Shameful: Voucher shortfall must be corrected
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As he announced the return last week of what has become an annual back-to-school sales tax holiday in West Virginia, Gov. Patrick Morrisey must surely have been aware of a statement on the state Department of Human Services' Bureau for Family Assistance website that read: "The 2026 School Clothing Allowance application period has closed effective 11:59 PM on July 27, 2026, since program funding has been exhausted. Applications submitted by 11:59 PM on July 27, 2026, will be approved if eligibility requirements are met. Applications received after 11:59 PM on July 27, 2026, will be denied."
What a slap in the face.
It was followed by a nauseatingly disingenuous, "DoHS appreciates the strong response to this year's School Clothing Allowance program."
The department had already confused vulnerable families by waiting until July 10 to open applications to a program many were expecting to see open July 1. Now, while families are left scrambling, elected officials on both sides of the aisle are finding it difficult to swallow the claim the program has run out of money.
"The dollars that were asked for in the budget that started July 1 were appropriated by the Legislature as the governor had asked for," said Del. Vernon Criss, R-Wood. "We are in the first month of that new fiscal year. There should be no reason that in less than 31 days that he has, quote unquote, run out of money. None at all."
"I think we're failing our children," said House Finance Committee Minority Chairman John Williams, D-Monongalia. "I don't think it's been explained exactly what the problem that the governor's office is having, and it's hard to be helpful when you're unsure of what the problem is."
Further, State Treasurer Larry Pack, also a Republican, expressed significant skepticism on the matter.
"It is outrageous and unacceptable that, as we celebrate millions of dollars in surpluses, we claim we lack the proper funding for programs that protect our most vulnerable children," Pack said. "Providing for these needy children is a fundamental duty of government. With rising costs, we must do more to ensure that needy families have the resources required to give their children a real chance at success."
The situation certainly gives the appearance of playing political games -- and why ANYONE would do such a thing when some of West Virginia's most at-risk children are involved is beyond basic decency -- or someone has made a mistake and isn't talking.
"These are matching dollars for federal drawdowns, and therefore, if they have mismanaged their drawdowns or have mismanaged the money in 30 days, that is an administrative problem and not a legislative problem. And we will not cover him if he's mismanaged the situation," Criss said.
"Between new shoes, clothes, backpack essentials, and modern classroom tech, the costs stack up quickly," Morrisey said, indicating he knows EXACTLY what families are facing, as he touted the sales tax holiday. "As your governor, my mission is to get government out of the way and put more of your hard-earned dollars back in your pocket."
That's cold comfort to families for whom government -- or, perhaps, politics -- is very much in the way of their ability to help their kids start the school year with the clothes they'll need.
Morrisey and leaders at the Department of Human Services must do what is necessary to resolve this shortfall -- now.