By Stephen Smoot
As the West Virginia State Legislature commences its regular session, Delegate Elias Coop-Gonzelez lays out what he intends to work to advance this spring.
Coop-Gonzalez represents the 67th Delegate District which spans from southeastern Randolph County through the western half of Pendleton. His main plans lay in backing and advancing “conservative initiatives.”
The delegate emphasized continuing “to keep my promises to fight for American energy, lower taxes, and better education.” Last session, Coop-Gonzalez supported “the largest tax cut in state history,” backed school choice measures, and co-sponsored House Bill 2007. This measure banned most transgender surgeries for those under the age of 18.
Coop-Gonzalez announced that he will craft bills aimed at “chemical abortion pills illegally being mailed into our state by bloodthirsty, profiteering companies who ignore our laws.” He explained that studies show that such drugs “have a complication rate of 20 percent.”
“Heavy criminal penalties and civil liability” would serve as the deterrent to this activity.
He added that he would push for more detailed education on fetal development in public schools, as well as legislation to post the Ten Commandments in schools. Coop-Gonzalez explained that he believes it “a necessary step in going back toward America and West Virginia’s strong Christian values.”
“Enforcing the law and pursuing justice is of utmost importance,” Coop-Gonzalez stated, but elaborated by saying “but those endeavors must never interfere with the privacy and autonomy of law-abiding citizens, which is guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment” to the United States Constitution. Coop-Gonzalez explained that he would explore what the West Virginia State Legislature can do to “protect our community and state from surveillance funded by the Biden Department of Justice.”
Additionally, he shared that he would work on and support measures to protect Second Amendment rights, vaccine freedom, welfare reform, and election integrity.
Coop-Gonzalez won election in 2022. He serves on the committees on banking and insurance, energy and manufacturing, political subdivisions, children and families, and veteran affairs and homeland security.
