| Legislative
Bulletin |
MARCH
23, 2001 |
 |
'Any state can make progress
in good times.
Only the great states
can make progress in tough times.'
Governor tells business
leaders 'we cannot let an
economic shortfall become
an educational shortfall' |
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Zaytoun with Gov.
and Mrs. Mike Easley. Zaytoun, a boyhood friend of the governor's, introduced
Easley at the luncheon
|
North Carolina cannot allow a slowdown in the economy to slow
down its drive to improve the public schools, Gov. Mike Easley
said Wednesday during his luncheon address at NCCBI's 59th
Annual Meeting. He challenged business leaders attending the
event to "resist the temptation to hunker down and wait
for better times" before pressing ahead with new
educational improvements.
"We're in tough economic times in North Carolina and the
nation," the governor told the roughly 1,100 business,
political, educational and civic leaders attending the
luncheon. "But it's not the budget that bothers me so
much. It's the attitude that bothers me. We must maintain that
can-do attitude. Any state can make progress in good times.
Only the great states can make progress in tough times."
He said there is much at risk. "What took decades to
build can be lost overnight if we stop trying" to raise
academic achievement and accountability in the K-12 school
system, Easley said. "We have to resist the temptation to
hunker down and wait for better times" to continue the
state's push to become first in the nation in public education
by the end of this decade, the goal set by former Gov. Jim
Hunt.
Put simply, "we cannot let an economic shortfall become
an educational shortfall," Easley said.
In his other remarks, the new governor hewed fairly closely to
familiar themes and approaches to public policy. Because of
the tight budget, he did emphasize that new tactics and
efficiencies must be attempted to save money. Easley make it
clear, however, that he does not intend to dismantle existing
economic development programs in the name of saving tax
dollars.
The governor recently appointed a blue-ribbon commission to
recommend eliminating various tax preferences but he reassured
the NCCBI audience that he understands that most of those
preferences have sound public policy justifications.
"We're not going to end tax preferences that support
jobs," he said.
Young Executives hear speakers
Agriculture Commissioner Meg Scott
Phipps told about 40 members of NCCBI’s Young Executives
Forum Wednesday morning that North Carolinians should buy food
locally to ensure quality control and to keep the “business
of agriculture” in the state.
She likened the peril of
farmers in North Carolina to the old adage of a tree falling
in the forest. “If the trees fall one by one, do we hear it
or do we wait until the entire forest is gone?,”
Phipps asked. “That’s how it is in North Carolina.
If our farmers go out of business one by one, we will be
getting all of our food from over seas. We have to pay
attention before it is too late.”
Sue Cole, president of U.S. Trust Company of North Carolina,
gave the young executives tips on how to successfully move up
the corporate ladder. There are two types of people, she
said – leaders and managers. “Leaders are visionary,
they care about people and they are not afraid to take
risks,” she said.
Sen. Scott Thomas (D-Craven) discussed his life in public
service and the importance of business leaders getting
involved. He said many times the only people who
find it financially feasible to become involved in politics
are retired or wealthy.
“While it is appropriate that some of our legislators fall
into these categories, it is important that we have a broader
representation,” Thomas said, adding that session limits
would help people decide whether or not they will run for
public office. By placing a cap on the number of days in
short and long sessions, people – especially those who own
and operate businesses – would be more willing to serve.
If you would
like more information about the Forum, please call Julie
Campbell at the NCCBI office: 919-836-1402.
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