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Dedicate more funding to increase staff of the State Police’s crimes against children unit
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Expand the state’s work-release program for non-violent offenders - no crimes against children eligible
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Establish a publicly financed system for the Supreme Court elections of 2012
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Establish a judicial advisory committee to ensure that top quality individuals fill future court vacancies - Governor Manchin has used this committee, but this would codify it
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Ensure students get the mandated 180 days per year of instruction
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Promote a one-year freeze on tuition increases at the state’s higher education institutions
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Create a Fleet Management Office to oversee and to be held accountable for the state’s vehicle fleet
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Grant the School Building Authority more flexibility to increase its ability to fund more school construction
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Promote a constitutional amendment to allow for reductions to the state’s business industrial property tax system
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Conduct a summit on young talent to connect youth with top business and labor leaders
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Permit cities to collect fees from absent owners from vacant dilapidated properties to encourage them to improve their holdings
The Governor also explained that while some small cuts will be necessary in this year’s budget, overall West Virginia has weathered the global recession quite well and is able to avoid the drastic cuts, furloughs, and tax increases that nearly every state has had to impose to balance their budgets.
For a full text or audio of the speech, click here.
