Outgoing Gov. Jim Justice touts economic gains, urges continuity in farewell address

Governor Jim Justice delivered his retiring address to a joint session of the West Virginia Legislature after the House and Senate opened and published the November 2024 election returns and adopted concurrent resolutions.

In his remarks, Governor Jim Justice credited his administration with reversing early budget shortfalls and pursuing a mix of spending restraint and revenue growth. "We're gonna be $219,000,000 short," he said of the state's position early in his term, adding later projections of another "$497,000,000" and roughly "$772,000,000" in subsequent years before the administration's course correction.

Justice framed his strategy as a mix of discipline and growth. He said elected leaders had avoided deeper cuts by growing revenues through what he called the "Rose to Prosperity" agenda, and he urged successors to remain focused on the same priorities. "The faster you can get rid of your personal income tax in West Virginia, this place will flood with people and opportunity over and over and over," he declared.

The governor highlighted specific accomplishments his office attributed to that agenda: he said the state had enacted repeated tax reductions ("27 times we've cut taxes," he said) and had directed large capital investments in broadband, water, sewer and related projects, which he estimated at about $14,000,000,000 in total spending during his term.

Justice also emphasized education and tourism. He described education as "our centerpiece," credited expanded choice and scholarship programs, and said therapy-dog programs and local initiatives had helped students attend school. He told the joint session that visitors in 2024 were expected to spend about "$9,000,000,000" in the state, calling tourism "off the chart" and an important economic engine.

On energy and national fiscal concerns, Justice urged embracing both traditional and alternative energy sources. He argued that energy production is central to economic growth and said he would work closely with President Donald Trump on energy and fiscal issues. "The whole answer is energy," he said, and cautioned against turning away from fossil fuels while also acknowledging alternatives such as wind and solar.

Justice reflected on the COVID-19 pandemic and praised the state's response, crediting teamwork and public servants for keeping the state moving through the crisis. He closed with personal remarks and a brief anecdote about a family pet, thanking colleagues and saying, "It's been a real honor flying with you." The governor sat down after the address and members responded.

Formal actions recorded earlier in the joint session included the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 2 to raise the joint assembly to hear the governor's remarks and the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 3 providing the legislature's adjournment until 02/12/2025; the clerk read and published the official returns for constitutional officers and said certificates of election would be issued to apparent winners.

The session ended with the governor's farewell; no formal votes on policy were taken during his address.