By Alison Knezevich
Staff writer

The Charleston Gazette

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- When lawmakers left Charleston after their regular session ended in April, Gov. Joe Manchin made it clear he was disappointed in the results. Many of his education proposals and other bills had failed in the final hours.

But Thursday, Manchin said he was pleased with the weeklong special session that finished up Tuesday. The Legislature passed a budget and all 15 bills the governor placed on the special-session call.

"Together, we found a common ground," Manchin said at a press conference with Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, D-Logan, and House Speaker Rick Thompson, D-Wayne.

The governor touted his education bills, alternative energy portfolio, and other items from his agenda.  

Usually, the Legislature approves a budget during its regular session.  But they and Manchin agreed to delay a spending plan so they could gauge the recession's impact and get a handle on the federal stimulus package.

"It worked very well this way," Tomblin said. "After 60 grueling days up here, people are a little tired and cranky."

Tomblin and Thompson worked with Manchin's office to come up with a special-session agenda most legislators would support.

"Those were basically agreed-to bills, and that's the reason it worked so well," Tomblin said.

Manchin said the 60-day regular session was a "trying time."

"Personalities sometimes come to the forefront," Manchin said. But "the people of this state need to know that we can work together."

During that session, the governor had clashed with House Education leaders, implying they were beholden to teachers unions.

On Thursday, Thompson said democracy is based on "a system of checks and balances."

"This extended session and the special session, in my opinion, is a perfect example of how this system works well," he said.

Manchin wasn't able to revive all of the education measures he wanted.

The House and Senate could not reach a compromise on legislation meant to help ensure that schoolchildren get 180 days of instruction.

"The calendar bill is something we're still working on," Manchin said.