Editorial: The Chamber Touches A Nerve

Charleston Daily Mail, December 7, 2006

A legislative group has respectfully asked the state Chamber of Commerce to halt an advertising campaign that calls attention to West Virginia 's frosty business climate.  Legislators say the ads help no one.

"I personally don't think it benefits us to have ads that just talk about bad things," said Del. Sam Cann, D-Harrison, who co-chairs the Joint Commission on Economic Development.

Well, it certainly doesn't benefit legislators such as Cann, who have the power -- if not the inclination -- to make the bad things better.

Commission members made their request in a letter to Chamber President Steve Roberts, who's holding his ground. Roberts said his membership believes it is vital to acquaint West Virginians with the job-killing consequences of government action or inaction.

Chamber members want one and all to know that government historically has made it more difficult for West Virginia businesses to flourish and provide employment than is the case elsewhere.

True, the Legislature deserves credit for making significant changes in the loosey-goosey civil justice and Workers' Compensation systems in recent years. But there's still plenty of room for improvement, especially on the lawsuit reform front.

New "Open for Business" highway signs welcome visitors to West Virginia , but that's a myth. The state has not been open for business for many years. "Certified Business Location" signs posted on roads at county borders are equally silly. These are pathetic attempts to portray West Virginia as something it isn't.

The chamber ad campaign, meanwhile, shows the painful truth about West Virginia , which causes legislators to squirm. They have taken the unusual step of publicly asking representatives of the state's private sector to refrain from criticism.

The chamber's ads must be working.