It has become clear over the past few months that those West Virginians concerned about the future of the state – especially when it comes to fixing and upgrading our crumbling infrastructure while expanding the broadband coverage – stand firmly in the corner of the three-member state congressional delegation that voted for the bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure deal.

Representative David McKinley, RW.Va., joined Sens. Shelley Capito, RW.Va., and Joe Manchin, DW.Va., to back legislation that will bring up to $8 billion to the state for roads, bridges, broadband, public transit, clean water and environmental mitigation.

Representatives Alex Mooney and Carol Miller, both RW.Va., voted against the measure, with Mooney referring to the billions for West Virginia projects as “excluding infrastructure”.

Interestingly enough, this “outside infrastructure” will likely lead to the construction of a second interchange at The Highlands, McKinley said Thursday. This will go a long way in reducing traffic congestion at the development and along Interstate 70.

Other projects in the region will certainly benefit as well.

“This is West Virginia. I’m a seventh-generation West Virginian,” McKinley said. “I defend West Virginia with every point of whipping. And when I had the chance to vote for an infrastructure bill, I voted for it because it’s about West Virginia, and it’s going to put us on the map.

“I did not vote for Donald Trump (with the infrastructure bill). I voted for West Virginia.

And, when it comes to this bill, that makes all the difference.

We understand the state of our state right now; we see the crumbling infrastructure; we drive on roads full of potholes; we see children who have to be driven to designated places in their county to access the internet so they can do their homework; and in 2022, we still see people who do not have drinking water.

Why would a politician who puts West Virginia first vote against a measure that at least gives our state a chance to improve?

“People across West Virginia and across the country will support an infrastructure bill. Just make sure there is nothing related to social spending,” McKinley said last week at the West Virginia Construction and Design Exposition in Charleston.

McKinley, Manchin and Capito did the right thing with their vote, and West Virginia and its people will reap the benefits.