Virginia’s new Gov. Bob McDonnell delivered his State of the Commonwealth address Jan. 18, fleshing out the policy programs he mentioned in his earlier inaugural address. While he did not use the word “manufacturing” — the term we’ve been searching for in governors’ addresses this month — the Republican governor did talk about “industry,” e.g., the bio-tech industry, an industrial mega-site, the wine industry, and, with the most detail, the energy industry.

McDonnell’s prescription for economic growth via energy is an all-of-the-above approach, including offshore oil and gas development, nuclear power, coal and bio-fuels. The Virginia governor is giving the Republican response to President Obama’s State of the Union address Wednesday, but his vision of energy development is non-partisan and one that the President would profitably embrace in pursuit of jobs, growth and tax revenues.

From McDonnell’s prepared remarks:

I am committed to utilizing all of our vast, God-given natural resources to make Virginia the “Energy Capital of the East Coast.” We must do our part to promote American energy independence.

We have the opportunity to be the first state on the Eastern Seaboard to sell the leasing rights to explore and drill offshore for oil and natural gas in 2011. The federal moratoria have been lifted. The state that is first will reap an economic bonanza. We can lead or be left out. Four years ago you had the foresight to pass legislation giving us a critical advantage. We cannot now let Washington bureaucracy undermine the clear desires of the people of Virginia.

I have written to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, and have let our congressional delegation know that this is a priority for our Commonwealth, consistent with President Obama’s commitment to make our nation more energy secure. Several studies show that environmentally-safe offshore exploration and production will create thousands of jobs, put hundreds of millions into our depleted state coffers, and spur billions in capital investment in the Old Dominion. There are many unemployed Virginians who are ready to work in the oil and gas production industry. (continue reading…)

Bob McDonnell was sworn in Saturday as Governor of Virginia, and thus his first speech in office was an Inaugural Address, a tone-setting speech more philosophical than programmatic. (Text.) Still, we’ll include it among state of the state addresses we’ve been reviewing, reporting on whether governors mention “manufacturing,” “industry” or variants thereof.

McDonnell, a Republican, did indeed cite “industries” when stating his belief that developing domestic energy will lead to economic growth and jobs for Virginia.

Governor-elect Bob McDonnell of Virginia has already taken a strong stance in support of the state’s workers, consumers and manufacturers by pushing the Department of Interior to expedite development of natural gas and oil resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Writing that “Virginia is eager to get started,” McDonnell on Dec. 23 sent a letter to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar asking that the state remain on the current five-year OCS leasing plan and that federal administrative process move forward immediately with Lease Sale 220, an area more than 50 miles off the coast of Virginia estimated to contain 130 million barrels of oil and 1.14 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

From the governor-elect’s letter:

Any effort to remove or delay Virginia’s participation in the lease sale would significantly hamper our efforts to create jobs, eliminate much-needed new revenue, and undermine support for President Obama’s stated commitment to make the United States more energy secure.

The opportunity to explore and develop oil and natural gas resources off the coast of Virginia, miles out of sight from our beaches in an environmentally sound manner, is timely for both our nation and our Commonwealth. Like every other state, Virginia is struggling with the high unemployment that accompanies the current tough economic environment. Some parts of our state have an unemployment rate as high as 19 percent. Additionally, America needs secure and diverse energy sources that do not leave us dependent on foreign governments adverse to our national interests.

Governor-elect McDonnell makes his Administration’s goals — upon which he specifically, prominently campaigned  – quite clear to Secretary Interior and the public.

Offshore energy exploration and production will be a priority in my administration. I would like to work with you and the President to make Virginia an international leader in offshore energy exploration and production on the Atlantic coast. It is important for both our Commonwealth and our country. We also intend to aggressively pursue offshore renewable energy sources such as wind farms, and will be asking for your assistance at that appropriate time.

That’s welcome leadership on behalf of smart energy policy and economic growth.

See also news coverage:

• Wall Street Journal blog, “Drill, Baby, Drill: Does Virginia’s Gov-Elect’s Call For Offshore Drilling Add Up?“
• Washington Business Journal, “Bob McDonnell urges offshore drilling for Virginia“
• Richmond Times Dispatch, “Hasten offshore lease sale, McDonnell urges White House“

The next governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell, often criticized the undemocratic Employee Free Choice Act during his campaign against Creigh Deeds, who tried to avoid the issue. (See also Amanda Carpenter, Washington Times, “EFCA’s role in McDonnell’s win.”

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine’s core support came from organized labor, pushing his candidacy at the same time they made the Employee Free Choice Act their rallying cry. See The Star-Ledger story, “Unions organize to help an ally: Jon Corzine.” Former federal prosecutor Chris Christie defeated Corzine on Tuesday, 49-45 percent.

In Pennsylvania, organized labor’s candidate for the state Supreme Court, Jack Panella, lost to Joan Orie Melvin. Judging by Panella’s website, he was counting on the unions to bring home the vote. Nope.

True, labor’s favored candidate won in New York’s 23rd Congressional District, but Bill Owens was the AFL-CIO’s second choice after Dede Scozzafava dropped out.

Labor’s failures weaken its political power in Congress, if only at the margins, making it even more difficult to pass the Employee Free Choice Act this year. The unions will therefore continue their power plays in other venues, such as the National Mediation Board and the National Labor Relations Board. Expect the SEIU’s Andy Stern to make even more visits to the White House to coordinate strategy.

UPDATE (9:45 a.m.): Mickey Kaus, from his “Election 2009: Some Winners, Losers,”:

Losers: Dems who were planning to argue that a Corzine victory, when contrasted with Deeds’ loss, shows the need to stick with “core Democratic values” (i.e. unions) …

Loser: Card check. Virginia Republican McDonnell didn’t fudge on labor’s “card check” bill. He bashed it. He won. Virginia is hardly a union state, but neither are the states with Senators who are swing votes on “card check”. …