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PARKERSBURG -- Gov. Jim Justice Thursday likened legislators to children and vetoed the $4.1 billion budget passed this weekend by the Legislature.
Justice made his announcement at a 2 p.m. press conference in the Lower Rotunda of the Capitol where he described the budget with a plate of bull dung and said the alleged budget deal with the Senate he announced this weekend, but never materialized, included what the Democrats wanted and tax reform supported by the Republicans.
"It was the greatest deal in the history of the world," Justice said.
But when it appeared no deal was coming and Democrats wouldn't vote for it, Justice said he went "flying up there" to see what happened.
Democrats said they didn't want the Republicans to get "one up" on them and the Republicans were "one step 10 times worse" for not going through with the agreement, Justice said.
"We have got to stop the nonsense that goes on here," Justice said.
Near the governor were plates that included the newest budget description, a platter of bull manure under a silver lid. He earlier called Republican budgets a nothing burger or a mayonnaise sandwich.
"We don't have a nothing burger today, and we don't have a mayonnaise sandwich," Justice said. "We all should take ownership for this, but what we have is nothing more than a bunch of political bull 'you know what.'"
Justice then signed the veto message. He urged everyone to begin working together and "we'll stop the bull crap."
The budget bill passed by the Legislature, House Bill 2018, included no tax increases and spending $85 million under fiscal 2016. It uses $90 million from the Rainy Day Fund.
The governor's original budget proposal was $4.5 billion and included higher spending and increased taxes and fees. Republicans in both houses were not supportive.
The veto means the Legislature will have to be called into special session to pass a budget. The fiscal year starts July 1.
In statements Thursday afternoon, House Speaker Tim Armstead said Justice has "thrown our state into uncertainty" and Senate President Mitch Carmichael said the Legislature presented a state budget "that lives within its means."
"I'm saddened that the governor has decided to throw our state into uncertainty and put fear and worry into the hearts of thousands of hard-working West Virginians because he didn't get his tax increases," Armstead said. "The Legislature delivered a responsible budget that controls spending and makes our state live within its means -- a budget that received the support of an overwhelming majority of members in the Legislature."
The veto has guaranteed another special session, said Armstead, who does not believe the House will agree with the governor and another session won't change the original outcome.
"This Legislature met for 60 days this year and considered proposal after proposal to raise revenue or reform our tax code, but ultimately did not reach any consensus or build enough support around any of these proposals," Armstead said. "The majority of our members have heard the calls of the people they represent - they believe they are taxed enough already and simply cannot afford to pay more for a government that continues to grow year after year."
Carmichael said he was disappointed with the veto, but the veto was not unexpected.
"From the beginning, the Senate's position has been to deliver a budget to the people of West Virginia that lives within its means, and to do that within the 60 days of the regular legislative session. We lived up to this promise," Carmichael said. "While it was our hope that the governor would have signed our reasonable and responsible budget, it's clear his vision for West Virginia's future involves a completely different path. We remain committed to working with both the House of Delegates and the governor to control spending.
"However, any compromise on this budget absolutely must include comprehensive tax reform," he said. "I truly believe tax reform is a bold way to move West Virginia forward, and I hope we will have the support of the House of Delegates and the governor to achieve this goal."