In West Virginia, one of the few states experiencing economic growth and low unemployment rates, Gov. Joe Manchin (D) said he will plan for tougher economic times ahead by freezing state workers’ salaries.
“While we are in better financial shape than our neighbors, West Virginia is not immune to the national and global economy,” Manchin said in his Feb. 11 state-of-the state address.
Addressing the Democratic majority Legislature, Manchin sought support for new laws to attract alternative energy producers to the coal-producing state, including permits allowing clean-coal producers to “sequester” carbon dioxide extracted from coal by injecting it underground.
Recalling recent disasters in two of West Virginia’s coal mines, Manchin also called for improved safety technology and better disaster recover systems in mines and all industrial plants in the state.
To make West Virginia’ education system more competitive, Manchin called for starting the school year earlier and ending it later to ensure K-12 students attend at least 180 days of classes per year, including interruptions for weather.
He also said he would raise the income eligibility for Medicaid — the federal-state health insurance for the poor — from 35 percent of the federal poverty level to 40 percent of the poverty level, with the goal of covering anyone whose income falls below 100 percent of the measure. If necessary, the increased coverage would be maintained by hiking cigarette taxes, he said.
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