Pat McCrory issue statements

North Carolina is the greatest state in the country, but we need a different vision in order to get back on track. We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country but lack an economic strategy. We have too much political bickering and not enough problem solving. It’s time to fix North Carolina’s broken government and broken economy and put our resources back to work.

We must foster an economic environment with less costly and burdensome regulations and taxes not only to compete for out-of-state jobs but also help our existing businesses create jobs. We need to reward the productivity and innovation of North Carolina businesses and entrepreneurs, rather than giving away upfront cash to out-of-state corporations offering promises. We need to get into the energy business so we can be more energy independent and create a new economic engine.

We also must reform education to ensure that all of our children are learning the vital skills like reading and math and reward our best teachers. And we must have dual tracks for high school students to choose either a vocational path or to attend college. We can do better in educating our children.

We must foster an economic environment with less costly and burdensome regulations and taxes not only to compete for out-of-state jobs but also help our existing businesses create jobs. We need to reward the productivity and innovation of North Carolina businesses and entrepreneurs, rather than giving away upfront cash to out-of-state corporations offering promises. We need to get into the energy business so we can be more energy independent and create a new economic engine.

I will vote yes on the amendment because I believe that marriage is defined as between one man and one woman.

I do not support a tax increase. North Carolina has one of the worst unemployment rates in the country, so raising taxes during such economic peril does not make good sense. Rather than debate each year over whether or not to raise taxes as a temporary Band-Aid to fund a particular initiative, Republicans and Democrats need to work together to set the state's priorities while also making sure we are spending taxpayers' money as wisely as possible. Political bickering is not going to reform an education system that fails to graduate 22 percent of North Carolina's high school students. I feel passionately about reforming North Carolina's schools because we can and must do better.