McCrory says he is 'happy' to speak to controversial group of lawmakers
Gov. Pat McCrory said he is happy that he is speaking to the American Legislative Exchange Council later this month, despite the criticism sometimes leveled at the group for pushing policies that favor corporations.
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Better known as ALEC, the group sometimes comes under fire for giving business executives direct access to lawmakers, who often return to their states with model legislation favored by those corporate interests. The group has become something of a bogeyman for the political left, who see it as pushing a business-focused, right-leaning agenda.
McCrory said he has no concerns about speaking to the group. The late-July meeting, to be held in Dallas, is also scheduled to hear from Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt and Arthur Laffer, an economist well-known for championing supply-side economic theories.
"I speak to many groups that invite me," McCrory said Tuesday. "I'm speaking to a major teachers' group this afternoon where I'm going to talk about good education policy that my administration ... is recommending."
Pressed on the question of whether traveling to ALEC, which is often in national headlines, might be more controversial than speaking to a group of teachers, McCrory said he was pleased to have the opportunity.
"Is that the group in Texas I'm speaking to?" he asked. Told that it was, he continued, "No, I look forward to speaking to legislators across the nation and (letting) them know what we're doing in North Carolina. I'm going to be talking about the policies we're initiating that have reduced the unemployment rate. ... I'm going to be proud to talk about the policy we implemented and maybe other states can learn from us."
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