The Manchin Record

As West Virginia waits for Gov. Joe Manchin to take the public oath for his second term, The Associated Press is among those weighing the changes wrought during his first four years in that office.

"During his first trip to the Capitol's south steps, for his 2005 inauguration, Manchin told West Virginians 'we must pursue a new and different course,'" the article notes. "Referring to the dome overhead, then undergoing repairs, the 61-year-old vowed also to 're-engineer our government, repair our schools, and revamp our economy.'"

AP has also compiled a list of measures that compare West Virginia then to now (or, by citing the latest available data):


JOBS
Then: 747,500 (Workforce West Virginia, December 2004)
Now: 761,000 (Workforce West Virginia, December 2008)

UNEMPLOYMENT (Seasonally adjusted)
Then: 5.0 percent (Workforce West Virginia, December 2004)
Now: 4.9 percent (Workforce West Virginia, December 2008)

BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS WITH EMPLOYEES (private sector)
Then: 44,219 (Workforce West Virginia, 2004)
Now: 44,840 (Workforce West Virginia, 2007)

FAMILIES IN POVERTY
Then: 14.1 percent (American Community Survey, U.S. Census, 2004)
Now: 13.0 percent (American Community Survey, U.S. Census, 2007)

PER-CAPITA INCOME
Then: $18,025 (American Community Survey, U.S. Census, 2004)
Now: $20,419 (American Community Survey, U.S. Census, 2007)

COAL MINE DEATHS
Then: 12 (U.S. Mine Safety & Health Administration, 2004)
Now: 8 (U.S. Mine Safety & Health Administration, 2008)

UNINSURED WEST VIRGINIANS
Then: 289,000 (U.S. Census estimate, 2004)
Now: 254,000 (U.S. Census estimate, 2007)

COLLEGE-GOING RATE (high school seniors)
Then: 59.3 percent (Higher Education Policy Commission, 2004)
Now: 57.5 percent (Higher Education Policy Commission, 2007)

STATE EMPLOYEES (full-time equivalent)
Then: 37,215 (2004 U.S. Census of Government Employment)
Now: 38,060 (2007 U.S. Census of Government Employment)

GENERAL REVENUE SPENDING
Then: $3.01 billion (State Budget Office, fiscal year 2004)
Now: $3.90 billion (State Budget Office, fiscal year 2009)

AP observes that "a booming energy market has undoubtedly aided Manchin's efforts, as had solid investment returns until last year's meltdown," and that "income levels remain lower than that of most other states, but did grow at a larger rate than the national average."

The Charleston Daily Mail has a partial list of AP's benchmarks. MetroNews also looks back on Manchin's first inauguration, and the pledges he made then. With audio.