Governor Earl Ray Tomblin delivered his State of the State on Wednesday, January 8, 2014. CCAWV Executive Director Vivian Parsons was in the audience as the Governor addressed West Virginians near and far. He likened the work of his term to sowing seeds in a garden, a task he has always enjoyed. Both, noted the governor, require "planning, patience, and foresight."

He began by noting the work West Virginia has done to sow seeds for a healthy financial future. Sound oversight of the Workers' Compensation program has led to important savings for West Virginia, and the state has weathered the storm of the country-wide recession without dipping into reserve funds. Lawmakers and businesses have worked together to secure job opportunities that abound around the Marcellus and Utica Shales. The Governor talked about his commitment to creating jobs, even if he must travel out of the country to do so. While appreciating the unique relationship West Virginia has with Japan, the Governor spent almost two weeks last fall traveling around Europe in the hopes of kindling new, and hopefully prosperous, business relationships.

Much of the Governor's speech centered around education. He spoke of a greater focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in our schools to create students who are better prepared for today's jobs.

"Our budget is strained," warned the Governor when his speech veered toward finances. He noted that this will be a year of tough financial choices. He also spoke of the drug epidemic and overcrowded jails - issues Commissioners are all too familiar with. He spoke of his administration's response to the pleas for additional resources for people suffering from drug addiction. He created the Governor's Advisory Council on Substance Abuse, which is working diligently to come up with new ways to fight the scourge of drug addiction. He proudly noted that the population in the Regional Jails has actually decreased since June.

Veteran Hershel Woody Williams was honored with a standing ovation (pictured) when the Governor spoke of West Virginia's dedication to our veterans. The unveiling of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument serves as a reminder of this dedication.

The Governor closed his speech by talking about ways he plans to "weed out" wasteful spending. He assured West Virginians that seeds have been planted for a strong future, and urged next generation Mountaineers to stay, or return, home, to reap the harvest of careful planning and fiscal responsibility.