Here’s a little preview of tonight’s State of the State expectations from a Justin Anderson article in the Daily Mail…

Daily Mail: Leaders predict tax reform, education will top agenda

State lawmakers differ in their expectations for Gov. Joe Manchin’s State of the State address tonight, with Republicans not really getting their hopes up and Democrats saying Manchin’s going to lay out an aggressive agenda.

Manchin will deliver the speech at 7 p.m. in the House of Delegates chamber at the state Capitol. The speech is considered the official kickoff of the 60-day legislative session.

Lawmakers interviewed said they had no advance notice of what Manchin would discuss in the speech, but they all had their wish lists and predictions centering on more tax reform, improving education and maintaining state roads.

Manchin’s aides have refused to discuss the contents of the speech.

Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Vic Sprouse, R-Kanawha, said he’s heard the governor plans to focus largely on teacher pay raises and increasing school safety, two issues for which the West Virginia Education Association has been aggressively lobbying.

Sprouse said he believes Manchin’s agenda will be top-heavy with education issues and trickle down from there.

There would be a “little bit for everyone else,” Sprouse guessed, such as continuing the tax reform begun during a special session in November when lawmakers made modest reductions in business franchise and corporate income taxes, personal income taxes and the food tax.

“My guess is, it’s not going to be an aggressive agenda,” Sprouse said.

House Majority Leader Joe DeLong, D-Hancock, said he hopes Manchin gives lawmakers leeway to ensure there’s universal quality of education throughout the state.

DeLong also believes Manchin will ask lawmakers to continue their work on tax reform.

“I think he’s going to look at a complete overhaul,” DeLong said.

DeLong thinks the state needs to repeal its tax on the product inventories of state businesses. He said some businesses don’t keep products stocked at locations in West Virginia because of the tax — to the annoyance of customers.

When asked if he expected Manchin to come charging out of the gate tonight, DeLong said, “Absolutely; I’ve come to expect no less than a very aggressive agenda.”

Incoming Senate Minority Leader Don Caruth, R-Mercer, was in Sprouse’s camp in that he’s not expecting Manchin to ask much of lawmakers this year.

He said new leadership and committee structures and newly elected members in both chambers will have the governor more willing to let lawmakers get their feet wet before tackling tough issues and making radical changes.

“The leadership has to settle into their roles,” Caruth said. “In that process and over a 60-day session, the governor and Legislature will have a little bit of a new feeling-out process.”

Caruth said some heavy lifting required of lawmakers, such as privatizing workers’ compensation and working on tort reform, has been done. There aren’t any “big-ticket” items on the horizon this session, he said.

“I just don’t see any of those on the agenda unless it is a very aggressive tax reform,” Caruth said.

He expects Manchin to address teacher pay, since the state ranks 47th in that regard. Caruth said it’s wasteful to train educators at taxpayers’ expense only to have them find work in other states where the money’s better.

On the issue of table games, Caruth said Republicans are largely opposed to expanded gambling. If the issue does come up, however, Caruth said the governor should think about devoting some of the money raised to subsidize regional jail costs, which have counties strapped.

Senate Majority Whip Billy Wayne Bailey, D-Wyoming, is expecting the governor to focus heavily on transportation issues, education and tax reform.

Bailey has served on an interim committee that’s been studying ways to transfer certain expenses out of the state Division of Highways budget to general revenue. He said there are about $11 million worth of programs, such as State Police cruisers and the Courtesy Patrol, that could be carved out of the highways budget to free up money to maintain roads.

State gasoline taxes went up by 4.5 cents on Jan. 1. That will pump an estimated $63 million into the state Road Fund, which is expected to fall $350 million short this year in covering needed road maintenance.

Highways officials also are expected to ask lawmakers to renew another 5-cent gas tax that will expire on Aug. 1 that would bring around $55 million to the fund. They also may request hikes in license plate and driver’s license fees.

Rising oil prices have bumped up the costs of asphalt, Bailey said. Having more money to pay for it could mean paving about 400 extra miles of road every year, he said.

Bailey said lawmakers during interim committee meetings also have been looking at ways to make the administrative side of highways leaner and more efficient.

Smaller classrooms in elementary schools and addressing the state’s future in the alternative fuels market also should be dealt with this session, Bailey said.

Contact writer Justin D. Anderson at 348-4843.