Three Counties in Occupied Virginia to Come Home?
By Shaun Kenney | Sunday, January 23rd, 2011 | Policy
Freshman Republican Delegate Larry Krump wants to hold a non-binding referendum on whether the three counties of Berkley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties would like to return to the Commonwealth:
The bill introduced by freshman Delegate Larry Kump seeks to ask voters whether they want to become part of neighboring Virginia.
Stressing its nonbinding nature, the Berkeley County Republican said the measure would provide “some advice and consent on this issue.” He cited West Virginia’s poor showing in economic rankings.
“Our government is so centralized and so oppressive on economic growth, it affects everybody,” said Kump, 62. “In the Eastern Panhandle, we’re saying, ‘Let our people go to find prosperity.”’
…and welcome back.
Of course, there are some whose livelihoods depend on Occupied Virginia government who really don’t want to see the change, like this bureaucrat here:
The Associated Press sought comment from the presidents of those counties’ commissions. Morgan County Commission President Stacy Dugan responded Friday, with incredulity.
“I can’t believe that’s been introduced,” said Dugan, a Democrat. “I think the people of the Eastern Panhandle are true-blue West Virginians, and they’re not going to want to go anywhere. We are Mountaineers all the way.”
Translation: I might lose my job, which might decentralize the government and help spur economic growth.
Virginia is the best place to do business, with the best post-secondary education system in the country, low taxes, and a right-to-work law that helps promote and protect small businesses.
For the Old Dominion, there is always an extended hand to our fellow Virginians living under a government completely alien to their forefathers. Sic Semper Tyrannis applies to invasive government as well.
To the citizens of Berkley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties — come back home. Virginia will welcome you with open arms.
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Shaun Kenney is the Chairman of the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors, former Communications Director for the Republican Party of Virginia, and an active blogger since 2002. Shaun lives in Thomas Jefferson's backyard with his wife, six children, and a modest attempt at a farm in Kents Store, Virginia.
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19 Responses to "Three Counties in Occupied Virginia to Come Home?"
Don’t we have a say? I would vote no on letting them come back to the Commonwealth.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Shaun Kenney, Bearing Drift and treswatson, Bryan Pick. Bryan Pick said: Three WV counties interested in rejoining VA? – http://bit.ly/hFRe1x @bearingdrift [...]
Occupied Virginia? Really Shaun?
Also, what does this do to the casino in Jefferson County that would be illegal in Virginia?
Can we get the Greenbriar back, too?
Has there ever been a court ruling that the formation of West Virginia was constitutional in the first place? Not that the courts always base those decisions on the actual Constitution, I am just curious. Of course revisiting constitutional issues from that era tends to cause strife…
Jerry, off the top of my head, I believe there was a Supreme Court case in the 1870s between Virginia and West Virginia over some kind of money issue. The Court could have ruled West Virginia unconstitutional but didn’t, and that’s been the closest they’ve come to it.
That’s off the top of my head though – I haven’t looked it up in a long time. Someone else might have more detail.
Didn’t they tell proliferate press dump Kump that freshman politicians should be seen and not heard? Did the voters get confused with Larry’s campaign slogan, “Taking our county back?”
Last I checked there were no barbed wire fences in WV keeping wannabe Virginians from returning to their roots. If they feel lost all they need do is wait until high school graduation day and follow the exiting convoy.
No one is blocking I-81, so good ole Larry is just as free to return to Maryland, where he came from. There’s a difference between guys like Larry and Hillbillies. The only thing Hillbillies have left is pride and a couple of acres of rock that’s been passed down for generations. In a good year they keep their name out of the county paper at tax time. Everything else was hauled out of the hollers decades ago by company cronies. Now here’s Larry wanting to take the best of what’s left. Guess grandstanding is easier than actually fighting for the people.
This issue is certainly interesting, but one that I thought was more or less resolved back with the Supreme Court case in 1871. Then again, the whole origin of the state of West Virginia is sort of an odd story. Does it have the Constitutional right to exist? Didn’t the Virginia legislature have to approve any counties leaving the commonwealth? And if the General Assembly refused to allow several counties to leave the state, can the Supreme Court simply rule to make it so?
Would the three counties in question be better off in Virginia? If for no other reason than gaining our right-to work-status, I would say yes. It would likely be a long and complicated issue, but if the citizens and leaders of those counties wish to return to Virginia, I’d support that decision.
But Joshua would Virginia be better off with these counties coming back? What would they bring to the Commonwealth? How much unemployment is there in these counties? What are the welfare rolls like in these counties?
I believe the question concerning the legality of West Virginia was determined in the 1930′s IIRC.
As for the shared debt, the Readjusters fought and won that.
Still, I wouldn’t have any problems whatsoever with former Virginia counties coming back to the fold.
Just three more rural counties for nova and hamton roads to support….
@Matt –
Regardless as to the answer of those questions, the people in those counties would understandably be better off (and the Commonwealth would enjoy the revival) under Virginia’s right to work laws.
@NLS –
Just allow Jefferson County to operate the casino. Let’s call it a trial run to bring gaming to Virginia…
Dunno about that — with the recession on, that flow of money has been going the other way. There’s about 95 rural localities getting pinged by the LCI adjustments.
As a matter of constitutional law, those counties can’t come back. The Constitution prohibits combining states or portions of states. On the other hand, if those counties want to split off and take Faquier and a few other NoVA counties with them and form their own state, that would work. Frankly, I’d like to see Faquier go – a bad Faquier cop gave me greif once, and I’ve never gotten over it.
Forget my erroneous constitutional analysis — but they can still keep Faquier as far as I’m concerned.
When I first saw this story a couple days ago, it spoke of the counties seceding from West Virginia. I thought, “Don’t you mean unseceding from Virginia?”
Yes, we’d like to have them back.
What’s in it for us?
If there’s a big enough population in those three counties to get us another congressional seat, then that’s a good deal.
Otherwise, West Virginia can keep them.
Surprisingly good article.
You know, just as a show of goodwill, how about we in Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax just secede so we can make some room for these folks? Loudon, too, if if they want it (Prince William can just suffer and build a wall around themselves). No?
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