"My tenure in the Senate is limited," Goodwin told a roomful of Jackson County Chamber of Commerce members at the Cedar Lakes Conference Center. "I want you to tell me how the federal government can be more responsive to small businesses and families in our community.

"Small businesses usually bear the brunt of employment losses [during recessions]," Goodwin said. "We need to provide incentives that empower small businesses to grow and expand."

Democrat Goodwin was appointed last month by Gov. Joe Manchin to temporarily fill the seat left vacant after the death of Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va. Democrat Manchin is among 14 candidates running in a special election to fill the seat for the rest of Byrd's term, which expires in 2013.

Goodwin was born in Mount Alto, an unincorporated town about 10 miles west of Ripley. A new green-and-white sign proclaims Mount Alto "Home of Carte P. Goodwin -- U.S. Senator."

Goodwin said Thursday that he hopes to help pass a new coal mine safety bill and get Senate approval for the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act. He said the small-business bill could add $300 billion in new credit for small businesses, which have created two-thirds of all new jobs in the country over the past 10 years.

The Senate will consider those bills after it returns from recess on Sept. 13.

The House of Representatives passed the bill on June 17 in a 241-182 vote. That version also includes other provisions to help small businesses, including $12 billion in tax cuts and an increase in limits on Small Business Administration loans.

Goodwin said the Small Business Jobs and Credit bill will help small businesses in places like Jackson County hire more workers and compete for more federal contracts -- since "we are in the worst economic depression since the Great Depression," he said.

He believes the mine-safety bill is "going to be difficult to pass, particularly as intricate as it is, . . . but it is so important to the people of West Virginia."

Stronger mine-safety legislation was proposed in the wake of the disaster that killed 29 miners at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County on April 5.

Goodwin said he also backs legislation to "do something on the [British Petroleum] Gulf spill to address clean-up and liability issues."

Cindy Francis of the West Virginia Forestry Association, said Goodwin "is very sincere and wants to understand our concerns."

Francis said she hopes the federal government clarifies its position on issues like capital gains and estate taxes. "We have a lawyer here in Ripley who said he can't write wills [for some of his clients] because of legal uncertainties."

"The concerns of business leaders here are relevant across the country. Politicians should keep in touch with their constituencies," said Wes Harvey, program director for the Jackson chamber.

Ripley Mayor Carolyn Rader said Goodwin told her "he was surprised at how well people work together, regardless of party."

Goodwin said "partisan bickering" in the Senate is "overplayed in the national media. There are folks on both sides of the aisle who get together" on many issues.

On July 22, shortly after he was sworn in as a U.S. senator, Goodwin cast his first vote, which Senate Democratic leaders needed to pass an extension of unemployment benefits to 96 weeks.

Asked about his own plans for the future, Goodwin said, "I haven't thought about that. I will come back and practice law, . . . but part of me will always be drawn to public service in some capacity."

Reach Paul J. Nyden at pjny...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5164.