My fellow West Virginians: I am humbled and honored to stand here at this podium today as your Governor.

With that, the newly elected West Virginia Governor, Joe Manchin, began his inaugural speech.

He continued:

I would not have achieved this distinct privilege if it weren’t for the love and support of countless others.

And so, I say thank you.

Thank you to the grassroots supporters who gave so freely of their time and their energy on my behalf starting some 18 months ago.

He actually started campaigning for a higher office while he was Secretary of State by plastering his name in large letters while the words “Secretary of State” were resigned to insignificance under it. That was four years ago, but who’s counting?

It was an average speech delivered to a sparse crowd due to the cold weather. But what Manchin lacks in polish, he gains in enthusiasm. And he has managed to spread that enthusiasm around until it envelopes the Democrat leadership. There is no doubt they are excited and looking forward to what Manchin will do. Unlike the preceding Governor, Bob Wise, Manchin has a vision and a plan to reach that goal. While he has had words enough to articulate and coerce others into accepting his vision, he has been strangely silent on his plan.

The speech was our first real glimpse at his intentions.

First, allow me a gratuitously contentious point.

When I first announced my intention to run for Governor in 2003, I said that in order for us to be successful it was going to take the commitment of business people and laborers; lawyers and doctors; Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Mountain Party…

At the time, few people though that a coalition of this magnitude could ever be forged […] We have come together as a state and as a people like never before…

He seems to forget that both the Republicans and the Mountain Party had their candidates and voted for them. That doesn’t seem much like coming together.

But never mind…on to more important points:

I have hope for a West Virginia that recognizes when it comes to problem solving, one size really doesn’t fit all. I know and you know, all the answers do not lie under the Capitol dome.

I hope for a West Virginia that is fiscally responsible and never forgets that taxpayer money doesn’t grow on trees.

It was great to hear a Democrat leader finally notice that taxpayer money is not an endless source of revenue. Although he devoted nine words to the subject, it was a welcome change to the tradition of completely taking for granted the common West Virginian’s hard earned money.

Unfortunately, on the subject of taxes, Manchin is no different than the long line of Democrat Governors preceding him. The very next day he announced he was crafting a bill to increase the severance tax on coal, oil and gas and timber.

Most West Virginians do not realize that we are the eighth highest taxed state in the Union (www.taxfoundation.org). To add insult to injury, we are 50th in median income (”Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2003″, U.S. Census Bureau, 8/04). Our taxes are high because Democrats like Joe Manchin have run businesses out of the state through egregious taxes. In fact, the Tax Foundation says our state has the fourth worst business tax climate. Considering the dire straits our state is in, it is certainly not “fiscally responsible” to raise taxes on essential businesses in our state.

Joe Manchin teaches us there is an essential difference between words and actions. I recommend you ignore the former and watch the latter.

He continued his speech:

I made it clear during the past year and a half on the campaign trail that no Governor will ever ask more of you than I will. I’m not going to drag you back; I’m going to push you forward.

If he really wants to “push us forward” he will begin by repealing the onerous tax cuts that plague the small West Virginia business and then leave us alone.

I had an older gentleman recount to me today how he started his car shop business with his two sons and almost went under after being penalized significantly for not paying an obscure tax he didn’t know to pay. He said, “I’m just a mechanic. I don’t know about taxes and computers and all that. All I want to do is fix cars.” The West Virginia tax code keeps businessmen from fixing cars or whatever the skill and makes them struggle under a burden that is more than they can bear.

Manchin closed his speech with five promises:

• Every child should have a caring adult in their lives;
• Every child should have a safe place;
• Every child should have a healthy start;
• Every child should be taught a marketable skill;
• Every child should learn to be a caring adult and be given an opportunity to serve their communities.

If he thinks his role as Governor is to provide these five things for each West Virginia child, we are in serious trouble indeed. While I agree that each child should have these five promises, I disagree that government is the arbiter of these gifts. Manchin treads dangerously on the “it takes a village to raise a child” principle argued most recently by Hillary Clinton. I’ve seen what they did with my state, why would I want to give them my child?

The state has had their chance to prove what they can do with our posterity. With crime, illiteracy and drugs on the rampage, the state’s only solution is more programs and more taxes to pay for the programs. Isn’t it about time they figure out that they, just maybe, are the problem?

Only one institution can raise a child in a proper manner: a family. If Governor Manchin is wise, he will do what it takes to insure that families continue unhindered.

It will be an interesting four years. Let’s hope Manchin is all words and no action or else we are in serious trouble.