Editorial - State, local elections must be researched

With all of the excitement of the upcoming 2012 presidential election, it is easy to get swept up and forget about politics at the local and state levels.

Although elected officials at the national level – presidents, senators and representatives – have enormous tasks to undertake, those making local decisions are equally as important and deserve the same attention from voters.

It is common to hear residents make complaints about various aspects of local government, such as road repair, public schools or crime. But it seems less common for residents to take time out their day to research local and state candidates – the ones who have the power to fix many everyday problems.

According to the U.S. Census, West Virginia’s state and local governments employs 93,358 people and spends $14,813,561 annually.

All residents should pay close attention to where state and local taxes are being spent.

Government money is our money, and we as voters have the power to delegate the persons responsible for its expenditure.

While national politics soak up the media spotlight, it is up to the state governments to decide the issues that affect our daily lives.

With West Virginia continuously being ranked as one of the lowest business-friendly states, voters here should be making statements for change during the next election.

While the federal government occasionally does overstep its bounds and hinder state business decisions, it is the duty of state government to improve its conditions.

The Environmental Protection Agency – a federal bureaucracy – was recently shot down for overstepping here in West Virginia.

On March 23, the decision was made by the U.S. District Court that the EPA had no right to retroactively veto a coal plant permit.

The Mingo Logan Coal Company planned to invest $250 million in the Spruce Mine project, which would create roughly 200 jobs in West Virginia.

This is just an example of how state decisions can directly affect citizens.

So, before you complain about anything going on in the state, county or city, do some research on those you elect to fix the problems.