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CHARLESTON – Tonight, the 2012 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature officially kicked off with the Governor’s annual State of the State Address to a joint session at the State Capitol.
In his address, Gov. Tomblin provided a broad outline of where we are as a state and where he intends to lead us this year. Tax reform, fiscal responsibility, investment in education and energy are the centerpieces of his agenda.
We share that agenda. As Gov. Tomblin said, “This is not Washington D.C., where partisan bickering has subverted the legislative process. This is West Virginia, where the Republican and Democrat, liberal and conservative, come together, resolve differences, and take decisive action.” While the rest of the nation suffers from burdensome debt brought on by years of fiscal irresponsibility and the effects of burdensome regulations and government intrusion, West Virginia is moving in the other direction – lower taxes, less regulation and a focus on job creation.
As Gov. Tomblin said, “This is not Washington D.C., where uncontrolled spending has led to uncertainty, a lack of confidence, and a fundamental breakdown in the operation of government. This is not Washington D.C., where the EPA and other governmental agencies engage in back-door policy making that threatens the very livelihood of so many of our fellow citizens. This is West Virginia, where we appreciate the need for reasonable, open environmental regulations but understand the fundamental need for jobs and for low cost, reliable energy developed right here in the United States of America. As long as I am Governor I will continue to fight this Administration's war on coal! A few months ago, a federal court agreed with our lawsuit and ruled that the federal EPA had in fact overstepped its authority. I will keep fighting until Washington recognizes that one of the keys to America's future is the use and promotion of our natural resources. It is a fight from which I will not shrink, and one that I fully expect to win!
The applause from both sides of the aisle clearly shows this is not a partisan issue and that there is a strong, shared commitment to the protect our state's bedrock industry and the 63,000 jobs it provides our people. We applaud the leadership of Gov. Tomblin and the Legislative leadership of both parties. They have positioned our state to be an example of sound, effective and responsible government.
We applaud the Governor’s commitment to reducing taxes. The $84 million in tax relief he promised to our citizens and our small businesses will provide the right kind of stimulus and we provide incentives to grow our economy and reduce unemployment.
Gov. Tomblin is right, “... our future does demand that we create the right economic environment where the private sector is encouraged to invest, and create good paying jobs with benefits. Jobs that allow every hard working West Virginian the ability to provide a good life for their family.”
As he said, the coal industry is ready to be a leader in building this new West Virginia. The examples of Carbonxt and other coal industry companies shows clearly that just as coal has been the driver of our state’s economy in the past, it will continue to do so far into the future.
We also applaud the Governor’s commitment to defend our state and its primary industry from an out of control federal bureaucracy and to work with us and our partners in the United Mine Workers of America to make our coal industry the safest in the world. Gov. Tomblin is right when he says that even “one death in the mines is one death too many.”
We join in his call for mandatory drug testing in our coal mines and for a database to be developed that prevents miners who lose their certifications in one state from simply crossing state lines and going to work there.
West Virginia has been blessed with a generation of resourceful, visionary leaders in the Governor's Mansion and in positions of leadership in the Legislature. We have been lucky to have strong leaders on both sides of the aisle who put the State and its people before partisan political agendas. Tonight is proof that commitment remains firm.
We look forward to this session and to working with Gov. Tomblin and the Legislative Leadership in making this New West Virginia a reality.
Statement from the West Virginia Coal Association on Governor’s State of the State Address
CHARLESTON – Tonight, the 2012 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature officially kicked off with the Governor’s annual State of the State Address to a joint session at the State Capitol.
In his address, Gov. Tomblin provided a broad outline of where we are as a state and where he intends to lead us this year. Tax reform, fiscal responsibility, investment in education and energy are the centerpieces of his agenda.
We share that agenda. As Gov. Tomblin said, “This is not Washington D.C., where partisan bickering has subverted the legislative process. This is West Virginia, where the Republican and Democrat, liberal and conservative, come together, resolve differences, and take decisive action.” While the rest of the nation suffers from burdensome debt brought on by years of fiscal irresponsibility and the effects of burdensome regulations and government intrusion, West Virginia is moving in the other direction – lower taxes, less regulation and a focus on job creation.
As Gov. Tomblin said, “This is not Washington D.C., where uncontrolled spending has led to uncertainty, a lack of confidence, and a fundamental breakdown in the operation of government. This is not Washington D.C., where the EPA and other governmental agencies engage in back-door policy making that threatens the very livelihood of so many of our fellow citizens. This is West Virginia, where we appreciate the need for reasonable, open environmental regulations but understand the fundamental need for jobs and for low cost, reliable energy developed right here in the United States of America. As long as I am Governor I will continue to fight this Administration's war on coal! A few months ago, a federal court agreed with our lawsuit and ruled that the federal EPA had in fact overstepped its authority. I will keep fighting until Washington recognizes that one of the keys to America's future is the use and promotion of our natural resources. It is a fight from which I will not shrink, and one that I fully expect to win!
The applause from both sides of the aisle clearly shows this is not a partisan issue and that there is a strong, shared commitment to the protect our state's bedrock industry and the 63,000 jobs it provides our people. We applaud the leadership of Gov. Tomblin and the Legislative leadership of both parties. They have positioned our state to be an example of sound, effective and responsible government.
We applaud the Governor’s commitment to reducing taxes. The $84 million in tax relief he promised to our citizens and our small businesses will provide the right kind of stimulus and we provide incentives to grow our economy and reduce unemployment.
Gov. Tomblin is right, “... our future does demand that we create the right economic environment where the private sector is encouraged to invest, and create good paying jobs with benefits. Jobs that allow every hard working West Virginian the ability to provide a good life for their family.”
As he said, the coal industry is ready to be a leader in building this new West Virginia. The examples of Carbonxt and other coal industry companies shows clearly that just as coal has been the driver of our state’s economy in the past, it will continue to do so far into the future.
We also applaud the Governor’s commitment to defend our state and its primary industry from an out of control federal bureaucracy and to work with us and our partners in the United Mine Workers of America to make our coal industry the safest in the world. Gov. Tomblin is right when he says that even “one death in the mines is one death too many.”
We join in his call for mandatory drug testing in our coal mines and for a database to be developed that prevents miners who lose their certifications in one state from simply crossing state lines and going to work there.
West Virginia has been blessed with a generation of resourceful, visionary leaders in the Governor's Mansion and in positions of leadership in the Legislature. We have been lucky to have strong leaders on both sides of the aisle who put the State and its people before partisan political agendas. Tonight is proof that commitment remains firm.
We look forward to this session and to working with Gov. Tomblin and the Legislative Leadership in making this New West Virginia a reality.