How Can West Virginia Prosper? A Ballengee/Boettner Battle Royale

West Virginia’s economy has a “chicken and egg” problem.

To grow more jobs here, we need better-educated, healthy employees.

But before we can afford to pay for better schools and health, we need more jobs and more businesses.

As you might imagine, liberals and conservatives have different ideas which should come first – lower taxes or higher education and health spending.

On this Front Porch podcast, hear a Battle Royale between two of West Virginia’s best policy wonks – Ted Boettner, executive director of the liberal-leaning West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and Garrett Ballengee, executive director of the Cardinal Institute, a right-leaning West Virginia think tank.

Ballengee and Boettner debate about how West Virginia can become a more prosperous state.

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The Front Porch is the weekly podcast where we tackle the toughest issues facing Appalachia…in the same way you talk with friends on your front porch.

Subscribe to “The Front Porch” podcast on iTunes or however you listen to podcasts.

An edited version of “The Front Porch” airs Fridays at 4:50 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s radio network, and the full version is available above.

Share your opinions with us about these issues, and let us know what you’d like us to discuss in the future. Send a tweet to @radiofinn or @wvpublicnews, or e-mail Scott at sfinn @ wvpublic.org