State of North Carolina Archives: on Budget & Economy
Cheri Beasley:
Invest in infrastructure; support small towns
Cheri will fight for investments in infrastructure and renewable energy to create good-paying jobs, increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour and expanding training, certification and apprenticeship programs.
We must also invest in affordable childcare to help ensure our businesses have the people they need to operate and enable parents to re-enter and remain in the workforce.
Cheri will fight for investments that support small businesses, entrepreneurs and agricultural producers and bring jobs back to North Carolina's small towns. That includes investing in transportation, affordable broadband, clean drinking
water and waste infrastructure. We also must invest in schools, health care, access to early childhood education and expand opportunities for higher education and readiness.
Source: 2022 N.C. Senate campaign website CheriBeasley.com
Dec 1, 2021
David Rouzer:
Fight to cut federal spending & size of government
I am a firm believer that less government is best. I will fight to cut federal spending, reform our entitlement programs, reform our regulatory agencies, and reform our tax code so that we can grow our economy and reduce our national debt, which
threatens to render us a third-rate nation subject to the whims of our enemies across the world.Our country is at a crossroads. Our national debt is now 100% of our Gross Domestic Product. History shows that once a country reaches this point,
it is especially difficult to achieve economic growth and our standard of living will begin to decline. The more we spend and the more we tax, the longer it will take to get our economy moving again. The quicker we reduce the size of government,
cut spending, reform our federal regulatory agencies, and reduce the tax burden on our small businesses and other job creators, the quicker the economy will turn around and jobs will be created.
Source: 2014 N.C. House campaign website, DavidRouzer.com
Oct 10, 2014
Elaine Marshall:
Cuts plus appropriate investments
Burr and Marshall quickly diverged from each other Saturday on how the government should handle the nation's economy and debt. Burr repeatedly highlighted the nation's $13 trillion debt that's expected to continue growing. He warned that the
US could soon be compared to countries like Greece that are buckling under the weight of their obligations. "The answer is: Let's stop spending," Burr said. He acknowledged after the event that Republicans have been part of the problem.
He voted several times for Bush administration budgets that drastically increased the debt. Marshall, however, said cuts alone wouldn't save the country's economy. "We've got to make appropriate investments--the same thing you would
do to make your business more profitable," Marshall said. "You can't cut your way into huge profitability."
Source: Sun-News coverage of 2010 N.C. Senate debate
Jun 26, 2010
Elaine Marshall:
Can't cut our way out of deficit; must grow our way out
Burr said, "We're $13 trillion in debt. The answer is to stop spending. Americans are saying 'enough'. The answer is, let's stop spending.""We can't cut our way out of it," Marshall replied. "We've got to grow our way out of this deficit."
Later, Burr said the question in the election is whether America gets its fiscal house in order or "be included with Greece and the rest of them," an allusion to European countries hobbled by debt.
Source: Charlotte Observer coverage of 2010 N.C. Senate debate
Jun 27, 2010
Elaine Marshall:
Send back the same people and we won't get out of this mess
North Carolina's three US Senate candidates agreed on one thing Saturday--Washington is broken. But in their first debate, the candidates clashed over who to blame and how to fix it.In a year when voters across the country are frustrated with
government, Burr set the tone early. "Washington has to change," said Burr, adding that Congress, "is not held in high regard. We don't deserve to be."
Marshall, North Carolina's Secretary of State, said she could help fix that. "[Americans]
see one side saying 'no' and the other side running scared," she said. "If we keep sending back the same people who got us into this mess, we're not going to change anything."
Marshall described
Burr as beholden to special interests. Marshall, who repeatedly described herself as "a strong independent voice," called him one of the top recipients of "big-oil dollars."
Source: Charlotte Observer coverage of 2010 N.C. Senate debate
Jun 27, 2010
Holly Grange:
Cut red tape; pass tort reform
Holly's plan cuts red tape and passes tort reform
that cracks down on trial lawyers and jackpot justice.
Source: 2020 N.C. Governor campaign website HollyGrangeNC.com
Jan 20, 2020
Marjorie K. Eastman:
Run our federal budget like we run our home budgets
In order to combat inflation, we must rein in federal spending, cut unnecessary programs, and start running our federal budget like we run our home budgets. Marjorie will stand in the way of wasteful spending at every turn to ensure that tax dollars
are only spent when absolutely necessary to keep more money in the pockets of North Carolinians. She will demand that the federal government be responsible stewards of American taxpayers' money.
Source: 2021 N.C. Senate campaign website MarjorieKEastman.com
Oct 20, 2021
Pat McCrory:
Tax & unemployment overhaul helped economic crisis recovery
Our spirit of resilience helped North Carolina recover from our economic crisis. When I took the oath of office in January, 2013, North Carolina taxes were among the highest in the Southeast. But working together, we passed historic tax reform that put
more money in people's paycheck. It was the first major overhaul of our tax system in nearly 80 years. And two years ago, because of our badly outdated unemployment insurance system our businesses owed the federal government $2.5 billion.
But drawing upon our resilience we reformed our unemployment program. We not only aligned our benefits with neighboring states, we also devised a plan to pay off our debt this year, a full 3 years ahead of schedule.
Now in North Carolina, not only do we balance our budget, but when we have a debt, we cut up the credit card and we pay it off. That's a lesson those in Washington need to learn.
Source: State of the State address to 2015 N.C. Legislature
Feb 4, 2015
Richard Burr:
The answer is: Let's stop spending
Burr and Marshall quickly diverged from each other Saturday on how the government should handle the nation's economy and debt. Burr repeatedly highlighted the nation's $13 trillion debt that's expected to continue growing. He warned that the
US could soon be compared to countries like Greece that are buckling under the weight of their obligations. "The answer is: Let's stop spending," Burr said. He acknowledged after the event that Republicans have been part of the problem.
He voted several times for Bush administration budgets that drastically increased the debt. Marshall, however, said cuts alone wouldn't save the country's economy. "We've got to make appropriate investments--the same thing you would
do to make your business more profitable," Marshall said. "You can't cut your way into huge profitability."
Source: Sun-News coverage of 2010 N.C. Senate debate
Jun 26, 2010
Richard Burr:
Stop spending or we'll end up like Greece
Burr said, "We're $13 trillion in debt. The answer is to stop spending. Americans are saying 'enough'. The answer is, let's stop spending.""We can't cut our way out of it," Marshall replied. "We've got to grow our way out of this deficit."
Later, Burr said the question in the election is whether America gets its fiscal house in order or "be included with Greece and the rest of them," an allusion to European countries hobbled by debt.
Source: Charlotte Observer coverage of 2010 N.C. Senate debate
Jun 27, 2010
Roy Cooper:
Fund infrastructure, start-ups, and job re-training
Cooper indicates support of the following principles regarding North Carolina's economic development.- Increase state funds for improving the state's transportation system, including major roadways, railways, and airports.
- Provide low interest
loans and tax credits for expanding, start-up, or relocating businesses.
- Increase state funding for programs to re-train unemployed workers.
- Provide tax incentives to attract out-of-state businesses to relocate to North Carolina.
Source: N.C. Legislative 1996 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1996
Sandy Smith:
We're $22 trillion in debt with no end in sight
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Stimulus better than market-led recovery"?
A: Strongly Oppose, spending is out of control, we are $22 trillion in debt with no end in sight.
Source: OnTheIssues.org interview of 2020 N.C. Senate candidates
Jul 21, 2019
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026