#NCGA: Speaker’s team issues talking points to help spin NC Competes Act & gas tax hike
Our cadre of spies on Jones Street has struck pay-dirt once again. We have in our clutches a March 6 email authored by Mollie Young, House Speaker Tim Moore’s director of communications. The missive is an apparent effort to help House members and other interested parties “sell” the controversial NC Competes corporate welfare package and gas tax increase to a skeptical public:
[…] Topline Messaging
* The House passed a bill to keep North Carolina a competitive state to do business in: tomorrow’s good paying jobs will come from companies who are able to expand in North Carolina.
* The House is working with the Senate to stabilize important infrastructure funding, and keep our roads and bridges safe.
Special Messaging Focus: NC Competes
* Use the term Economic Development Tools not Incentives.
* Avoid reference to dollar amounts. Only mention them if you are specifically asked.
* Gives North Carolina the economic development tools needed to entice outside businesses to come here, and encourage in-state businesses to expand and create jobs.
* Today, companies have global choices of where to set up shop. We need the right tools to get businesses to invest here, employ here, and grow here.
* Pro-growth policies have improved North Carolina’s economy and job market – let’s continue on that path:
· The North Carolina Unemployment Rate<https://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=z1ebjpgk2654c1_&met_y=unemployment_rate&idim=state:ST3700000000000:ST4500000000000&fdim_y=seasonality:S&hl=en&dl=en#!ctype=l&strail=false&bcs=d&nselm=h&met_y=unemployment_rate&fdim_y=seasonality:S&scale_y=lin&ind_y=false&rdim=country&idim=state:ST3700000000000&ifdim=country&hl=en_US&dl=en&ind=false> improved from a dismal 8.9% in 2012 to 5.5% in 2015.
· Since 2013, the private sector has been able to create 200,000 new jobs.
· North Carolina is one of the fastest growing economies in the country, ranked 15th in the nation by Business Insider<http://www.businessinsider.com/state-economic-growth-rankings-2014-8#15-north-carolina-36>.
* The Job GRO program is performance-based, accountable and effective. No money is disbursed to a company until the Secretary of Revenue certifies the amount of state withholdings from the newly created jobs.
* Job GRO commitments are being extended to 2020 – giving companies more certainty that North Carolina is, and will stay, a pro-business state.
* More help for our most economically distressed communities: HB 117 has built-in support for Tier 1 and Tier 2 Counties, regardless of where a major project chooses to locate.
If pressed on the Single-Sales Factor:
* The single-sales factor is one of the most essential recruiting tools we can put in our tool box.
* Major manufacturers seek out states with this standard, and look to plant roots in those locations.
* With our neighboring states adopting this standard, North Carolina needs to remain a competitive choice in the Southeast.
If pressed on the Passenger Air Carriers Tax:
* Extends current agreement with passenger airline companies to only charge up to $2.5 Million in tax on commercial jet fuel.
* Without legislative action, North Carolina would have the 5th highest tax on jet fuel in the country.
* 35 States have already moved to completely exclude commercial jet fuel from taxation.
* The airline hub in Charlotte is a vital part of our state economy. The hub creates jobs, generates tourism, increases commerce, and even works as recruiting tool for academia and business. It is crucial that North Carolina maintains a competitive economy for the airline industry.
Digital Flyers
Pick out your favorite and use the flyer on your Twitter, Facebook page, or in a Newsletter to supporters.
Click on each image to see it larger and to download.
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Women’s History Month – graphics coming next week!
* #NCcompetes when discussing economic development, new business projects, and HB 117.
* #saferoads when discussing infrastructure, transportation, and SB 20.
________________________________
OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER
(She left out one very important Twitter hash-tag for use in discussing some of the latest big decisions in the General Assembly: #SMH.)
Pay close attention to see HOW MANY times this stuff shows up verbatim in various members’ speeches and newsletters as well as drive-by media reporting.
So the Speakers office is helping out those who vote on the liberal Big Government side of these issues, not the limited government conservatives who vote on the side of these issues that represents the GOP platform. I wonder how much having a Chapel Hill liberal as the chief of staff in Moore’s office influences such things,
I would love to be running strategy and writing ads for conservative challengers to the Big Government Republicans who voted for these liberal policies. The ads almost write themselves. In a GOP primary, they are not going to be able to defend these big government tax and spend policies. With a good challenger, decently financed, those who supported these policies will be road kill in a primary.
Points of concern I agree.
It occurs to me… if you actually have a solid principle behind “why” your position is what it is, and you actually believe it and are willing to explain and defend that principle…. all this nuance and spin and wordsmithing becomes unnecessary.
Let’s make it real simple. The tool the Governor and his economic development team needs is not corporate welfare, but universally lower taxes for all. Rich, poor, business, wage earners. The next tool is to reduce the number of business regulations. Do we really need to regulate so many professions? Do we really need every business to pay a privilege tax if they are not in a regulated profession? No, we do not.
Walt-in-Durham
Absolutely, well said. 🙂
(Man, sometimes I “really” wish this site employed a “like” or “upvote” button – I would give you one).
((But HEY… no facebook – that’s not what I meant, at ALL)) 🙂
More corporate welfare? Another tax hike?
Has the useless GOP officially ditched its Platform and principles, or does that happen at this year’s State Convention?
Here’s another discouraging article on the useless GOP’s uselessness:
http://www.triadconservative.com/2015/03/republican-betrayal-on-religious-liberty-and-marriage-in-nc.html
Did I mention that the GOP is useless?