Gov. Justice taps funds for Boy Scouts projects, takes jab at lawmakers

In his latest attack on the Legislature, Gov. Jim Justice announced Monday he is taking about $400,000 from the governor’s civil contingency fund to underwrite community service projects that the Boy Scouts of America will perform in southern West Virginia during the National Jamboree, which begins this week at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in Fayette County.

In a news release Monday, Justice said he had to tap into his contingency funds to provide funding for the projects, because the Legislature failed to approve his proposed Save Our State economic development fund.

Contending that a “reckless budget by the Legislature nearly stopped critical Scouts projects,” Justice commented, “We simply must stand with the Boy Scouts and give them the support they need to make a difference in communities across West Virginia.”

In 2013, during the first Jamboree at Summit Bechtel, some 40,000 Boy Scouts completed 353 service projects around southern West Virginia, providing an estimated 300,000 hours of service, according to a July 23, 2013 article in the Gazette.

Read more: http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-politics/20170717/gov-justice-taps-funds-for-boy-scouts-projects-takes-jab-at-lawmakers