The West Virgina Economy and the Presidential Campaign

The economy is always a hot topic in elections. The 2008 presidential rlection is no different. West Virginia prepares for their democratic primary this week. The economy in West Virginia has suffered due to higher gas prices, higher energy costs, mortgages, foreclosures, and lack of jobs. The nation will pay attention as their economies have also been affected for the same reasons.

Hillary Clinton wants to "lower taxes for middle class families by: extending the middle class tax cuts including child tax credit and marriage penalty relief, offering new tax cuts for healthcare, college and retirement, and expanding the EITC and the child care tax credit." Clinton's tax cuts could help many West Virginia families. Like Obama Hilary feels job creation is a way to get the economy to grow. Clinton wants to "harness the power of innovation to create high wage jobs of the 21st Century." Clinton is pro union like Obama. "Hillary will restore the basic bargain that if Americans work hard and take responsibility, government will do its part to make sure they have the tools to get ahead."

This could be great for the hard workers of West Virginia; however she does not give details on how this would be done. It is good sounding political talk which is too vague to mean anything. Clinton wants to "return to fiscal responsibility." She wants a balance budget which would be nice. However, it also means things would be cut, which could be bad depending on your point of view. Hillary wants to "expand access to capital and strategic advice for rural entrepreneurs and small businesses and bring together businesses, community colleges, and four-year universities to ensure workers have the training needed to compete in the global economy." This would be great for a rural state like West Virginia. Clinton also wants to "ensure that we get broadband to rural Americans who don't have access now." Bringing this technology to rural West Virginia and other rural communities across the Nation could improve the local economy.