Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s annual State of the State address tonight (Jan. 14) will be to a very different looking Legislature as for the first time in 83 years a majority of the lawmakers are Republicans.

His previous addresses have focused on a variety of issues including jobs, energy, education and state debt. Legislative leaders have also said that cap and trade, job creation, education and the state’s economy will be key issues during the 60-day session, which began at noon.

Here are some WVU faculty members with expertise on political, energy and economics issues who are available to discuss the speech and any initiatives:

• Neil Berch is a professor in the Department of Political Science in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. He can be reached at Neil.Berch@mail.wvu.edu.
• John Deskins is director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the College of Business and Economics. He provided legislators an overview of the state’s economic outlook on the opening day of the annual legislative session. Deskins can be reached at John.Deskins@mail.wvu.edu.
• Brian Anderson is GE Plastics Material Engineering Professor at the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. He can be reached at Brian.Anderson@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

ak/01/14/15

CONTACT: University Relations/News
304.293.6997

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.