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August 9, 2010; Source: American Chronicle | We almost always cringe when we read that a state has unexpectedly slashed promised support to a nonprofit. However, this time we said “hurrah” after lawmakers in West Virginia stopped the state from going forward with a $1 million grant for the Greenbrier Classic golf tournament.
According to the Charleston Daily Mail, the money would have supported promotion costs for the event, which is operated as a nonprofit activity, with the balance helping fund the $6 million in tournament prize money. “You can’t ask a poor person in West Virginia to fund a golf tournament through their tax dollars,” said Delegate Mitch Carmichael.”
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The state had argued that the expenditure was in West Virginia’s best interest because Greenbrier is a major employer and according to a spokesperson, an “economic driver.” Similarly, House Finance Committee Chairman Tom Campbell said the tournament brings important exposure to the state. “What’s that worth is not just a good feeling, which I think came out of that, but it’s worth future investment in West Virginia, which means jobs,” Campbell said.
Saying West Virginians “are struggling under a tremendous burden now economically,” House Minority Leader Tim Armstead added that the state could not “justify a million dollar expenditure for the golf tournament under the current circumstance.”—Bruce Trachtenberg
