By Tyler Dedrick and Duncan Slade for Mountain State Spotlight

This story was originally published by Mountain State Spotlight. For more stories from Mountain State Spotlight, visit www.mountainstatespotlight.org.

We’re just a few days away from the 2024 legislative session, when senators and delegates from across West Virginia will meet in Charleston to pass legislation and set the state budget. 

To help inform Mountain State Spotlight’s coverage of the 60-day lawmaking sprint, we asked West Virginians what information they need about what lawmakers are doing — and not doing.

Nearly 200 people have already responded to our survey and there’s still time if you haven’t already.

Top of mind for many West Virginians is the lack of investment in infrastructure, child care, health care and public education.

These quality of life issues were followed closely by concerns about environmental issues. West Virginians told us they want to see improved infrastructure, economic development and an increase in accountability and transparency among lawmakers.

Here are the issues West Virginians told us most matter to them: 

1. Quality of living in West Virginia

Many readers emphasized the importance of focusing on improving the quality of life for West Virginians by improving health care, education and the environment. Health care is at the top of West Virginians’ concerns, with nearly three-quarters of respondents to our survey indicating it’s an issue they care about. 

Readers expressed concerns about the looming Medicaid shortfall and unwinding, and about environmental issues, including water and air quality.

Respondents said they were worried that the shifting of funds from public schools to private education through charter schools, homeschooling and the Hope Scholarship is being done in a way that “drains public schools of badly needed resources.”

“These legislators wrongly focus on cutting taxes, claiming to attract businesses,” one reader wrote. “What business would locate here if our water and air are polluted, education is abysmal, life expectancy is poor?” 

Nearly two out of three of survey respondents said they were interested in women’s health policy. Dozens of responses included concerns about abortion or reproductive rights. 

In 2022, lawmakers passed a near-total abortion ban in a whirlwind 24-hour period that largely left members of the public in the dark and unable to give input on the bill. 

“The abortion issue should have been on the ballot instead of being passed by about 134 people,” one respondent wrote. “Legislators misrepresented half of their constituents.” 

2. Economic, infrastructure and business development

West Virginians told us they’re worried that lawmakers won’t invest in public infrastructure while creating policies meant to attract major industries like energy and real estate.

“Policies that support large corporations and industries, all though often good intentions, usually directly harm small businesses and rural communities,” one respondent wrote.

People also said they want to see the Legislature focus on improving roads, water and schools.

Some respondents suggested these policies may be driving away businesses, young people and families — particularly LGBTQ+ folks and non-white West Virginians. 

“I’m very unhappy about the focus on culture issues and not fixing actual problems like the minimum wage or…doing more for the state universities to remain competitive,” one self-identified business owner told us.

3. Budgeting and adequately funding state agencies

Many readers expressed a desire for lawmakers to fund government agencies, including those that oversee roads, libraries and jails. They shared concerns that a lack of investment into public agencies and infrastructure had led to “horrible roads, student scores, jails, mental health.”

One respondent criticized legislators for “undermining the ability of state agencies to do their jobs by underfunding their budgets and still bragging about a government surplus while our roads and bridges fall apart, our public school staff are leaving/retiring, our foster care system is in shambles, no one can figure out how to pay for EMS in rural counties.”

In September, lawmakers put $100 million towards the state’s understaffed and overcrowded jail system but it’s not nearly enough.  

Meanwhile, public employees expressed frustration at the increase in their insurance premiums, putting pressure on their finances.

4. Transparency and accountability 

Several respondents expressed concern about lobbying and cronyism among lawmakers, some of whom previously or currently work for major industries including coal. 

They called for more scrutiny of “cronyism, “lobbying activity” and “good ol boys transactions.” One reader asked us to “follow the money and expose graft and corruption.”

Others shared that they lack information about what goes on in Charleston after the Legislature gavels in due to the decline of local news and a “lack of candor” among elected officials. (Our limited-run newsletter series “Power and Possums” explores the unexpected places power does and doesn’t lie in the Legislature.)

Note: This story is based on the responses of nearly 200 West Virginians who took our survey about what issues they think elected officials should address during the 2024 legislative session.