Small Business Chooses Governor McCrory Over Roy Cooper | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Raleigh, N.C.     Today, Governor McCrory accepted the endorsement from the state's largest small business association during a morning press conference in Charlotte. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), representing thousands of small businesses in the Tar Heel state, overwhelmingly voted to endorse Pat McCrory for governor because of his strong record of job-creation and enacting policies that help small businesses start up and grow.

    "In three short years, Governor McCrory has delivered more for North Carolina small businesses than the previous three governors combined," said Gregg Thompson, state director of NFIB's North Carolina chapter. "From cutting taxes to fighting government overregulation to opposing ObamaCare, Governor McCrory has done more than just show he understands what is needed to help small businesses start up and thrive in North Carolina, he's actually done it and gotten results."

    "Helping small businesses start up and grow is critical to the Carolina Comeback," said Governor Pat McCrory. "Small business owners and their employees work hard each and every day. They deserve a governor who will work just as hard in state government to support them. I am honored to receive this important endorsement because even though we've accomplished a lot over the past three and a half years, there is still more to do to ensure North Carolina remains one of the fastest growing economies in the country."

    Since Governor McCrory took office, he has pursued an aggressive agenda to rebuild North Carolina's economy and create private sector jobs. To date, North Carolina has added over 300,000 net new jobs since January 2013- including over 30,000 since April 2016 - and unemployment has fallen to a 9-year low. Governor McCrory accelerated payment of North Carolina's $2.5 billion debt owed to the federal government for unemployment benefits, saving businesses hundreds of millions of dollars in payroll taxes each year. The governor has also delivered $4.7 billion in across the board tax relief to North Carolina families and businesses including the middle-class, improving North Carolina's tax climate more than any other state in the country, according to the Tax Foundation.

    Thompson added, "While Washington, D.C. bureaucrats are imposing a record number of regulations that make it harder for small businesses to succeed, Governor McCrory is taking the opposite approach. Governor McCrory is challenging the federal government's overreaching regulations and taking steps to fight overregulation at the state level to give businesses the certainty they need to hire more workers and grow."

    In 2013, Governor McCrory signed a major bill to fight government overregulation at the state level, House Bill 74. Now, rules must reviewed for effectiveness and need at least once every 10 years, or they will automatically expire. According to the John Locke Foundation, over one-tenth of the rules reviewed so far have been slated to be removed. Governor McCrory has also sued the federal government to block overreaching regulations like the EPA's power rules which would lead to higher energy costs for families and businesses.

    Small businesses have led the way for North Carolina's economic recovery since the recession with over 68,000 new businesses starting in North Carolina in 2015, a 19% increase over 2012. Tourism has reached record levels in recent months, Forbes Magazine ranked North Carolina the #2 best state for business and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation ranked North Carolina among the nation's leading states for high-tech jobs, innovation and entrepreneurship.

    Today's endorsement puts the considerable grassroots support of the state's small businesses behind the governor's campaign. Small business owners and their employees vote in high numbers and are known for recruiting friends, family members and acquaintances to vote.

    NFIB will encourage its 7,500 members in North Carolina to help turn out the influential small business voting bloc on Election Day.

• NFIB is the nation's leading small-business association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small and independent business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB's powerful network of grassroots activists sends their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America's free enterprise system. NFIB's mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. More information is available online at www.NFIB.com/newsroom.

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