Governor McCrory Outlines Ambitious Agenda to Continue Economic Revival

2015 priorities include jobs, education, transportation and health care.

Governor Pat McCrory presented a broad set of reforms and policies in his 2015 agenda. The governor focused on reforms and policies that will create more jobs, grow our economy, and strengthen our education system for students and teachers, increase government efficiencies, build better roads, and put patients first when it comes to health care.

“Our economy is improving and our state is growing stronger and stronger with each week that passes,” said Governor McCrory. “We have had great success over the past two years, but there is still a lot of work to be done and that’s exactly what we will do.”

Governor McCrory will address priorities in several areas, including:

Jobs and the Economy

• Pass “NC Competes” job recruitment proposals that:

       – helps create long-term, sustainable jobs and attract investment.

       – encourages mid- and large-scale manufacturing.

       – leverages our university research advantage to attract new venture capital.

       – recognizes the importance of all regions in our state with emphasis on areas of high unemployment.

• Pass the Historic Preservation Tax Credit to help revitalize our main streets and town centers.

Education

• Raise teacher base pay to $35,000.
• Eliminate unneeded testing by the next year so teachers can teach and students can learn.
• Bring Wi-Fi to our classrooms and increase digital learning opportunities for both children and adults.
• Expedite teacher certification by recognizing an individual’s experience and subject expertise.
• Increase the commercialization of university research.

Transportation

• Focus on transportation projects that relieve congestion, improve safety and connect the economy in all parts of the state.
• Approve $1.2 billion bond to jump start transportation projects that are environmental permit-ready.
• Support our ports by securing federal money for dredging.
• Protect and stabilize our existing transportation revenue streams.

Infrastructure and Project Phoenix

• Renovate aging buildings through a $1.2-1.4 billion general bond proposal.
• Project Phoenix will revitalize our crumbling buildings and tear down buildings that cannot be saved.
• Project Phoenix will save taxpayer money, increase workplace safety and increase productivity.

Health and Public Safety

• Pass Healthy NC – physician-led Medicaid reform:

       – Healthy NC puts patients first, controls costs for taxpayers and incentivizes providers to coordinate care.

       – Healthy NC was developed in partnership with doctors, patients and health care providers across the state.

       – Healthy NC will allow patients to rely on one visit to coordinate care – from treating an ear ache for a child, setting a broken bone or treating high blood pressure.

• Explore health care options for the uninsured that protect North Carolina taxpayers and require personal and financial responsibility from those who would be covered.
• Fighting drugs and gang activity.
• Addressing retention and safety issues for corrections officers.

Increase Efficiency and Improve Operations

• Reduce costly workers compensation claims that have cost the taxpayers $896 million dollars during the past six years, or about $150 million annually
• Transfer oversight of workers compensation for state employees to the Office of State Human Resources in order to:

– Responsibly settle cases over five years old, which could save up to $17 million over the next two years.

– Launch an effort to stop abuse and fraud, which is estimated to be directly related to 40% of the costs of claims.

• Create a new cabinet-level Department of Information Technology to increase accountability and streamline IT operations.
• Transfer the North Carolina Zoo and state aquariums, museums and our state park from the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources to the Department of Cultural Resources, which manages attractions as part of its mission.
• Transfer several agencies from the Department of Administration to where they are better aligned.

Veterans and Military

• Implement an efficient and well-coordinated process to meet the needs of active duty personnel and veterans and save taxpayer money.
• Create the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, which will be responsible for:

– Protecting and fighting for our military bases.

– Promoting the health and safety of our veterans and military families.

– Helping our veterans get jobs.

– Working with the unique needs of base communities.