Economic Development Reforms Presented

Yesterday marked our first major presentation of proposed reforms in how state government goes about the peoples' business. Our press conference unveiled our extensive set of recommendations on how we go about conducting economic development in North Carolina. While there's no secret about my opposition to the current system of giving away hundreds of millions of dollars to a select group of large international corporations, it's incumbent on any candidate to not just say what's wrong but tell voters how we can do better. The focus of the proposals is to provide greater openness, accountability, and fairness to the system of economic development. I encourage you to go to our web site and read, analyze and comment on our proposals.

Tomorrow I hit the trail again (having logged over a thousand miles last week in OrrForce One). We've got fundraisers in Hendersonville and in the Cane River Valley of Yancey County. There will be stops along the way in Charlotte and Gastonia, hours devoted to the quieter aspects of campaigning, and hopefully a little time for relaxation and contemplation of the beauty of fall in the mountains. After reading this afternoon about the untimely death of Bob McGehee, the CEO of Progress Energy, at age 64 from a stroke, all of this hard charging campaigning is put in perspective. I hit 61 this week and as anyone moving quickly towards being eligible for social security knows, we realize the need to value every day and every opportunity to do something good - for our fellow citizens and for ourselves.