The Libertarian Party's candidate for West Virginia governor believes the state should do away with its personal income tax.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Libertarian Party's candidate for West Virginia governor believes the state should do away with its personal income tax.

"The tax laws in our nation have become convoluted and rife with exemptions," said David Moran, a Preston County farmer and adjunct West Virginia University professor.

"I advocate the elimination of the personal income tax in West Virginia ... The personal income tax is regressive, punishing the people who work the hardest. I advocate the complete elimination of the personal income tax."

West Virginians pay more than $1.7 billion in personal income tax each year, according to the state's latest report. The money accounts for more than 41 percent of the state's general revenue budget, which funds almost every government program in the state, from schools and colleges to highways to the State Police.

"We have gone through the entire budget to identify areas we could cut," Moran said.

"We spend an incredible amount of money incarcerating prisoners, especially nonviolent prisoners jailed for things like smoking marijuana or traffic violations. It would be better to have them out on work release.

"That is just one example of something that would save us hundreds of millions of dollars."

Moran also urges the elimination of some state regulatory groups.

"Commissions like the [Alcohol Beverage Control Administration] are not necessary. They are holdovers from the 1930s. DMV [the Division of Motor Vehicles] inspection services could also be streamlined."

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Libertarian candidate wants state income tax gone