CNBC Best In Business Rankings Highlight Need For Greater Investment In Public Schools, Infrastructure
CNBC’s new rankings of the top states for business reveal that North Carolina has dropped to #2 behind Virginia after holding the top slot for two years running. The report credited the change to Virginia’s $2.5 billion investment in public schools, its “solid infrastructure” and “shovel-ready sites” for new companies, and its legislature’s opposition to Youngkin’s abortion ban that “would have hurt the state’s ability to attract younger workers to the state.”
Attorney General Josh Stein has prioritized investments in public education and infrastructure, fighting for North Carolina’s public schools to be fully funded and directing settlement funds towards broadband expansion in rural North Carolina. He has also consistently fought back against restrictions on women’s reproductive freedom.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson has said public school funding “needs to be slashed” and mocked Stein’s support of infrastructure investment. He has made no secret of his support for “banning abortion without exceptions,” going as far as to say that abortions happen because women aren’t “responsible enough to keep your skirt down.”
CNBC’s reporting also highlights that compromise and bipartisanship has paid dividends in Virginia. Attorney General Stein has a record of working with Democrats and Republicans to deliver for North Carolinians, including ending the rape kit backlog, strengthening our laws to protect kids from sex crimes, prosecuting drug traffickers, and tackling the fentanyl crisis. Electing Mark Robinson would lead to complete Republican control and exacerbate concerns from leaders like Christopher Chung, the CEO of the nonpartisan Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, who are worried that culture war legislation would impact people’s desire to open and grow businesses or come to work in North Carolina.
“Thanks to Governor Cooper, North Carolina had been best in business for two years running, but this change proves that future success is not a given,” said Morgan Hopkins, a spokeswoman for the campaign. “Mark Robinson’s divisive and chaotic agenda already has business leaders on high alert. We need a Governor like Josh Stein who will improve infrastructure, support public education, and protect personal freedoms, not someone like Robinson who would prioritize job-killing culture wars.”
Throughout the campaign, Josh Stein has met with small business leaders to learn about their concerns and priorities in North Carolina’s economy, and has visited community colleges across the state to highlight the importance of building the workforce of tomorrow. Last month, Stein launched “Business Leaders for Stein,” a coalition of small business owners and economic development leaders who support his vision for a safer, stronger, and more prosperous North Carolina.
Meanwhile, Mark Robinson continues to promote a divisive culture war agenda, including recently saying that Republicans were “right about HB2.” These remarks have alarmed business owners, who believe the November election “could determine if …business blossoms or tanks” and consider “if they want to wait until after November” to launch their businesses.
