They say that heat makes people cranky, and it sure seems like tempers and egos are clashing all over the place within West Virginia state government.

Take the recent drama over the Legislative Economic Development Assistance grant program, the reincarnation of the former Budget Digest, where lawmakers used to put earmarks for projects in their legislative districts.

Instead of lawmakers putting earmarks in the general revenue budget, past legislatures and governors came to an agreement where the Legislature appropriates money into a line item within the Governor’s Civil Contingency Fund, lawmakers submit requests for LEDA money, the governor’s office cuts the checks, and the lawmaker gets to present those checks and get their pictures in their local papers.

In short, LEDA grants are ex

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