CHARLESTON, W.Va.- If West Virginia expects a $1.4 billion shot in the arm from the federal government, why not let citizens at the grass-roots level help decide where to spend that money?

Community residents and state and local organizers posed that question Monday night, as they met at the University of Charleston to discuss the economic stimulus plan pending before Congress.

West Virginians United for Social and Economic Justice sponsored the town hall meeting.

The Rev. Matthew Watts believes going solely through the "existing channels" to curb the state's economic woes will do little good.

"Why can't West Virginia be different and why can't we be creative?" he asked.

Many people, including those at the lowest levels of a community, need to have a say, Watts said. Otherwise, "the poorest of the poor will be no better off," he said.

Charleston resident Sally Fisher agreed. "Why not ask the mayors?" she said. "Why not ask people on that level?"

Earlier, West Virginia University economist Sarah Stevenson said in recent years, the gains of the rich have outpaced the gains of the poor.

"Here in West Virginia we see that income inequality has increased," she said.

West Virginia has also lost a third of its construction jobs - about 1,500 good-paying positions - in the past two years, she said. Manufacturing jobs have also declined, she said.

Larry Matheney, secretary-treasurer of the West Virginia AFL-CIO, said when union membership declines, then working conditions decline, wages drop and jobs are outsourced.

CHARLESTON, W.Va.- If West Virginia expects a $1.4 billion shot in the arm from the federal government, why not let citizens at the grass-roots level help decide where to spend that money?

Community residents and state and local organizers posed that question Monday night, as they met at the University of Charleston to discuss the economic stimulus plan pending before Congress.

West Virginians United for Social and Economic Justice sponsored the town hall meeting.

The Rev. Matthew Watts believes going solely through the "existing channels" to curb the state's economic woes will do little good.

"Why can't West Virginia be different and why can't we be creative?" he asked.

Many people, including those at the lowest levels of a community, need to have a say, Watts said. Otherwise, "the poorest of the poor will be no better off," he said.

Charleston resident Sally Fisher agreed. "Why not ask the mayors?" she said. "Why not ask people on that level?"

Earlier, West Virginia University economist Sarah Stevenson said in recent years, the gains of the rich have outpaced the gains of the poor.

"Here in West Virginia we see that income inequality has increased," she said.

West Virginia has also lost a third of its construction jobs - about 1,500 good-paying positions - in the past two years, she said. Manufacturing jobs have also declined, she said.

Larry Matheney, secretary-treasurer of the West Virginia AFL-CIO, said when union membership declines, then working conditions decline, wages drop and jobs are outsourced.

"There are forces driven by nothing more than greed," he said.

President Obama understands that if an economic stimulus does not reinvest in the middle class, it is nothing more than a short-term solution, Matheney said.

Health care was also a major topic of discussion Monday. Gary Zuckett, executive director of the West Virginia Citizen Action Group, quoted Nobel Prize-winning economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, who wrote that the economic catastrophe in the United States would also be a health-care catastrophe.

Zuckett choked up when he shared the story of a woman who lives in Ritchie County and has tried to raise money to help pay for the health-care costs associated with her rare heart condition.

Sen. Dan Foster, D-Kanawha, said under the economic stimulus plan, West Virginia would be eligible to receive more Medicaid funding.

"There is also money that will go to those who have lost their jobs or will lose their jobs," he said. 

Foster and Renate Pore, president of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, expect Congress and Obama will pass major healthcare reform this year.

"This is going to be the year," Foster said. "Things are coming together."

Reach Davin White at davinwh...@wvgazette.com

or 304-348-1254.