Goverrnor McCrory Fact Checks for Gubernatorial Debate Part 2 | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: This is the second installment of a multi-part series best explaining the philosophical contrasts between a rouge state attorney general and a dutiful governor seeking the highest elected office in the state of north Caroline. The other posts in this multipart series can be found here.

    Press Release:

Governor McCrory is Taking On North Carolina's Substance Abuse, Mental Health Challenges

    Governor Pat McCrory established the North Carolina Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force, improve the lives of citizens with mental illness and substance use disorders. (Jason DeBruyn, "N.C. hospitals applaud McCrory's mental health task force plan," Triangle Business Journal, 7/16/2015)

• "Governor's Task Force Wants To Address Treatment, Not Jail, For People struggling with Mental Illness, Addiction" (Alicia Banks, Fayetteville Observer, 5/19/2016)

    Governor McCrory signed legislation that will make it easier for those struggling with substance abuse to have access to lifesaving medication.

• "Gov. Pat McCrory today signed into law legislation making Naloxone, a life-saving opioid drug that has saved 3,300 North Carolinians..." (Paul Woolverton, "Gov. McCrory signs law to make anti-overdose medicine more available, hopes to save lives," Fayetteville Observer, 6/20/2016)
• Governor McCrory: This addiction issue is destroying kids, and adults and families and communities... Let's get this done and let's save some lives." (Paul Woolverton, "Gov. McCrory signs law to make anti-overdose medicine more available, hopes to save lives," Fayetteville Observer, 6/20/2016)

As Attorney General, Roy Cooper Approved Agreement For Optional Toll Lanes On I-77

    As attorney general, Roy Cooper reviewed and approved the contract adding optional toll lanes to I-77 corridor.

• Transportation Secretary Nick Tennyson: "(The contract) was developed through meetings in which representatives from the Attorney General's office were actively involved... they had the opportunity to raise objections or ask questions at any time since those conversations began in 2012." (Jim Morrill, "McCrory administration says Roy Cooper bears some responsibility for I-77 toll lane contract," The Charlotte Observer, 1/27/2016)
• "A number of attorneys, including the NC Attorney General's Office, have reviewed the documents and all issued favorable legal opinions for the I-77 project as part of the due diligence process." (Press release: "NCDOT signs contract to provide reliable travel time along heavily congested I-77," North Carolina Department of Transportation, 6/26/2014)
• "Spokesman Jamal Little declined to say whether Cooper would cancel the contract. " (Jim Morrill, "I-77 could take a toll on Gov. Pat McCrory," The Charlotte Observer, 1/22/2016)

After Roy Cooper Let NC's Commitment To Education and Teachers Slip, Governor McCrory Is Reversing The Trend

    As a state legislator, Roy Cooper reduced education's share of the budget. ("Post-legislative budget summary," Office of State Budget and Management, January 2014)

    Cooper was a willing accomplice as the education budget was slashed by $1 billion between 2008-2011, and Democrat Governor Perdue's cut teachers and froze pay (Department of Public Instruction; Office of State Budget and Management)

    Between 2002 and 2012, North Carolina teacher pay fell behind more than any other state in the country: "North Carolina leads the nation in the decline of average salaries at 15.7 percent between 2002-12." (Op-Ed: Mebane Rash, "Lifting the status of teachers," Burlington Times-News, 12/15/2013)

    After years of cuts, Governor McCrory is reversing the trend, increasing the education's share of the budget to 57%. ("Post-legislative budget summary," Office of State Budget and Management, January 2014; Appropriations Act of 2015," House Bill 97/S.L. 2015- 241, North Carolina General Assembly, Signed by Gov. McCrory 9/18/2015)

    After the steepest decline in teacher pay, North Carolina teacher pay has increased by more and faster than any other state since 2013 under Governor McCrory. (Report: "Rankings of the States 2015 and Estimates of School Statistics 2016, National Education Association, 6/13/2016)

After Years Of Pay Decline, Governor McCrory Is Raising Pay For North Carolina's Educators

    Under Governor McCrory, North Carolina teacher pay has increased faster than any other state. (Report: "Rankings of the States 2015 and Estimates of School Statistics 2016, National Education Association, 6/13/2016)

    Under Governor McCrory, average teacher pay is now $47,800 plus benefits, and his plan would raise it to $50,000 plus benefits. (Office of State Budget & Management; "Quick facts: North Carolina," U.S. Census Bureau)

North Carolina's Economy, Job Growth Continues To Outperform The Region And The Nation

    Under Governor McCrory's leadership, North Carolina's economy is among the fastest-growing in the nation.

• North Carolina's Gross Domestic Product (G.D.P.) recently posted a 15.2% increase since 2013, one of the fastest in the United States (Press release: "Information industry led growth across states in the fourth quarter," Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, 6/14/2016)
• "The GDP report was consistent with the state's more rapid job growth during 2015 and suggests N.C. has reclaimed its position as one of the faster growing states in the nation (Jason deBruyn, "N.C. GDP growth outpaces nation," Triangle Business Journal, 6/14/2016)

    Since Governor McCrory took office, North Carolina has added more than 280,000 new jobs, and is adding jobs faster than the national average. (Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), Demand Data Driven Delivery System, NC Department of Commerce, accessed 6/17/2016)

Under Governor McCrory, The Unemployment Rate Has Plummeted Across North Carolina

    North Carolina's unemployment rate is at an 8-year low, one of the fastest recoveries in the country, and below the national average. ("North Carolina unemployment rate drops to 5.1 percent in May," WRAL, 6/17/2016, "Unemployment rates for states," U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

• "North Carolina Unemployment Lowest Since 2008" (Jason deBruyn, "North Carolina unemployment lowest since 2008 ," Triangle Business Journal, 5/20/2016)

    North Carolina continues to be one of the most competitive states in the nation for job growth. (John Hood, "NC ranks 9th in job creation," Carolina Journal, 8/24/2015; Press release, "Regional State Employment and Unemployment," U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6/17/2016)

    Since Governor McCrory took office, the unemployment rate is down in every one of North Carolina's 100 counties. (Press release: "North Carolina's unemployment figures released," N.C. Department of Commerce, 6/17/2016)

• "County unemployment rates have fallen faster outside of Wake and Mecklenburg counties on average." (Press release: "New data shows NC unemployment lower in all 100 counties under Governor McCrory," Office of the Governor, 6/17/2016)

Governor McCrory: Making North Carolina The Most Veteran-Friendly State In the Country

    Governor McCrory created the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, a cabinet-level agency dedicated to serving and advocating for North Carolina's sizeable servicemember and veteran population. (Press Release: " Governor McCrory Announces New Cabinet Members," Office of the Governor, 10/20/2015)

• "The 2015 Veteran Annual Report shows North Carolina ranked 2nd in the nation for the most improved rate of servicing veterans, 4th nationally in successful claims awards for N.C. Veterans... " (Press Release: "Veteran population and economic impact growing again in North Carolina," Office of the Governor, 1/28/2016)

    Governor McCrory is working to help veterans get jobs, cutting the Veteran unemployment rate in half. (Press Release: "Governor McCrory Announces New Initiative to Coordinate Veterans Services," Office of the Governor, 11/10/2014)

• "Since 2013, the state's jobless rate for veterans has been cut in half, from 6.2 percent to 3.1 percent, which is far below state unemployment." (Laura Leslie, "McCrory: State agencies need to hire more veterans, WRAL, 4/20/2016)

    Governor McCrory started and expanded North Carolina's veteran treatment courts to better assist veterans who get into trouble with the law, such as substance abuse and non-violent offenses. (Anne Blythe, "NC officials tout veterans treatment court," The News & Observer, 5/23/2015)

• "'We all thank God for this opportunity,' said Prentiss Mars, an air force veteran who was put in the program after a drunk driving charge. 'If it had not been for this, I'd probably be in a jail cell, angry at the world, wondering what I did to deserve that.'"(Colin Campbell, "NC to expand veterans treatment court after first graduates succeed," The News & Observer, 11/12/2014)

• Contact: The Pat McCrory Committee
•     media@patmccrory.com