he remained
confident that doctor McDaniel the acting state health officer, remained
confident in him, even after that testimony last week. Fill

(49:42):
in some of those blanks.

Speaker 10 (49:45):
Oh, absolutely, of course, you know myself. Brad Mcloheenny with
Metro News, Lori Kircy of West Virginia Watch and others
were in the courtroom last week on the final day
of the permanent injunction hearing. This is the case for
Rally County. Parents are seeking to prevent the local and
state boards of education from being able to reject their

(50:06):
religious exemptions the ones that were granted by the Department
of Health. So you had doctor Mark McDaniel. He is
the acting State Health Officer. He's been in that position
since August twenty fifth. He was subpoenad of all people
by Judge Michael Froebel. He wasn't subpoened by any of
the other parties in the case. The judge wanted him

(50:27):
to come and present some testimony, and I guess the
attorney for the State Department of Health, who is one
of the attorneys with the Attorney General's Office and kind
of warned, well, he's only been in there for six weeks,
he's probably not going to be able to provide a
whole lot of information. And boy was Holly Wilson Wright

(50:48):
because he came in there Thursday and really couldn't answer
a whole lot of questions about his role in specifically
what role he had as in religious exceptions, only to
say that it's not in his purview. In fact, that's
a direct quote that it was not in his purview
as state Health officer, and really left a lot of

(51:11):
us kind of scratching our heads as to what is
he doing a state acting state health officer.

Speaker 4 (51:20):
I know you can't answer this because you're as baffled
by it as I am. Why would that not be
in his purview? And if it's not easy to answer,
it makes me wonder about the politics of the situation, Steve.
And you know, this is a doctor, this is a
MD or DO that has been educated, taught, has taken
the Hippocratic oath, these kinds of things. I'm wondering if

(51:42):
it's tough to find someone in that job that matches
up and their training and what they're taught and what
they believe with what the Morrisey administration wants to do
and is trying to do with vaccine policy in West Virginia.
Maybe that's the reason he doesn't have much to say.
I don't know. Maybe I'm off base.

Speaker 10 (51:57):
There could be a combination of of course, it has
taken Governor Morrisey several months to have a new state
Health officer. Doctor Matthew Christensen was the previous one under
Governor Justice, and he declined to appoint a new one
at the end of his tenure just because he wanted

(52:19):
to leave that appointment up to Governor Morrissey when he
came into office in January. But it took January, February, March, April, May, June, July,
and in August to get somebody in there.

Speaker 1 (52:34):
And you know.

Speaker 10 (52:35):
Governor Morrisey was asked about this yesterday, specifically about the
testimony that doctor McDaniel gave, but also asked specifically about
why is he acting State Health Officer because that has
been a little confusing. Why is he not the state
Health Officer and why he needs that acting title, and

(52:55):
Governor Morrisey said something along the lines of, well, we've
had a hard time trying to recruit for this position
because of some of the requirements of the job that
make it really really prohibitive for some people, especially those
with actual medical licenses to do it for a long time.
And we've seen a lot of turnaround, a turnover in

(53:17):
that position, even under Governor Justice. You know, you had
a doctor Slimp, Kathy Slimp, you had doctor i Amjad,
and then you had doctor Christiansen's we just talked about,
so perhaps that might be the case. And again in
the case of McDaniel, he's got a couple other positions
in the private sector. He's still doing as basically an

(53:39):
advisor for some big healthcare companies, lab Corps being one
of them, even though according to his testimony, he doesn't
really provide that much time to either of those positions.
I think in one case he said two hours per
year for the lab Corp position, and he said fifteen
minutes to have a month for the other position, which
again it might call a Monday. That's good work, you

(54:01):
can get it.

Speaker 1 (54:03):
Well, that's about how much time we spend outside this
program getting ready, about fifteen minutes a month. The Steven
Steven Helen Adams joining us a columnist for Ogden Newspaper's
Capital Reporter TJ. I think you're spot on, and Stephen
just alluded to the fact that Governor Morrisey admitted it
is tough to recruit for this position. It's tough anyway
to recruit for that position. I get it if you

(54:24):
don't want to leave your private practice or you move
into that role. It's a big role. You got to
put your name on things. There can be ramifications. It's
an even harder position, I think to recruit if you've
already dictated medical policy to get a physician to agree
with that policy. So you've got to find somebody that's
going to agree with that that makes the recruiting process

(54:45):
even more difficult. And one other thought, you guys can
weigh in if Judge Froebel, it seemed like spent a
lot of time on trying to evaluate the process of
the religious exemption. What I took away from the testimony
from the last couple of days doesn't seem like there's
much of a process to evaluate the religious exemption. All
you got to do is, hey, I got an exempt.

(55:06):
I got an exemption somebody we're not certain who is
granting those guys.

Speaker 10 (55:12):
Yeah, well, I mean I think that's a really good point.
I was not there for this part of the testimony Wednesday,
but Brad had a good write up on the testimony
from the state epidemiologist talking about the process that they
use because in the executive Order, the Department of Health,
the Bureau of Public Health within the Department of Health,
they were instructed to come up with the process for

(55:33):
at least religious exemptions, and it sure looks to me
from Brad's reporting that they did try to emulate some
of the states. You know, they're always talking about the
forty five states that have religious exemptions, Well, a lot
of those states do have kind of guardrails on that
either if you're a parent, you might have to sign
something acknowledging the risks you're taking in regards to having
unvaccinated children. You might have to watch a video showing

(55:56):
what some of the effects of these things, or you
might have to get an affidavit from your pastor I
mean things like that. They apparently are Bureau Public Health
and or state epidemiologists did try to come up with
some sort of process whereby you would have to jump
through at least a couple hoops before you just scout
out and out get religious exemption. Apparently the Morrisey administration

(56:19):
didn't like that, and they ended up going with this
pretty open ended process where we really just had to
sign a sheet with a couple of little pieces of
information on it and turn it in And there really
is no formal policy or process for rejecting a religious exemption.
You can, I guess take it to the bank. If
you're turning it in, you're going to get the religious

(56:42):
exemption in this case. So there was a process, and
apparently that process was too extraneous for the governor's office,
and we have what we.

Speaker 4 (56:52):
Have now Stephen with a class action as Judge Froebel
seemingly has accept did or I guess is asking whether
or not he can rule on a statewide basis. You've
also got other judges and other circuits that have said, no,
you can't have this exemption. So we've got contradictory rulings here.

(57:14):
I struggle with that personally. I don't think. Look, I
don't think Froebel's a bad guy. I think he would
like to see resolution for people. But I just don't
know if he can write that check. Given that he
was elected by a Raleigh County circuit, I don't know
that his rulings should affect the Eastern Panhandle. Just my
two cents.

Speaker 10 (57:34):
Sure, I've been really kind of taken aback by some
of the decisions, and I, of course I'm not an attorney.
I've covered many court cases.

Speaker 3 (57:42):
I am.

Speaker 10 (57:42):
I just won first place in best Legal Affairs writing
for the Rose President.

Speaker 4 (57:46):
Congratulations that way.

Speaker 1 (57:47):
But I'm not an.

Speaker 10 (57:48):
Attorney, so I have to read these things in interpret
it like everybody else. But it seems to me the
judge Froebel has just wanted to really kind of keep
this case in front of him as much as he
can of course, you know that both parties, He's at
one point try to appeal this all the way up
to the State Supreme Court. The preliminary injunction has been appealed,

(58:08):
but both parties tried to kick the whole enchilada all
the way up the State Supreme Court. Judge Trouble said, no,
you had attorneys for the state try to get a
certified question sent up to the State Supreme Court to
ask whether the religious freedom of all from twenty twenty
three what bearing it has on this whole thing, or
if it doesn't. Judge Trouble said no to that as well.

(58:30):
And now we're doing this class action thing. And of
course there was a case today Kanall County. I know
Brad'll have a little bit more on that later, but
we were all listening in to the audio on that,
and I mean even before Judge Lindsay, I mean, the
question is does Judge Febele even have that type of
authority to try to do a class action with these
pending lawsuits. And there really is a question, I think

(58:53):
as to whether you can certify this as a class action. Now,
of course he's going to and we're going to see
that order. I think by the end of this month.
The official order to do that, but I do think
there are issues with that that probably will come back
to buy them if it gets before the State Supreme Court.

Speaker 1 (59:10):
Steven Allen Adams with us here. I'll mentioned News talk Line.
Stephen is the Capitol reporter columnist for Ogden newspapers across
the state. Steven as an award winning journalist. Congratulations again,
by the way, use your news sense and tell me
a punchball. News had an article, a follow up article
actually that Senator Jim Justice still commuting from his home
in Greenbrier County to Washington, d C. He's commuting, he's

(59:32):
flying just about every single day. Congressman Riley Moore tweeted
out said, Hey, this isn't news. Big Gym's getting the
job done. This isn't news. Is it news? Minstering tidbit?
What's your take?

Speaker 10 (59:45):
Oh, I think it's absolutely news, particularly because I'm interested
and I may try to inquire a little more about this.
How's it being paid for? Is he paying for it personally?
Is he paid for it to have a Senate salary?
It's not campaign available campaign funds? Because I just checked
his FEC report. He's paying for his personal security out

(01:00:07):
of campaign funds, the people that are wheeling around baby
dog on his birthday today around to the Capitol. But
as for the air flights, I'm not sure who is
paying for those. But if you look at that punch
Bowl News report, I think it's even more interesting when
you look at how long he's there for a couple

(01:00:27):
of these flights, He's in there barely two hours. He
flies in from Louisbourg into Reagan, he goes, he does
his vote, and he leaves and again sometimes that's the
turnaround on that's two hours. I mean, that's crazy. I mean,
that's just is he really just going to d C

(01:00:47):
to cast these votes and turning around and going I mean,
I know he's doing some work there during the days.
I've gone to d C and sat in his office
and talked to him, but it sure kind of leaves
the impression that he's doing kind of the bare minimum
and it's a full time job. As I followed Senator

(01:01:07):
Capitol and former Senator Mansion around, you need to be
there if you're going to do the job. And I'm
not saying he's not there for long periods of time
every day, but I mean, this really kind of gives
a bad impression.

Speaker 4 (01:01:23):
So a couple of thoughts. I agree with you completely
naive as I am. I never even thought that this
would be on the public dime. I mean, I don't
see how you could even do that. Surely this is
on his private dime. It's on his private dime. Fine,
if it's on the public dime, I got a big
problem with it. I agree with you completely on that.
Number two. I'll take a bit of a different take

(01:01:45):
when I look at his voting record. He doesn't miss votes.
He does not miss votes very rarely, if ever, has
he missed a vote. I don't think he misses committee meetings.
If he's going to events in DC, you know, the
plane leaves. When it leaves, he's the one that calls
the shot on that it gets there. I'm okay with it.
If for no other reason, then he's not in the swamp.

(01:02:07):
And maybe we can have a citizen legislature or set
some kind of example for it in DC. I mean, hey,
could it get any worse? And again, maybe I'm not
even my thinking, but that's where I'm at on it.

Speaker 1 (01:02:17):
Well, let me go ahead, I was gonna say, let
me be the hybrid in between the two of you
there because one the punch bowl news story, there was
nothing in it, and Stephen, you know this from reading
news writing news. Sometimes there are subtleties where you're making suggestions.
This was just a follow up to a story that
did earlier. It's interesting because it's different, and hey, Jim

(01:02:39):
Justice is still flying says he can't find a place.
Kind of a pain in the hind end. I thought
it was pretty well straightforward. It's interesting because it's different.
There was no suggestion that he's not doing his job.
There was no suggestion that there was something nefarious. It
was kind of a weird tidbit type of story. And
I'm kind of somewhere in between the two of you.
It's makes you scratch your head, going, Okay, that's got

(01:03:00):
to get expensive pretty quick. How much time are you
actually spending the DC. But if you're there and you're voting,
which is what the people want you to do, I
don't know what to make of it other than it's
interesting that a guy flies back and forth every single day.

Speaker 10 (01:03:15):
And I'm gonna agree with both positions on that too,
because I do think you have to kind of look
at it as a voter and decide what you're comfortable with.
In regards to this, I think TJ's right. He is
meeting As far as I know, he's meeting his votes
and doing his committee work. So if he's got the
money to go around and do that, great. On the
other hand, and I understand that some of his businesses

(01:03:36):
or in private trusts or at minimum they're being raned
by his kids. But as not your news is reported.
You know, you got the properties down at Glade Springs
that are on the auction block. I know there's a
court case. I think try to stop that, but again
you don't have the money to do that. You've got
the money to throw for a private airplane and go.
I mean, I do think there needs to be some

(01:03:56):
more clarification.

Speaker 5 (01:03:57):
On all that.

Speaker 4 (01:03:58):
It's a fair point.

Speaker 1 (01:04:00):
You covering baby Dog's birthday.

Speaker 10 (01:04:04):
Yeah, I'm looking at the invitation right now. There is
a birthday party scheduled from one to two thirty pm
today at the Heart Office building. There's cake, belly, robe,
diplomacy barpartisan biscuit distribution. So I don't know, like it
seems a little tone death with you know, when you

(01:04:24):
got Capitol police officers that aren't getting paid right now
during the government's shutdown. But I mean at the same time,
Justice will tell you baby dog makes people smile. And
I can tell you being at the US Capitol building,
staffers and everyone in that building love that dog. So
I guess if it makes them happy.

Speaker 1 (01:04:41):
Just think maybe belly Rubs is the key to bringing
John Dune and Chuck Schumer together and getting this whole
government shutdown thing sorted out.

Speaker 10 (01:04:49):
I'm getting I'm getting tired of this ground all day
right now. You know, we've got a briefing with Capital
the Center Capitol tomorrow, and it's just we're gonna hear
the same stuff this week. I mean, it's washing to
instant repeat ad nausea.

Speaker 4 (01:05:00):
I would pay really good money for an AI image
of baby Dog dressing down Fune and Schumer in some
fashion telling them that they need to get their act together.
I would pay really good money for that.

Speaker 1 (01:05:11):
You can probably make that happen.

Speaker 10 (01:05:13):
If it brings us all together and ins this thing
and bring it makes everybody happy, then I will give
baby Dog a treat.

Speaker 1 (01:05:20):
Steven Allen Adams. He is the Capitol Reporter columnist for
all the newspapers all across the state from the state Capitol.
Steven always want to talk to you. Thank you, buddy,
Thank you gentlemen. We'll get some tax three or four
talk three oh four. Michael McKenna will join us from
DC at the bottom of the hour. This is talk
line from the Encove Insurance Studios.

Speaker 9 (01:05:39):
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Speaker 1 (01:07:02):
Three or four talk three oh four. Michael McKenna going
to join us, coming up a couple of minutes from now.
Text three h four talk three oh four. I think
this is supposed to be interesting, interesting debate between Senator
Helton and TJ. It's allaring that Helton seems so uninformed
and was basing actual energy policy on talking points and platitudes.

(01:07:24):
I support ideas to make energy more affordable and make
power bills lower, but Senator Helton seemed interested in pandering
to a constituency rather than setting a level playing field
that allows utilities to take advantage of emerging technologies. Cole
is a needed resource, but the idea needs to be
an all of the above portfolio that drives down cost.

(01:07:44):
Competition is the answer.

Speaker 4 (01:07:48):
Look, Jim Kaufman said it really well about healthcare and industry.
Energy is the same way. David's very complicated. The guy
that taught me all I know. I mean, he's been
doing this a lot longer than me. First thing, he'll
tell you is he still doesn't know everything. It's always changing.
And I'll give Hilton Hilton Helton the benefit of the

(01:08:09):
doubt here. I look, I think his intentions are noble.
I just don't think he understands what he is asking
for will really do. And that's the problem.

Speaker 1 (01:08:18):
And TJ. I was thinking about this last night and
I'm just going off the top of my head throwing
this at you. Can you think of an instance where
the government came in state or federal mandated something, mandated
a business be run in a certain way and it
drove down the costs without artificially doing it. Not one.

Speaker 4 (01:08:38):
I'm from the government. I'm here to help. Is that
what you're saying?

Speaker 1 (01:08:40):
It's Ronald Reagan's line, wasn't it. I believe. So coming up,
Michael McKenna going to join us Washington Times columnist, political insider,
political operative. That sounds kind of ominous, doesn't it. Operative.
He's going to join us. We'll talk about the theater
of the federal government shutdown. Three or four Talk three
or four is the text line eight hundred and seven
and sixty five TALK. That's the phone number, A talk
line from the Encove insurance studios on Metro News for

(01:09:03):
forty years. Metro News is the voice of West Virginia.
It's eleven thirty times to get a news update. Let's
check in on the Metro News radio network. Find out
what's happening across the great state of West Virginia.

Speaker 12 (01:09:18):
Western Virginia. Metro News sign Jeff Jenkins. A vacant seat
in the State Senate could soon be filled.

Speaker 21 (01:09:22):
The West Virginia Republican Party will be accepting applications through
five o'clock this evening for those wanting to fill the
vacancy in the seventh Sentatorial district. This person will represent Boone, Lincoln, Logan,
and the eastern part of Kennall County. The seat was
left vacant when Mike Stewart was confirmed as General Counsel
for the US Department of Health and Human Services GOP
chair and Boone County deale again. Josh Holstein says, there's

(01:09:44):
always interest to fill gaps in the Capitol.

Speaker 15 (01:09:46):
We always have, you know, more than three applicants and
almost every single.

Speaker 11 (01:09:52):
Time, and that really just goes to show that you know.

Speaker 6 (01:09:55):
The process works. We have an interest, people have an
interest in servant at State government.

Speaker 21 (01:10:00):
The person appointed by Governor Patrick Morrissey will serve into
next year when that seat goes up for election. I'm
Aaron Parker, WV Metronews dot com.

Speaker 12 (01:10:08):
Change in the makeup of the Calhoun County Commission. With
this vote, I'm making that we.

Speaker 13 (01:10:12):
Accept the resignation of Jacob mcumbers's County County Commission.

Speaker 12 (01:10:16):
A second pad mission discussion all days of favors signified
by saying Hi Hi. The County Commission at Tuesday evening,
as you heard, accepting the resignation of Commissioner Jacob mccumbers.
Commission then appointed Clarence Lee Rush to replace Hi mcumbers,
awaiting further court proceedings after being arrested on fifty criminal
accounts of sexual abuse involving a child who knows a

(01:10:38):
little more. Chill in the air today a Frost advisory
for some counties. Tonight, you're listening to Metro News for
forty years, the Voice of West Virginia.

Speaker 16 (01:10:46):
The high school football season continues Friday Night, presented by Gomar.
You can watch Princeton and Beckley Mont's calm against Greenbrier
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(01:11:09):
Download the free Metro News Television app or visit wvmetronewstv
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Speaker 2 (01:11:16):
Premiering October twenty third on Metro News Television, Peak Health,
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Speaker 1 (01:11:30):
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Speaker 14 (01:11:31):
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Speaker 2 (01:11:34):
State of Minds Episode three coming to Metro News TV
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Speaker 12 (01:11:46):
The Martiall Health Network says Huntington based Saint Mary's Medical
Center recently hit a milestone with the completion of its
twenty thousandth open heart procedure. Hospital officials say that's more
than just a number. That's a commitment. The Jackson County
Shrifes Department releasing information Tuesday after a single vehicle crash
that claimed a man's life back on Sunday. The victim
identified his forty five year old David Tackett of Ripley.

(01:12:08):
He died at the scene of the crash at the
intersection of State Route two in the Point Pleasant Road.
From the Metro News anchored desk, I'm Jeff Jenkins.

Speaker 1 (01:12:41):
Three or four Talk three or four is the text line.
You can always give us a bus as the kids.
I don't not the kids actually say that. Eight hundred
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two five. Five you can text the show three or
four talk three oh Four, texter Says DAVID. Tj when

(01:13:23):
federal trillion dollars spending bills are used to promote special
interest and allow many hands in the cookie jar to
get their, part leaves the consumer holding the. Bag in
my humble, opinion Wasn't Dick cheney that said deficits don't?
Matter says The, Texter he was. Wrong three or four

(01:13:45):
talk three or four is the text. Line he owes
The Greenbrier, company or Owes Greenbrier county andered fifty thousand
dollars in taxes and flies TO dc every. Day Question
mark says the text all, right do we Have mike
on the? Line he's On? Zoom, well Possibly mike you.
There that's WHAT i. Thought all, right we're going to

(01:14:07):
get connected with. HIM i know he exists in the digital.
World we're trying to get him into the real world technically.
Speaking so we'll take a quick break back in a.
Moment this is talk line from The Encoba Insurance.

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Speaker 1 (01:15:48):
More three or Four talk three or four is the
text line eight hundred and seven to sixty Five talk
eight hundred seven sixty five eight two five to. Five
that is the phone. Number david MORGANTOWN tj In, charleston
trying to make a connection With michael, McKenna Washington times,
columnist political, operative political. Commentator he weighed in on the

(01:16:11):
federal government. Shutdown the headline is fantastic kabuki theater shutdown
proves politicians addiction to drama over. Duty we've seen this
play's last act. BEFORE i really want to talk to,
him but trying to get him connected on the zoom
machine might just get him on the old fashioned. Telephone
that's the.

Speaker 4 (01:16:31):
Route i'm working on right.

Speaker 1 (01:16:32):
Now, dave JUST, fyi, well Have sarah get us connected
and we'll be good to.

Speaker 4 (01:16:36):
Go Until, sarah who never showed her face in the
series we came to learn three or.

Speaker 1 (01:16:41):
Four talk three. Four helton gets his information from ill
informed groups Like americans For, prosperity says The. TEXTER i
don't know Where helton's getting his information. From and, again
when it comes to energy, POLICY i defer to my
co host on that one to do knows this. Stuff

(01:17:02):
that's WHY i was taking a look at this from
the political, perspective AND i mentioned this earlier that it
just it's this new form of. Populism and when you
have the supermajority, party you're gonna have a wide. Range
you may Have republicans who are socially conservative but economically
might resemble More democrat policy from fifteen years, ago and vice.

(01:17:23):
Versa you can you got this wide. Range so the
supermajority is both a blessing and a. Curse all, RIGHT
i think we got him on the phone.

Speaker 3 (01:17:29):
To, You, jay it.

Speaker 1 (01:17:31):
Appears let me give him the official. Introduction michael mckinna
is a calumnist for The Washington. Times he's a political,
commentator and now he joins us on the old fashioned,
telephone which never lets us. Down, mike good.

Speaker 5 (01:17:41):
Morning i'm, sorry that's my. FAULT i have bad luck with.
ZOOM i just. Do that's.

Speaker 1 (01:17:47):
It your zoom curse is that's what you're telling.

Speaker 2 (01:17:51):
Me.

Speaker 5 (01:17:51):
Mike you, know there's a certain point in life where
you just got to say there's STUFF i can't. Do
that's one of the THINGS i can't. Do so there you.

Speaker 1 (01:17:58):
Go all, right we'll keep that in. Mind line moving.
FORWARD i TOLD. TJ i love the headline for your.
Column kabuki theater Shutdown proof's politicians addiction to drama over.
Duty seems like that's the theme right, now the theater
of the, shutdown rather than actually trying to get together
and try to work this.

Speaker 5 (01:18:15):
Out how many shutdowns have you guys been.

Speaker 1 (01:18:18):
Through in our, lifetime O, JA i don't, know.

Speaker 5 (01:18:25):
Ten twelve. PEOPLE i, mean at what point you just
look at? It, yeah what point you just look at
it and, say this is a bunch of? Nonsense? Right
it always ends the same, way and you, know usually
we wind up spending more money because people have to
be paid off of it at the back end of.
It it's just.

Speaker 6 (01:18:39):
It's it's it's.

Speaker 5 (01:18:39):
Pointless AND i really say that about my friends in the,
business but every once in a while they act like drama.
Queens and this is one of these.

Speaker 4 (01:18:46):
Moments right in your, piece you, say, we, you, me
and the nation will be forty trillion dollars in debt pretty. Soon,
MIKE i got a new. Hat you can't see, it
but on the front of the hat it, reads deficits are.
Bad i'm wearing it right now in your. Honor neither
side gets, that. MAN A cr doesn't fix. THAT A

(01:19:08):
demcr doesn't fix. That neither side's paying attention.

Speaker 5 (01:19:13):
You, Know i'm not even looking for a. Fix i'm
always looking for somebody to get up and, say, hey
we got to start bending this. Curve we got to
do something. Right doing something is better than doing. Nothing
and it's just we're doing, Stay we're doing this. Nonsense
it's to your point about having super majorities isn't always?
Good this is one of those moments where it isn't always?

Speaker 4 (01:19:33):
Good is?

Speaker 1 (01:19:35):
It with the? DEFICIT tj loves to talk about the.
Deficit the deficit to, Me mike feels like we say
we want to get the deficit under control is like, saying,
well we want world. Peace how are you going to
do if the goal is this large whatever the deficit
is now thirty seven, trillion whatever the astronomical number. Is
where do you even start to take a bite out
of that when it seems like that's something that's going

(01:19:57):
to exist for my, lifetime, kids grand, kids great grandkids
down the.

Speaker 5 (01:20:01):
Road, YEAH i, agree it's a big, problem but you
know it. Doesn't it's there's only one there's only one
of two ways to get. Solved put quotes around, solved
use whatever word you want, resolved solve to. DRESS i
don't care and one is we do something on the federal, side,
right we balance, Budgets we make some kind of commitment

(01:20:23):
to balance a, budget and we do it. Right and
even it's just balancing a budget would help because at
least the terrance payments would start knocking it down a little.
Bit we're trillion. Out we're a trillion out of balance
right now this, year, Right so that's. One that's one
possible way it's going to get. Resolved the other way
it's going to get resolved is bond market's going to
wake up when mornings start. Charging it's just a hell

(01:20:44):
of a lot of money for our debt and we're
going to Be venezuela in about eighteen. Months and you
know that nobody wants. That bond markets don't want. IT
i don't want, it and them my kids don't want,
it you. Know but that's the way the world, is.
Right stuff gets disciplined one way or the.

Speaker 4 (01:20:57):
Other you talk about the fact that most of the
government is still open eighty, Percent so Are republicans trying
to show just how wasteful discretionary spending. Is because if
that mandatory spending gets us eighty percent of the way,
there people are getting their, checks we're. Surviving is that
what they're trying to show us by running the clock

(01:21:17):
out on this?

Speaker 5 (01:21:18):
Thing you, KNOW i Would i'd like to say, yes
And i'm going to say, Yes BUT i think that
gives them way too much credit because every, shutdown we
have this same. Kabuki. Right you, know, hey you, know
seventy eight eighty percent of the government keeps, going like you, Say,
grandma guess or, text everybody's. Happy what this really shows
is you don't, need you, know this extra twenty percent

(01:21:39):
that you've. GOT i would love it if The republicans
came back in and, said you know, what this is
what we. Learned we're going to cut the budget twenty.
Percent But i'll bet you, know you put a number on.
It i'll bet it that That's that's not how it's
going to. Go that's not how that conversation is going to.

Speaker 1 (01:21:56):
Happen michael McKennon JOINING us political Commentator Washington times Columnist,
MICHAEL i was about to ask you a question trying
to put some sort of rational reasoning behind What republicans
And democrats are doing, here specifically The, democrats and AS
i kind of thought about it for just a, second
and listen to your analysis of the. SITUATION i don't

(01:22:16):
know that there is a good rational, explanation is?

Speaker 5 (01:22:19):
There, WELL i mean, yeah we started out with a good, one,
right and that is that you know those healthcare the
premium tax, credits, right The Affordable Care act tax. Credits you,
know they expire at the end of the. Year they
as a practical, matter people need to buy their insurance
On november, First so you, know it's something we probably
do need to. ADDRESS i know HOW i would address, it.

(01:22:40):
RIGHT i think those things are egregious and we should
get rid of. Them president has a different frame of
mind about. It democrats wanted to have this conversation two
and a half months, ago which is probably too. Early
but we're now literally fighting over. TIMING i, mean that's
all we're fighting. Over when are we going to have
a discussion about these health healthcare task. Credits and you

(01:23:01):
know The president has said a couple of times now
he's ready to make a deal on, it which, is you,
Know President trump code For i'm willing to give the
other side pretty much what they. Want AND i don't
at this point somebody should just take yes for an.
Answer and IF i was A, Democrat i'd be, like,
Hey president already agreed to, negotiate let's go ahead and.
Reopen and IF i was A, REPUBLICAN i take yes

(01:23:23):
for an answer To i'm, like, Hey president's already said,
this let's go, ahead and, like you, know get this
thing squared. Away they're, Children that's the only THING i
can REALLY i, mean.

Speaker 4 (01:23:34):
So why aren't they taking?

Speaker 12 (01:23:35):
It The?

Speaker 5 (01:23:36):
Democrats you mean?

Speaker 4 (01:23:37):
Anybody, well you, said because they're hosts to their left
wing right and they're left their leftist are, like we're
going to fight.

Speaker 5 (01:23:46):
This until when is completely, unclear but we're going to fight,
this and we're gonna take no and we're going to.
RESIST i, mean this is the terminal point of stupidity in, politics,
right somebody's, saying, YEAH i negotiated for, you and THEN
i want TO i want, TO i want, to you,
KNOW i want to pee on your shoes for another
couple of days BEFORE i let you.

Speaker 1 (01:24:03):
Go mike McKenna JOINING Us Washington times. Columnists, mike there
was AN nfl commentator that said something along the lines,
off you can't win a game by, losing but in
politics can you win by? Losing and WHAT i mean
here is If democrats can drag this. Out ultimately they
don't get what they. Want, republicans you, know they have

(01:24:24):
to reopen the. Government they don't get the tax. Credits
can you can they still win in their?

Speaker 3 (01:24:27):
Minds?

Speaker 5 (01:24:30):
Yeah. Yeah there was a guy Named Morton blackwell who
was part of The Reagan. Revolution, right he's a he's
a great. Guy and he, said, look he, said sometimes
you win in politics and sometimes you lose in. Politics
and that's. Okay the important thing in losing is if
you help your friends and hurt your, enemies it's not
really a, loss, Right AND i AND i think that's
what the left wing The Democratic party has in. Mind

(01:24:51):
but at this, POINT i would challenge anybody to give
me their give me their their great big pitch in
one sentence or. Less. RIGHT i, MEAN i know The, Republicans,
hey let's keep the government. Open we'll talk about tax
credits when we need to. Boom. OKAY i think that's
a little bit, thin but at least it's it's at
least it's an. ANSWER i don't even understand what The
democrats are thinking.

Speaker 4 (01:25:11):
About back To kabuki. THEATER i think The White house
Says friday that omb is going to put out a
list OF i guess potential. CUTS i don't know if
that's departments. People we've been hearing about this now since
the thing got, Going.

Speaker 1 (01:25:28):
Why not just do?

Speaker 4 (01:25:29):
It and to your, point if it's all just, theater
did they really think, we The american, people are that
stupid that we don't see that it's just.

Speaker 5 (01:25:37):
POSTURING i think that's the other part of, this right
is Most, americans LIKE i, said we've been through this
a dozen. Times and, YEAH i don't know what the
streets Of West virginia look, like But i'm sitting here In.
Washington there's no anarchy out, here, Right there's no the
world has not gone. Crazy houses aren't being lit on.
Fire so you, know people get. That it's kind of

(01:25:59):
a it's a, gag, Right it's become a running joke
almost among among the. Voters and, so you, know where
voters don't have any, expectations politicians don't have any, urgency,
Right and that's kind of where we are right in
the THE o AND b cuts. Thing you, know EVERY
O Nb i've ever been around has always got themselves a, great,

(01:26:20):
big giant folder full of stuff they'd like to put
a bullet. In i'm sure All russ, did all the
director vote did was pull that out and bring it
to the president say here's my. List you, know The
president's you, know let's let's talk about.

Speaker 4 (01:26:32):
This but it's kind of like you can't get in
the door without.

Speaker 1 (01:26:35):
One that is What i've Always.

Speaker 5 (01:26:38):
YEAH i, MEAN i, mean LIKE i, said every everyone
and b director i've ever known is, like, SURE i
got a. List you want my, list here's my. List,
Right i'll catch you five hundred billion dollars tomorrow.

Speaker 1 (01:26:48):
Morning mike McKenna joining us a political Commentary Washington times.
Columnist so what will be the, Thing, mike what will
be the thing that actually gets the ball rolling and
we get, this we get this government.

Speaker 5 (01:27:00):
Reopen, yeah this is not the most shocking. Answer, eventually
the president's going to have to step. In he's going
to have to make a deal on these tax credits
if that's what he wants to, do and we're probably
going to have not just a little not just a
little three or four or five week get me over.

(01:27:21):
APPROPRIATIONS i think we're probably going to take care of
next year's appropriations as. Well but it's going to have
to be the president because at this, point nobody else
is nobody else is capable of sort of untying this.

Speaker 4 (01:27:32):
Not i'm really toying hard with throwing you an unplanned
curveball right. NOW i don't know IF i want to
do that or. NO i do up for one energy
related you sure.

Speaker 5 (01:27:44):
S don't the idiot go? AHEAD.

Speaker 4 (01:27:50):
Uh state senator here In West virginia wants to mandate
that coal, plants whether they dispatch economically IN pjm or,
not or run sixty nine percent of the Time i've
espoused on. It we had him on yesterday and debated
what's your? Take you, know, Energy.

Speaker 5 (01:28:08):
I'm completely sympathetic towards the. GOALS i get it, completely
but it's a pretty blunt object that's probably going to
do more damage than. GOOD i don't know what you
thought about, it but just right off the top of my,
head that's sort of What i'm thinking.

Speaker 4 (01:28:24):
Now that's where that's Where i'm. AT i think it'll raise.
Bills they say it'll take renewables. OFFLINE i argue it'll
take natural gas plants. Offline we have a natural gas industry.
Here BUT i couldn't pass it up because that's what you.
Do you're a big energy guy In washington, Too SO
i had to asked.

Speaker 5 (01:28:36):
It you, know if you really want to do, something
this guy really wanted to do, something he would Condition
West virginia's participation IN, pjm in all the other states
in THE pgm getting rid of their renewable portfolio. Standards,
well you.

Speaker 4 (01:28:51):
Just gave him an, idea so you got thanks for crafting, legislation,
mate hang on.

Speaker 1 (01:28:55):
FOR us non energy policy experts expand on. That what
do you, Mean?

Speaker 5 (01:28:58):
Mike so THE i don't know how many. States P
dam is an interstate regional electricity market, essentially, right it's you,
know a bunch of a dozen, States i'll get together
and share, electricity, Right and some of those states have
renewable portfolio. Standards what that means is that they are
legally required to generate a certain amount of their electricity

(01:29:21):
from wind or, solar hydro or. Whatever, right and those
have the practical effect of being a subsidy to those.
Sources if you really want to help cole you you
would get rid of the subsidies for its competing. Sources
and that's you, know that's that's a good place to.
Start and, also these these renewable portfolio standards kind of

(01:29:42):
just screw up, everything as you might, imagine, right it's
government involvement and stuff they don't completely. Understand so, yeah
LIKE i, SAID i really want to help. Coal you,
know level of playing field and you'll probably be much better.

Speaker 1 (01:29:53):
Off seems like a good place to land the. Plane mike,
McKenna he is a contributing editor For Washington, times called
this political commentator political. Insider mike always appreciate the. Conversation thank, you.

Speaker 5 (01:30:04):
Buddy thank you.

Speaker 1 (01:30:06):
Guys coming, up we'll wrap things. Up we'll check the
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Speaker 23 (01:30:44):
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Speaker 1 (01:31:08):
More jackpots are growing In West. Virginia jackpots are on

(01:31:37):
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(01:31:58):
Million so go ahead. Today last night's the twenty twenty
five class of The Broadcasting hall Of Fame West Virginia
Broadcasting hall Of fame was. INDUCTED i just want to
say quick Congratulations Bill, Cornwell Larry, Cotchromark Curtis, Willard, Earl Jim,
Little Dick, martin And Nol. Martin congratulations on being inducted

(01:32:18):
into The hall Of. Fame of, Course billy's a. Friend
a friend of mine works For Metro news AFFILIATE wrvc In,
Huntington Kendrick communications down there And i'll See billy On.
Saturday officially A hall Of famer, Now SO i just
wanted to say congratulations to that. Group and of course
we work with a Few hall of. Famers Dave allen
not included in that. Group we'll be coming up On

(01:32:41):
Metro News midday With Amanda baron in approximately nine minutes from.

Speaker 4 (01:32:45):
Now is it a race to see who they let in?
First you Or Dave?

Speaker 1 (01:32:49):
Allen, oh it's no, race my, man it's no. Race it's,
over it's done. Contemplated that's all, right that's. Right, well
is he somewhere next to you right at the moment.

Speaker 4 (01:33:02):
He's walking into five eighty, Control but he didn't hear
any of, that so They but, yeah Congrats, billy good.

Speaker 1 (01:33:08):
Job yeah, Again congrats To Mark, curtis a longtime anchor
there in The Huntington charleston area as well contributor On
Metro News. Middays congrats throughout the. Week so congratulations to
that entire. Class all, Right one last check of the
text line three or four talk three or four corporate
boards are demanding a percent of the utility be. RENEWABLES j. Thoughts,

(01:33:33):
YEAH i mean they.

Speaker 4 (01:33:34):
Are, look some corporate boards are but.

Speaker 1 (01:33:36):
Is that different than government requiring? It?

Speaker 4 (01:33:39):
Is it is because they're responding to your point to their.
Shareholders and yesterday it was brought, up, Well, abe he's
doing this In oklahoma or. Whatever guess. What they have
utilities in every stay and they work with what the state.
Wants so, yeah they're doing it In. Oklahoma they're doing
it in other places because that's What oklahoma's or whomever
told them they. Wanted so it's the nature of the.
Beast it's just the way it.

Speaker 1 (01:33:59):
Works And i'll go back to my final point. Here
for the last twenty, Seconds i'll try to give you
a second, RESPONSE. Tj what's the difference if a government
comes in and practically on the. Market what's the difference
if they demand and require a certain percentage be renewable
or a certain percentage be. Cool isn't that the same.
Thing you're just picking different. Sources, yeah and they should

(01:34:20):
stay out of it. Completely that's WHY pjam has market.
Rules that's why everybody that participates votes on the market.
Rules and it's common. Sense if you're driving down the,
road AS i said in my, piece gas is too
eighty at one station and two bucks at, another where
are you gonna Go dave the cheaper. One, amen, brother all,
right that's gonna do it for. Us Hoppy kerchival will
join us. Tomorrow we'll see what he's cooking up in his.

(01:34:43):
Commentary have a great. Day this is Talk Line'll Metro,
news the voice Of West.

Speaker 3 (01:34:47):
Virginia