Where West Virginia Stands

Legislators and Gov. Joe Manchin have already begun bandying about West Virginia's rankings on such topics as taxes and the economy as they head into their 2010 session, The Associated Press reports.

Manchin "is touting a recent report that ranks West Virginia behind only one other state for economic momentum," the article said. He and fellow Democrats have also noted how well the state fares in a recent fiscal survey that shows a number of other states agonizing over huge budget deficits.

"But Republican lawmakers cite a different set of statistics, as they prepare to push for major tax cuts and a smaller state government," AP reports. "These rank West Virginia poorly for business climate and income levels."