WRAL.com: Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville

"As governor, Pat McCrory will fight to eliminate the death tax for North Carolinians," he said on his web site.

The measure: Does McCrory eliminate North Carolina's inheritance tax?

Promise Status: Kept so far

North Carolina's law is based on the federal version of the estate tax. State lawmakers will have to act in order to do away with the state-level tax. 

Update 3/25/2013: Gov. Pat McCrory proposed eliminating the estate tax as part of the budget he offered this month. 

Source

• Pat McCrory website: Tax Reform

"As governor, I will establish a partnership with neighboring states to develop offshore resources and recruit companies to bring a much-needed infusion of energy, jobs and investment to the state," McCrory wrote in response to a WRAL survey. When introducing his new secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, McCrory repeated that he hoped to take the needed steps  to clear the way for offshore energy exploration. 

The measure: Does McCrory establish such a partnership? Does the administration take other steps to develop offshore energy? 

Promise Status: Achieved 

McCrory took office on Jan. 5 and continues to be outwardly supportive of expanding energy production in North Carolina. 

UPDATE (2/12): Pat McCrory announced he's joining another group of state chief executives interested in expanding offshore energy exploration, the Associated Press reported. McCrory said Friday he's now part of the Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition. It's a collection of coastal governors which has supported activities to encourage coastal energy production as part of national energy policy. The group's chairman is Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell.

UPDATE (2/14): Gov. Pat McCrory joined the governors from South Carolina and Virginia on Thursday to request that the federal government partner with the three states to expand off-shore oil and gas exploration.

Given McCrory's letter to the federal government and his part in the Outer Continental Shelf Governor's Coalition, it appears he has fulfilled his campaign promise. 

UPDATE (5/6): McCrory traveled to Texas in early May to push the federal government to open coastal waters for offshore drilling. 

Source

• WRAL candidate questionnaire

On the potential for roughly 2,000 mentally ill people to lose their placement in group homes, McCrory said the Perdue administration had made mistakes dealing with the crisis. Gov. Bev Perdue moved money around during her last month in office to keep people in their homes, but a long-term fix will have to be developed by the legislature and McCrory.  "We've got to find a place (for them) to live," McCrory said.

The measure: Does North Carolina develop a long-term solution that keeps mentally ill people and Alzheimer's patients in their group homes?

Promise Status: Mixed.

McCrory takes office on Jan. 5. Perdue's temporary funding runs out at the end of January, and the General Assembly does not fully return to work until Jan. 30, which means this may be one of McCrory's most pressing agenda items upon taking office.

Updated (2/8/2013): The temporary funding Perdue provided was supposed to last until the end of January. House lawmakers have passed a bill extending the patch funding until a more permanent solution can be crafted as part of the state budget. However, Senate lawmakers have so-far not taken up the bill. The Office of Administrative hearings has begun hearing appeals from group home residents who lost the "personal care services" at the heart of the funding issue.

"Now we're playing a little bit of Russian Roulette," said Julia Adams, a lobbyist for the Arc of North Carolina, which advocates on behalf of developmentally disabled people. She said that if a resident's appeal is rejected by the OAH, they will either lose their group home placement or the group home will incur costs that won't be reimbursed. 

Because this outcome is the result of Senate inaction, the Promise Tracker rates this as a promise failed. 

Update (2/20/13): The state Senate is beginning to take action on this bill. 

Update (3/6/13): In order to absolutely have headed off any potential for people to lose their group home placements, McCrory would have needed to take action by Jan. 31. That's the date through which temporary funding put in place by former Gov. Bev Perdue ran out. McCrory also said this measure would be a high priority for his administration. However, lawmaker didn't pass this bill until late February and McCrory didn't sign it for a week after it landed on his desk. While experts say it will head off most of the short term problems, this didn't get done with the speed with which McCrory indicated he would move back in December of 2012. 

Source

• 11/19: McCrory confident of group homes fix

McCrory has been critical of both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, saying they have failed to deal with a looming $2.8 billion debt to the federal government that was racked up paying for unemployment claims.

The debt is "going to be one of the biggest issues that I have to deal with immediately," McCrory told The Associated Press in an interview in September. Several times on the campaign trail, he pledged to set the state on a path to eliminating the debt. In the days running up to his swearing in, McCrory has repeated that this is a problem he wants to tackle.

The measure: Does McCrory reach an agreement with the legislature to eliminate North Carolina's unemployment debt?

Promise status: Achieved

On 2/19/13, Gov. Pat McCrory signed a bill that will pay down the unemployment debt.  Read more about this bill from our issue tracker.

Source

• Associated Press story, published Nov. 18. 

McCrory has emphasized the need to value vocational education since his first run for governor in 2008. He continued that theme on the campaign trail this year, saying that too many students were asked to take classes in high school to which they could not relate.

"Instead of the present system of providing only one pathway to a high school diploma, we need to reform the system and provide two pathways," reads McCrory's education policy proposal.

The measure: Does McCrory get his two-track system in place?

Promise Status: Accomplished 

McCrory takes office on Jan. 5. It is likely any plan such as this would have to be part of a budget proposal and/or legislative program pushed by the new governor. 

Updated 2/18/2013: Gov. Pat McCrory signed a bill into law this morning that creates endorsements for high school diplomas that show a student is ready for work, college or both. 

Source

• Pat McCrory website: K-12 Education

As part of his campaign's economic plan, McCrory promised to establish "ExportNC," a public-private partnership that will provide private financing and industry expertise to small- and medium-sized businesses, allowing them to increase exports by working with international businesses."

The measure: Does McCrory establish Export NC?

Update 2/8/2013: We have not seen "Export NC" established. However, McCrory did push for the establishment of a cold storage facility at the Port of Wilmington that will allow for the export of more pork and poultry products. 

Promise Status: In progress

McCrory took office on Jan. 5. 

Source

• Pat McCrory website: Support Key Industries

During an interview with WRAL's David Crabtree, McCrory promised, "we'll have continued communications with the media and the public as we go through the transition."

The measure: Does McCrory continue to speak with the media through the transition? Does he disclose the activities of his transition team in advance of taking office on Jan. 5?

Promise Status: Achieved

McCrory has held regular news conferences throughout the transition period, mainly when he wanted to introduce key players in his administration. And his staff did release a list of working group members charged with evaluating the current state of government agencies. Although it's unclear what the results of those working groups have been, those who have been familiar with other transitions said McCrory went a step further than prior governors by announcing his review and key players. 

Source

• WRAL interview Nov. 17, 2012

During the campaign, McCrory's campaign said he would release an ethics plan. That never happened. Generally, governors give some guidance to their staff early in their first term about what they expect in terms of ethical behavior. "Pat McCrory will be releasing a comprehensive plan and vision to reform our broken government after the conventions," the governor-elect wrote on his website.

The measure: Did the McCrory campaign ever release an ethics plan?

Promise Status: Broken

During the transition, McCrory did have members of his transition sign pledges for ethical conduct. But the campaign never developed the comprehensive ethics plan he promised. 

Source

• 08/29: Dalton more detailed than McCrory about ethics plans

When asked by WRAL's David Crabtree whether he would hold regular news conferences, McCrory said, "Absolutely."

The measure: Does McCrory hold regular news conferences during his first term? h

He'll be measured against predecessors like Gov. Mike Easley and Gov. Bev Perdue, who limited their formal news conferences to times when they were announcing a budget or specific policy proposal or dealing with an emergency such as a hurricane. 

Promise status: In progress

McCrory was sworn in Jan. 5 and will have a week of inaugural public appearances.

The measure of this promise will be whether he maintains open dialog with the media, including regular news conferences. 

Updated (1/18/2013): During the first weeks of his administration, McCrory's office has sent out a daily schedule of his public events, giving the public advance notice of his appearances. This is a practice that makes covering the governor much easier and was never adopted by Gov. Mike Easley or Gov. Bev Perdue. While this is not following through on the promise for regular formal news conferences, these well-noticed events have given reporters the chance to ask McCrory about the news of the day. Given this nod to transparency, or at least being helpful, we're upgrading this status from "In progress" to "Kept so far." 

Updated (2/8/2013): McCrory's communications director, Chris Walker, is returning home to Tennessee. In the past month, McCrory has occasionally made himself for a short set of questions after public events, but has not been consistent about this practice. Until the Republican has a new chief for his press shop on board, the Promise Tracker is withholding judgement on this one, but we are downgrading the status from "kept so far" to "in progress." 

Source

• 09/22: On the Record: Pat McCrory

Pat McCrory repeatedly called for voters to be required to show photo ID at the polls during the campaign, going so far as to cut a campaign video encouraging voters to bring their ID to the polls during the primary. "I believe it is important to make sure our democracy and our elections are free and fair," McCrory said in response to a WRAL candidates questionnaire.

The measure: Is a voter ID law put in place during McCrory's first term?

Promise Status: In progress 

McCrory has continued to be supportive of Voter ID legislation. Legislative leaders say he will have the opportunity to sign such a bill this year. 

Source

• North Carolina Family Policy Council candidate questionnaire
• WRAL candidate questionnaire

American's for Tax Reform, a Washington, D.C.-based group, asks candidates for office to pledge not to increase taxes. McCrory signed such as pledge that says he "will oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes."

The measure: Does McCrory avoid signing an tax increase during his first term?

Promise Status: Kept so far

McCrory is just taking office, but it's unlikely the Republican-held General Assembly will send him a budget that increases taxes. The bigger question may be whether there is a tax increase embedded in any tax reform deal.

Source

• Americans for Tax Reform NC pledge signers
• Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge

When asked during a WRAL-TV debate what further restrictions on abortion he would agree to sign, McCrory said, "none." It is worth noting, however, the McCrory said response to a survey by the Family Policy Research Council that he did not believe state funding should go to organizations that provide abortions.

The measure: Does McCrory sign a bill that further limits abortion?

Promise Status: Kept so far

McCrory took office on Jan. 5 and thus far, he has signed no bills limiting abortion or expressed any interest in doing so.

Sources

• Gubernatorial debate, Oct. 24
• North Carolina Family Policy Council candidate questionnaire

Pat McCrory told the Charlotte Business Journal he would keep the governor's Charlotte office, first opened by Perdue, in operation.

The measure: Does the western office stay open through McCrory's first term?

Promise status: Kept so far

McCrory is a former mayor of Charlotte and planned an open house there as part of his inaugural festivities. He has promised to lead an "outside the beltline" administration, indicating he wanted input from all parts of the state.  

Source

• 09/27 Charlotte Business Journal: Pat McCrory jabs Bev Perdue

McCrory was a vocal supporter of allowing energy companies to explore for natural gas in shale formations, a process colloquially known as fracking. "Under a McCrory administration, North Carolina will establish the regulatory framework for natural gas exploration and signal to outside companies that North Carolina is getting into the energy business," McCrory said in his economic plan.

The measure: Does fracking proceed under McCrory's administration?

Promise Status: In progress

Although McCrory will need cooperation from lawmakers, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is under the governor's direct oversight and is responsible for developing some of the rules related to energy exploration. 

Source

• Pat McCrory website: Energy

"I would also seek to sell the deep-water port land that the Easley-Perdue-Dalton leadership spent $30 million to purchase near Southport without first completing feasibility studies about the project," McCrory said in response to a WRAL survey.

The measure: Does McCory sell the deep-water port property?

Promise Status: In progress

McCrory took office on Jan. 5. He said in a January pre-inauguration news conference that he would direct his Department of Administration to review all state property as part of an effort to get rid of assets the state no longer needs. 

Source

• WRAL candidate questionnaire

"As governor, my top priority will be to create a long-term economic development strategy to unleash the private sector to create jobs and put people back to work," McCrory wrote in response to a WRAL candidates questionnaire. 

The measure: Does McCrory develop and release a long-term economic development strategy?

Promise Status: In progress

McCrory took office on Jan. 5. When he announced the selection of his Commerce Secretary, Sharon Decker, he said she would be responsible for developing "the brand and the strategy for North Carolina's economy." 

Source

• WRAL candidate questionnaire

During the campaign, McCrory's economic plan included, "Pat McCrory will lead overseas trade missions to open new markets for North Carolina products. Specifically, the McCrory administration will prioritize trade missions to India and countries in Southeast Asia." He also spoke about those plans on the campaign trail. 

The measures: Does McCrory lead a trade mission? Does he or top leaders go to Southeast Asia?

Promise Status: In progress

McCrory took office Jan. 5. 

Source

• Pat McCrory website: Support Key Industries

McCrory has said multiple times that North Carolina should preserve North Carolina's right-to-work status. He says the state should resist collective bargaining for public sector workers and that right-to-work is a key factor in bringing companies here.

"We cannot have collective bargaining," McCrory said during a WRAL-TV debate.

In response to a NC Free Enterprise Foundation Survey, McCrory agreed that North Carolina's status as a Right to Work state should be enshrined in the constitution.

The measure: Does McCrory reject any bills granting further rights to unions? Is he supportive of constitutional amendments regarding right-to-work?

Promise Status: In progress 

McCrory took office Jan. 5. The legislature will not meet for regular business until Jan. 30. North Carolina governors do not have the ability to sign or veto bills proposing constitutional amendments, but can speak publicly for or against them. 

Source

• N.C. FreeEnterprise Foundation candidate questionnaire
• Gubernatorial debate, Oct. 24

On the campaign trail, Pat McCrory pledged to make government more business friendly and develop "a culture of customer service." While many of these promises are hard to quantify, McCrory did specifically say he would, "Include industry leaders and farmers in policy decisions such as tax reform and eliminating excessive regulations."

The measure: Will McCrory or his top deputies be able to point to ways in which industry leaders were included in policy decisions?

Promise Status: In progress

Before taking office, McCrory used news conferences to tell his cabinet secretaries in public they should consult with industry leaders while making policy.

Source

• Pat McCrory website: Support Key Industries

McCrory has cited statistics showing the state's community college and university system spending millions of dollars every year on remediation. He says this is a sign that K-12 education isn't doing its job. "Therefore, every student entering the ninth grade will be tested for proficiency in basic reading and mathematics. Any student not able to pass the test will receive intense remedial courses to give them the tools to graduate and get a job or continue their education," McCrory wrote in his education plan.

The measure: Does McCrory put such a testing regimen in place?

Promise Status: In progress

McCrory took office on Jan. 5. Although he does not directly oversee the K-12 education system, he does appoint members to the state school board and its chairman. He also plays a role in drafting the state budget, which contains funding for educational programs. 

Source

• Pat McCrory website: K-12 Education

Referencing education reform efforts in Florida, McCrory, like many Republicans, called for laws requiring that students be able to read before they leave third grade. "The first step is to stop social promotions for third grade students and create a tough-love strategy to improve literacy," McCrory wrote in his education plan.

The measure: Do North Carolina third graders improve their scores on end-of-grade reading comprehension exams during the McCrory administration?

Promise Status: In progress

Ending social promotion was a key tenet of the education policies put forward by the state Senate last year. It seems likely that policy contained in the 2012 budget plus continued support from McCrory will help make this promise a reality. 

Source

• Pat McCrory website: K-12 Education

Pat McCrory said that he would like to eliminate the backlog of parents who have applied to get their children in charter schools by making sure new charter schools are approved quickly. "We must implement a process to ensure that parents and students are not left in limbo on their school options," McCrory wrote in his education plan.

The measure: Can a McCrory administration eliminate the backlog of families waiting to get their children in to charter schools? Is the process to get a charter school approved made faster and easier?

Promise Status: In progress

McCrory does not have direct oversight over charter school expansion, but he can support it through his budget proposals and other policy measures. 

Source

• Pat McCrory website: K-12 Education

Pat McCrory said on the campaign trail that parents and students could easily identify the "good" teachers at a particular school. The Republican says the state should reward those teachers with higher pay. "We will reform our pay system to reward teachers for the job they do instead of just the number of years they teach," McCrory wrote in his education plan.

The measure: Does the state adopt a pay-for-performance plan?

Promise Status: In progress

The legislature directed schools to begin developing "pay for excellence" plans for their teachers in the current budget. McCrory can help follow through on that directive. 

Source

• Pat McCrory website: K-12 Education

McCrory has been circumspect when asked about the use of economic development incentives to lure companies. He said he would deal with them on a case-by-case basis. However, he has been clear about a desired not to use "up-front" cash grants, such as those offered Continental Tire. "Pat McCrory will end the practice of giving certain companies up-front cash incentives," he wrote on his website.

The measure Does McCrory avoid giving "up-front" incentives during his term?

Promise Status: Kept so far

McCrory took office Jan. 5 and thus far has not endorsed an up-front incentives grant. 

Source

• Pat McCrory website: Tax Reform

Pat McCrory pledged several times on the campaign trail that he would have an "ethical and accountable" government. That's a bit vague, but he did comment to the News & Observer of Raleigh that he would support certain open records laws. "You should not be waiting until a week before the election to find out who is giving to a campaign," McCrory told the paper. "Today with computer technology it can be done much more often. I think the public has a right to know more frequently." McCrory also told the paper he would open his daily calendar of public activities.

The measure: Does McCrory push through better disclosure laws for campaign finances? Does he release a daily calendar of activities?

Promise Status: In progress

McCrory took office Jan. 5. He has not yet sent the General Assembly ethics-related legislation or had the opportunity to sign any. 

Source

• N&O 11/02: Candidates for governor support prying open some government records

"I believe we must place a sunset provision on boards and commissions," McCrory said in response to a WRAL candidates survey. When asked about ways to slim down government during debates and on the campaign trail, McCrory frequently cited the need to cut down on the number of advisory boards and commissions.

"Pat McCrory will work to eliminate and/or combine missions for redundant commissions and committees to further streamline government," McCrory wrote on his campaign site.

The measure: Does McCrory trim the number of boards and commissions in state government?

Promise status: In progress

The current legislative leadership has shown that it is willing to look at reducing the number of boards and commissions. McCrory could also decline to make appointments to boards he considers to be no longer useful. 

Source

• WRAL candidate questionnaire
• Pat McCrory website: Regulations

"Pat McCrory will require schools to provide a stronger practical justification for more space before new capital projects are approved on university and community college campuses," reads McCrory's education plan.

The measure: Does McCrory put new rules in place controlling the growth of university and community college campuses?

Promise status: In progress

Governors do not have direct oversight over the university and community college systems, but they do have budget oversight powers. McCrory could refuse to include capital expansions in his proposed budget and/or establish procedures that colleges would have to follow before he would back their expansion efforts. 

Source

• Pat McCrory website: Higher Education

Specifically, McCrory said he planned to "cut the individual income tax for all North Carolinians."

The measure: Does McCrory sign a bill that cuts the income tax for all North Carolinians?

Promise Status: In progress

McCrory's pledge lines up with the stated ambition of legislative leaders, so it should be possible for him to accomplish this during his first term. For this promise to be kept, income taxes do not have to be eliminated, but merely lowered for all brackets. 

Source

• Pat McCrory website: Tax Reform
• GOP has majority to update state's tax structure

Pat McCrory says that North Carolina's high corporate tax rate is hurting business recruitment.

"At a minimum, I would like to have our income tax and corporate tax be competitive with our neighboring states of South Carolina and Virginia," McCrory said during a WRAL-TV debate.

The measure: Does the state reduce business taxes during McCrory's first term?

Promise Status: In progress

McCrory's promise is in keeping with plans outlined by legislative leaders. 

Source

• GOP has majority to update state's tax structure
• Pat McCrory website: Tax Reform
• Gubernatorial debate, Oct. 24

Although McCrory did not talk about specific targets, he did generally say that he would like to lower the corporate and income tax rates. And he did pledge during debates, on the campaign stump and on his website to lead a tax reform effort. "Our next governor must reform our state's out-of-date tax code with the 21st century economy in mind, reducing uncertainty for businesses and individuals," McCrory wrote as part of his plan for jump-starting the state's economy.

The measure: Does McCrory get a grand bargain on tax reform?

Promise Status: In progress

McCrory's ideas generally line up with those of Republicans who control the General Assembly. However, both McCrory and legislative leaders have said that a grand bargain on taxes will go beyond simply lowering one or two rates.

In a January speech to the N.C. Chamber, McCrory said he expected push-back from the business community when he advocated for eliminating loopholes for some businesses. Whether McCrory can push through a sweeping reform measure may depend on his ability to rally legislative Republicans around the idea of a simpler tax code even while they face intense lobbying pressure. 

Source

• Pat McCrory website: Tax Reform
• GOP has majority to update state's tax structure
• Data: North Carolina tax breaks by cost, benefit

Pat McCrory pledged during the campaign to create a "long-term" transportation plan. Although that's not a specific timeframe, McCrory frequently cited Charlotte's 25-year traffic infrastructure plan as a model. It's worth noting that individual transportation districts around the state already develop long-range plans known as STIPs and that Gov. Bev Perdue ordered the drafting of a 30-year transportation plan known as the 2040 plan. Still, McCrory is talking about his own idea for a long-range transportation vision, presumably one that business leaders would be able to use in order to plan site relocation and similar decisions.

"Pat McCrory will bring private sector and government leaders together to create a descriptive 25-year transportation and infrastructure plan to send a clear signal to the business community of the state's future investment in roads, railroads, bridges, ports, airports and other infrastructure," McCrory wrote in his economic policy proposal.

The measure: Does McCrory develop a 25-year transportation plan that's somehow different from the TIP process?

Promise Status: In progress

When McCrory introduced his new Secretary of Transportation, Tony Tata, he repeated his desired to develop at 25-year transportation plan and charged Tata with taking the lead on developing it. 

Source

• Pat McCrory website: Transportation & Infrastructure

The state's equity formula divides transportation up by regions. It was originally designed to make sure transportation funds were evenly distributed throughout the state. McCrory argues that it has become outdated, saying it punishes areas of the state with interstate highways. "This equity formula has got to be changed so that we have separate revenue streams and more equal distribution for those areas that have interstate highways going through them," he said during a debate moderated by WRAL. 

The measure: Does McCrory alter or eliminate the equity formula?

Promise status: In progress

McCrory would need the help of the General Assembly to eliminate the equity formula. 

Source

• Gubernatorial debate, Oct. 24

During a debate moderated by WRAL, McCrory was asked if he had a goal for lowering unemployment. He would not set a specific numerical target. "I think think the best way to measure things is to benchmark against your competitors. And within a year, I hope we're at least beating South Carolina. My gosh, we ought to at least be beating South Carolina, shouldn't we," he asked.

The measure: Does North Carolina's unemployment rate get and stay below South Carolina's?

Promise Status: In progress

On Jan. 5, the date McCrory was sworn in, the most recent measure of North Carolina's unemployment rate was 9.1 percent. South Carolina's was 8.3 percent.. 

Source

• N.C. county-by-county unemployment rates
• Report: Unemployment especially hard on young 'millenials'
• Gubernatorial debate, Oct. 24

Gov. Pat McCrory took office on Jan. 5, 2013, and like all politicians has made some promises to get the post. 

As the state's first Republican governor in 20 years, McCrory will face some unique problems and challenges, even with a GOP-controlled legislature. WRAL News will keep up with the promises he made on the campaign trail to track his successes and failures over a four-year term. Is he able to cut taxes and reform government as he promised? Will teachers be paid for performance and will North Carolina move ahead with natural gas drilling? 

Story: McCrory has promises to keep

How it works

Scroll down and select a promise for its source, a summary and a check on its status. We'll also score it on the following scale:

• Achieved: The promise has been kept.
• Kept so far: McCrory has promised an ongoing behavior, such as refusing to sign a specific type of bill, and has thus far stuck to it. This is a promise that will be fully achieved only at the the end of his first term. 
• In progress: McCrory is working on the promise in question or hasn't had a reasonable amount of time to tackle the issue. 
• Failed: McCrory gave it a go but ran into problems, such as opposition from the legislature, that blocked his way.
• Broken: McCrory had the ability to follow through on his promise by did not do so. 

FAQ

Why doesn't WRAL track promises for President Barack Obama?

Many national news organizations track the president's performance. An especially good one is the Obameter available from Politifact at http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/.

Why didn't WRAL track promises for previous governors, including Bev Perdue?

In short, we didn't have the resources to pull this off when Gov. Perdue began her term.

We are always adding features to WRAL.com and among our commitments is transparent reporting on your elected representatives. We have expanded that coverage with @NCCapitol and the addition of staffers dedicated to more detailed, data-driven reporting from the legislature.

You can expect to see additional features over time.

How did WRAL choose which promises to track?

We identified 33 instances where Pat McCrory made specific, measurable promises on the campaign trail -- either through policy positions on his campaign website or in statements during debates or to the news media. Each statement will be scored on a scale ranging from "Achieved," for promises kept, to "Broken" where McCrory reverses himself.