Jobs dominate Tomblin's State of the State
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Calling on legislators to help build a "better, stronger and more vibrant West Virginia," Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's second State of the State address emphasized efforts to grow jobs, improve public education and mine safety, deal with statewide drug abuse issues, and to pay down the state's multi-billion-dollar long-term liability for health care for retired state and public school employees.
"As leaders of this state, we need to understand that our mission is to create a business climate that fosters job development," Tomblin told a joint session of the Legislature Wednesday evening.
A key theme of Tomblin's 42-minute address drew a distinction between bipartisan efforts in the Legislature with the "partisan bickering" that has led to what Tomblin called a fundamental breakdown of government in Washington, D.C.
Read more about Governor Tomblin's State of the State speech here.