Photo of Pat McCrory by Max Cooper
Speaking in Asheville, June 15, Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory told the Council of Independent Business Owners that he wants to cut regulations and taxes to help spur economic development in North Carolina.
The former mayor of Charlotte, McCrory is facing Democrat – and current Lieutenant Governor – Walter Dalton, in the fall election. Although he didn’t mention Dalton by name during his luncheon address at Magnolias Raw Bar & Grill, he predicted that the race is “going to be a battle between now and November.” He also said that in the wake of Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s recent victory in a Wisconsin, he expects the North Carolina match up to “be the number one governors race in the country.”
“I hope to bring Scott Walker down to help me; he’s a great, great guy,” he added.
McCrory focused much of his remarks on economic issues, noting that he thinks cutting business regulations and taxes will do more to attract companies to the state than cash incentives. He also said energy reform – including allowing more oil and natural gas excavation – passing and implementing a 25 year transportation infrastructure plan, and education reform should be top priorities. He put emphasis on the importance of the community college system in preparing students for productive careers.
In response to a question by Asheville city council member Marc Hunt, McCory said he wants to help decentralize power from Raleigh and spread it to municipalities and counties, particularly in regard to education spending. He also noted that he strongly favors stricter voter id laws in the state.
Watch the video to see McCrory discuss some of what his top goals would be as governor:
Could he name any specific regulations that are crushing these poor, helpless business owners or is it just more of the same “we’re pissed because we can no longer pollute with abandon, we have to pay minimum wages and overtime, and we can’t work children the same as adults” crap?
Because, honestly, it’s a broken record. It means nothing. There’s no substance to what these people are saying. They aren’t serious about anything, except serving the corporate interests that are funneling money to their campaigns.
And stricter voter ID laws? How many cases of voter fraud were recorded in NC in the last decade? I bet the answer is less than 20 or so. I’d certainly be surprised if it was more. I guess maybe Mr. McCrory just believes there are too many people voting for the Democrats.
I suppose I could give him credit for at least mentioning an infrastructure plan.
Matt,
You asked what specific regulations McCrory identifies as a regulatory costs for business.
Workers comp law in NC is one.
Here’s a video from McCrory’s website. I found this in about 2 minutes.
http://youtu.be/WHVq6CiQLtg
But I get the feeling you really weren’t asking that question to get an answer, right?
That’s kin of funny, Pete.
In the video he holds up a copy of the book for workers comp regulations for Tenn and NC and shows the one for NC is bigger. He then points out Tenn’s unemployment rate is lower (by little more than one percentage point), as if this is an immediate cause and effect.
To pretend that this is a substantive argument is laughable. He doesnt speak about WHAT aspects of workers comp regulations he wants to change. All of them? You might as well say NC just needs to use smaller font in their regulatory manual.
Furthermore, to pretend that NC’s and Tenn’s job markets are equally comparable, allowing for such a simple dichotomy, belies a naive & simplistic understanding of the differing markets.
But if your argument is simply ‘we must race Tennesee to the bottom’ in terms of compensation for workers why not just come out and say it?
But if your argument is simply ‘we must race Tennesee to the bottom’ in terms of compensation for workers why not just come out and say it?
But that would be telling.
“McCrory just believes there are too many people voting for the Democrats”
That’s what constitutes “fraud” in these people’s eyes – like that House Speaker in New Hampshire, defending making it harder for college students to vote, because they’re “kids voting liberal”.
Anyone who tries to restrict voting for groups based on who they are likely to vote for, they are traitors. They are failed Americans. They are the enemy within, achieving what Bin Laden never could: crippling the idea of participatory democracy.
Same old discredited bilge from a political party that hasn’t had a viable new idea in recent memory. Might as well be a programmed automaton. The fallacy of this worthless mantra of “fewer taxes and regulations” is succinctly noted in this brief piece:
“An oft-repeated argument coming out of Washington is that rich people are the job creators and if only their taxes were lowered and regulations reduced they would create more jobs.
Think again: Taxes on corporations and investors are already lower than they were during historically prosperous times. And corporations, we are told, are sitting on piles of cash waiting for the economy to improve before hiring more people. If corporations already have lots of cash and they
“You asked what specific regulations McCrory identifies as a regulatory costs for business.
Workers comp law in NC is one”
I’m not Matt, but this is almost laughable. The Republican controlled state government pushed through a series of changes to NC’s worker’s compensation laws just last year, making it among the country’s most ‘business-friendly’. The changes put a lot of control in the hands of business. Worker’s compensation rates are set by the Industrial Commission based upon job classifications and experience, which means that a company’s safety and other programs can lower their rates.
“In June, North Carolina amended its Workers’ Compensation Act. The original bill was a business initiative, but the new law is a compromise among all participants in the workers’ compensation system. While there is a little something for everyone, several provisions should be beneficial to employers:
The new law allows employers to obtain relevant medical records without the express authorization of the employee.
The term “suitable employment” can be key to the value of many workers’ compensation claims, because an employee who is offered, and refuses to accept, such employment can lose benefits. The new law adds a definition of “suitable employment” for all claims filed after the law’s enactment. Before the employee reaches maximum medical improvement (“MMI”), the term includes rehabilitative or other noncompetitive employment, i.e., a job that does not exist in the labor market. After MMI, “suitable employment” means any job the employee is capable of performing considering his limitations, vocational skills, education, and experience and that is located within a 50-mile radius of his residence. The new job can carry a lower wage rate and still be deemed suitable.”
Read more: http://www.bluenc.com/workers-compensation-insurance-and-gop-hypocrisy#ixzz1y8kTzbS7
Worker comp. rates are already lower than in other states, and now they’re stacked against the injured worker.
Non-profits (I work for one) do a pretty good job of managing this expense, yet for-profit businesses, many of whom (Mission Hospital, for example) have to be sued to pay their bills.
That’s all you can offer to back up the worn-out claim of ‘less taxes and regulations’?
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Mission is non-profit (an error), but they, along with many NC based organizations, have failed to administer their WC program fairly, and many businesses are sued for coverage.
There is no evidence that any new hiring has resulted from the recent pro-business changes to the states’ WC laws so far, but that won’t stop specious claims from being made.