Are You One of Those Weirdos Who Wants More Money in Politics? Move to West Virginia!

"West Virginia lawmakers passed legislation this year redacting employer information from registered political donations more than $250. Previously, if a dozen employees of "Rick's Pork" donated to politicians who later awarded a lucrative bacon contract to the business, each donation would list the company. Under the new law, the public would only know that the donations came from various butchers."

"We're not hiding anything," said Sen. Mike Azinger, a Republican from Wood County and the bill's lead sponsor, adding that the internet makes it much easier for people to find and misuse personal information. "We're trying to protect employers from harassment that happens in horrible ways, often that 30 years ago wasn't even contemplated.""

West Virginia lawmakers enacted legislation redacting employer information from registered political donations exceeding $250, preventing public knowledge of which companies employees work for when making contributions. Previously, donations from multiple employees of the same business would each list the employer, creating transparency about corporate political activity. Supporters claim the change addresses rising political violence and harassment, citing internet-enabled misuse of personal information. However, this legislative action reflects a broader pattern in resource-extraction states where corporate interests protect their political fundraising advantages and influence. The move parallels historical efforts to shield corporate power from public oversight, contradicting West Virginia's tradition of labor activism and transparency.

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