Patricia Rucker
Senator Rucker to Participate in Leadership Program for Southern State Government Officials
Senator Patricia Rucker to Participate in Leadership Program for Southern State Government Officials  CHARLESTON – Senator Patricia Puertas-Rucker, R-Jefferson, will participate in the 2021 Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills (CALS) in Little Rock, Ark., from Oct. 2-6. CALS is the annual leadership program of the Southern Office of The Council of State Governments. Each year, the program brings together officials selected from three branches of government in 15 Southern states
Read More >>Health Freedom is…Freedom
 I delivered this speech at the Health Freedom Rally in Bridgeport West Virginia earlier this month: America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. West Virginia’s motto is Montana Semper Liberi – a mountaineer is always free. Freedom applies to all aspects of our lives – including health freedom. Truth be told, there is no such thing as health freedom, it’s simply freedom. The freedom of the individual to have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Howe
Read More >>The Passing of Pete Dougherty
 I am saddened by the passing of Pete Dougherty. I join with all of us in appreciation for all of his efforts in service to our community. My prayers go out to him and to his family. May his soul rest in peace. Â
Read More >>A Day of Remembering
Today marks the 20th anniversary of a very dark day in the history of our great nation. My prayers go out to those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 and their families. We must never forget and we must work together as one nation under God to prevent future tragedies such as what happened on that day.Â
Read More >>From Metro News: Lawmakers explore challenges of helping almost 7,000 foster children
I am the co-chair of the Senate Interim Children and Families Committee. The foster care system in West Virginia is of primary concern to me. This article covers the recent joint meeting between the house and senate committees and presents some of the important issues involved: https://wvmetronews.com/2021/06/08/lawmakers-explore-challenges-of-helping-almost-7000-foster-children/
Read More >>For Education the Recent Legislative Session Was Productive
As the Chair of the the West Virginia Senate Education Committee, I am happy to report that we had a very productive session this year. We passed a significant number of important bills that advanced our state's education system. West Virginia is now an acknowledged leader in education innovation and reform. The Bowles Rice Education Law Group has published an excellent summary of what the legislature achieved in the recent session. You can download it here: https://ftp.firmseek.com/b
Read More >>West Virginia’s Education Profile is Changing For the Better
West Virginia is making great strides in the area of education reform. We have gone from lagging behind to being a leader. You can read about it here: https://edreform.com/2021/06/newswire-jun-2-2021/ Â
Read More >>The Meaning of Memorial Day
Memorial Day is the day set aside for honoring the brave patriots who died in active duty defending our great nation. There are no words that can adequately express the gratitude I feel toward those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms and our rights. This Memorial Day I pray for the safety of those currently in service to our nation and I give thanks to all who have served. We are in your debt. I pray there comes a day when your sacrifices lead to a lasting peace. Â
Read More >>Senator Rucker on Fox News Discussing School Choice
Senator Rucker Discusses School Choice This interview aired on Friday morning March 26, 2021.  Â
Read More >>Press Release: Op-ed submission from Senator Patricia Rucker
School Choice Can Unite West Virginia What’s past does not have to be prologue... That’s the message I want to share with Rev. Matthew J. Watts, who recently opined in this space that expanding access to private school options would cause further racial and economic segregation of West Virginia’s public schools. Rev. Watts points to the establishment in the 1950s of segregated, private education academies in response to court-ordered desegregation. Those academies were disgusting, and the
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