CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Joe Manchin accepted a consultant's report Thursday that recommended changes to make West Virginia more economically competitive - including calling for an independent, comprehensive review of the state's judicial system.

However, Manchin said he wouldn't take a position on any of the recommendations until the board that commissioned the study - the group called West Virginia: A Vision Shared - meets to review it.

"What comes out of that, I can't make any predictions on, until they meet," the governor said, although he did say he agrees with the overall premise of the report.

"I didn't, as governor of West Virginia, create the marketplace that West Virginia must compete in," he said. "We as West Virginians have to make a decision: Do we intend to compete?"

The report, by J. Mac Holladay of Atlanta-based Market Street Services, stresses that West Virginia has made progress since 2000 to compete in the economic marketplace.

Holladay said that includes reforms to the state's workers' compensation system and the state tax system, as well as improvements in public education.

"There have been noticeable improvements in the business climate in West Virginia," Holladay said.

However, he said the study found five "problem areas" the state should address, including:

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Joe Manchin accepted a consultant's report Thursday that recommended changes to make West Virginia more economically competitive - including calling for an independent, comprehensive review of the state's judicial system.

However, Manchin said he wouldn't take a position on any of the recommendations until the board that commissioned the study - the group called West Virginia: A Vision Shared - meets to review it.

"What comes out of that, I can't make any predictions on, until they meet," the governor said, although he did say he agrees with the overall premise of the report.

"I didn't, as governor of West Virginia, create the marketplace that West Virginia must compete in," he said. "We as West Virginians have to make a decision: Do we intend to compete?"

The report, by J. Mac Holladay of Atlanta-based Market Street Services, stresses that West Virginia has made progress since 2000 to compete in the economic marketplace.

Holladay said that includes reforms to the state's workers' compensation system and the state tax system, as well as improvements in public education.

"There have been noticeable improvements in the business climate in West Virginia," Holladay said.

However, he said the study found five "problem areas" the state should address, including:

Holladay recommended that A Vision Shared bring in an independent adviser of national stature, perhaps even retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, to oversee the review.

Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 348-1220.