CHARLESTON — Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin promised “the dawning of a new era” in West Virginia, using his first State of the State message Wednesday to pledge his effort to help businesses grow, improve education, mine coal safely and keep paying off debts without tax hikes.

Tomblin began with a recognition of his unusual climb to the chief executive’s post after the death of Sen. Robert C. Byrd last spring and the subsequent election of former Gov. Joe Manchin to the U.S. Senate to succeed him.

“Although we may find ourselves in unique circumstances at this juncture, one principle remains constant — we all have an obligation to do the work of the people of our great state,” he told a joint assembly of the Senate and House of Delegates.

“We must set aside our personal and political agendas and put West Virginia first. We have challenges to meet, opportunities to create, and a future with great potential.”

No tax increases are in mind. Rather, the new governor proposed another 1 percent cut in the grocery tax, dropping it from the original 6 percent rate to 2 percent.

“I believe that the dawning of a new era has begun in West Virginia,” he said.

“Join me in daring mighty things and winning glorious triumphs for West Virginia, making it a place where opportunity abounds and jobs are plentiful, making it a place where our children will stay and flourish and making it a place where the American Dream is achievable every single day.”

Tomblin told lawmakers he considers job creation his top priority.

“I will go anywhere, do anything, and spend every waking moment focused on expanding the number of jobs for the people of our state,” he said.

One glowing omission is a sales tax credit to help businesses with up-front costs expand or locate in the state, he said.

Tomblin said he will offer a bill to provide additional enhancements to recruit such firms.

“I also believe we need to overhaul our tax increment financing program,” he said. “Tax increment financing has great potential and I believe we can make better use of this program.”

In addition, the acting governor said he wants the Department of Commerce to examine its operations to evaluate whether it is in the position to attract new businesses.

“We all know that coal keeps the lights on,” he said. “But we cannot forget, or let others ignore, that it is vital to the economic and national security of our country to utilize West Virginia’s natural resources.”

West Virginia’s economy benefits by more than $25 billion from coal production, which translates into 63,000 jobs, the governor said. Moreover, the industry provides half of America’s electrical power.

“Do not misunderstand my message,” he said. “The fact that coal has such a positive impact for West Virginia and our country does not mean that we should turn a blind eye to safety or to environmental concerns. I firmly believe that we can mine coal in an environmentally safe manner and I firmly believe that we will develop ways to burn coal in a carbon-friendly manner.”

Tomblin vowed to aggressively pursue a lawsuit against the Federal Environmental Protection Agency over its mine-permitting process.

“America put a man on the moon,” he said. “We invented the semi-conductor and started the Internet, and I believe that we can find ways to make coal a more carbon-friendly resource.”

At the same time, he said mine safety must improve, and he referred directly to the April 5 tragedy that claimed 29 lives at Upper Big Branch mine in Raleigh County.

“When we determine the causes that contributed to that accident, we will do all that is necessary to make sure it never happens again,” he said.

“If it means changing the way our Office of Mine, Health, Safety and Training is structured, we will change it. If it means changes in regulations, we will change them. We will not rest until we know that we have done all that we can to keep our miners safe, each and every shift.”

Tomblin turned his attention to the controversial Marcellus Shale, a source of natural gas that has sparked concerns among environmental groups.

He termed the shale an economic opportunity and noted that billions have already been invested in the industry.

“We need to embrace it,” he said.

On education, Tomblin laid out no specific legislation, but he did call for changes to create an atmosphere where students can learn skills enabling them to compete in a global economy.

“We must remember that it will not take breaking the bank to improve our system of education,” he said. “Instead, we must break the mold.”

Tomblin recognized a special educator to the House chamber — Drema McNeal, a language arts instructor at Park Middle School in Beckley, and the 2010 Teacher of the Year.

Teacher vacancies in certain regions need attention, and vocational skills must be improved from the middle school on up, he said.

Tomblin called for an $800 across-the-board enhancement for teachers and  pointed out that the existing pay schedule, which was approved in 2005, includes a 1.5 percent pay raise every year.

“And although I would like to do more, the fact is at this moment we cannot afford additional pay raises that will add to the state budget forever,” he said. “Our economy is too fragile, and our long-term budget too constrained.”

Tomblin said his administration would also seek ways to create health insurance for the working uninsured.

So far, he pointed out, West Virginia Connect, a pilot program, has manage to provide access to health care for 10,000 uncovered workers.

Tomblin said he wants to set aside $200,000 to maintain the West Virginia Helpline — a toll-free number aiding seniors using federal and state programs to keep them in their homes. To date, he said, the program has helped attract more than $7 million in federal money.

Touting a prudent handling of state dollars, Tomblin said the state has beefed up pension programs in the past six years to the point that the money needed this year has decreased from a year ago.

That translates into an $8 million savings, he said.

And, for the second straight year, West Virginia’s credit rating has risen, he said, noting Moody’s raised it to Aa1, one rung below its highest mark.

Tomblin paid tribute to Byrd and to West Virginia military personnel killed on foreign soil, then singled out retiring Adjutant General Allen Tackett for special recognition.

Tomblin went on to propose a cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs, saying West Virginia’s veterans deserve “a more prominent place in our government.”

“One of the great things about our democracy is that we are a society governed by the rule of law, not by the rule of men,” he said, again alluding to the controversy that swirled in his Senate chamber over a rule change that allows an “acting president” to fill in for him when he’s absent.

“The people who represent us may change, but our system of government continues,” he said. “During these turbulent economic times, our citizens deserve stability, and to be assured that their representatives are focused on fulfilling their missions as public servants.”

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com