From The Well

At the center of the West Virginia state capitol is an area known as “The Well.” It is the informal gathering place for lobbyists, reporters, constituents and lawmakers. Centrally located between the chambers of the House of Delegates and Senate, The Well is often where information is shared, alliances are formed and deals are made.

From The Well

Income and Wealth Inequality and How It Limits Our Economic Potential

Brian Skinner Economy, State Fiscal & Economic Policy

  By Brian Skinner, Esq. In an important new book Heather Boushey, the Executive Director and Chief Economist at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, writes about the transformation underway in economics that is upsetting conventional wisdom about how our nation can deliver strong, stable, and broadly shared economic growth. Unbound-How Inequality Constricts Our Economy and What We Can Do …Read More

State Watchdogs Plan to Monitor COVID-19 Data Accuracy

Brian Skinner COVID-19, Government & Policy

  By Brian Skinner, Esq. In light of today’s press briefing in which Gov. Justice and his team tried to explain how data is compiled to color in the state’s county alert system map, I thought this story by Jenni Bergal in Stateline might be an interesting read.  She writes that because of concerns about the accuracy and uniformity …Read More

NC legislature approves $1 billion COVID-19 relief bill

Brian Skinner COVID-19, Government & Policy

  By Brian Skinner, Esq. Yesterday, the North Carolina state legislature passed a nearly $1 billion spending bill that uses the remainder of the state’s share of federal CARES Act relief money. House Bill 1105, named the The Coronavirus Relief Act 3.0, grants all North Carolina households with children up to age 17, a $335 stimulus check called “extra credit grants”, to help offset …Read More

What if the State Incentivized Eating Out?

Brian Skinner Government & Policy

  By Brian Skinner, Esq. During the month of August the British government implemented the Eat Out to Help Out program in which the government paid a 50% discount on all meals eaten in restaurants, pubs or cafes, up to 10 pounds ($13) per person, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Alcohol was not included. During …Read More

Why Recessions Are the Perfect Time to Be an Entrepreneur

Brian Skinner Business

By Brian J. Skinner, Esq. Starting a business during a pandemic induced recession? Kinsey Grant argues that companies founded during an economic downturn are more resilient in the long-run. She asserts that if a company and a founder can make it through a year like 2020, they can make it through anything. Do you agree? Brian J. Skinner …Read More

U.S. presidential hopeful Biden says he would not ban fracking

Brian Skinner Gas and Oil

  Reuter’s – By Jarrett Renshaw – August 31, 2020 PITTSBURGH (Reuters) – Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said on Monday he would not ban hydraulic fracturing, a controversial method of drilling for crude oil and natural gas, if elected and called Republican assertions that he supports such a ban a lie. More . . .   …Read More

Federal marijuana reform momentum expected to continue despite absence from party conventions

Brian Skinner marijuana

Marijuana Business Daily – August 31, 2020 The Democratic and Republican national conventions barely touched on federal marijuana reform. The Republicans didn’t even write a new platform. And the Democratic platform fell short of supporting the efforts congressional Democrats have made in the past year toward federal marijuana legalization and cannabis banking reform. More . …Read More

US House to take up cannabis descheduling bill week of Sept. 21

Brian Skinner marijuana

  Marijuana Business Daily – August 31, 2020 The MORE Act, a bill that would deschedule marijuana and thereby legalize it federally – with massive business implications – is scheduled to be considered by the full U.S. House of Representatives the week of Sept. 21, according to an email sent by House Majority Leader Steny …Read More