"Governor Jim Justice’s [WV] shopping spree for luxury pickups has cost taxpayers just over $1 million to date, documents obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request show. As part of the more than $10 million COVID-19 vaccination incentive sweepstakes, the governor has been flying around the state for the past four Wednesdays presenting trucks to two weekly winners selected in drawings conducted by the West Virginia Lottery. The total tab, with 13 of the 14 trucks to be given away purchased, is $1,007,187, according to invoices released by the Governor’s Office. Notably, all purchases are on the Governor’s Office P-Card, the state-issued credit card.

Justice has said purchases of sweepstakes prizes, as well as the weekly $1 million cash prizes, are being paid out of unexpended federal CARES Act funds the state received in 2020. Justice has proceeded with the seven weeks of sweepstakes drawings, even though state vaccination rates have continued to plummet since the contest began.

“You could say, well, they’re not terribly successful,” the governor said when asked in June about the sweepstakes failure to incentivize West Virginians to get vaccinated."

https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/tab-for-justices-luxury-pickup-shopping-spree-tops-1-million/article_dbab04ec-0c50-59d4-95c4-b621921557a1.html