What would your top three priorities be if elected lieutenant governor of North Carolina?
3. Promote conservative legislative priorities such as protecting all taxpayers, promoting our property rights and promoting our freedoms
As lieutenant governor, I would first be a voice for our small businesses and small-business owners. The small-business people I hear from feel left out of the legislative process in our state government. Many believe they don’t have a voice. I will be that voice. As a small-business owner, I understand what it takes to grow a business and create jobs. I have faith in the private sector, and I know when government interference is reduced, small businesses thrive. Small businesses, along with the American entrepreneurial spirit, will lead our state back to prosperity.
Reducing burdensome taxes, starting with our personal income tax rate and our corporate tax rate, will help fix our economy. We have one of the highest corporate tax rates in the South. This hinders our ability to attract new businesses to our state, and I will fight to lower it. In addition to lowering the corporate tax rate, we need to lower the personal income tax rate, as the current tax rate hinders job creation for many small-business owners.
A large portion of the lieutenant governor’s duties is in the legislative branch. As for my legislative priorities, I will continue to do what I have done as a member of the House. I will promote core conservative values, such as protecting taxpayers, protecting our property rights and promoting our freedoms.
Given the current state of the economy, as lieutenant governor, what would you do to add jobs and boost the economy here?
We need to reform and fix the tax system. We need to reduce both the corporate tax rate and personal income tax rate to help many small-business owners. The present tax structure suppresses job creation. Our income tax and our corporate taxes are not competitive with our neighboring states.
In addition, we need to bring new jobs to the state. Now is the time to consider inland drilling and exploration for gas. I believe that "fracking" can be performed safely here in North Carolina. Now is the time to set the necessary regulations so, when gas companies are ready, we are ready too. This is about jobs and a new stream of revenue that will strengthen our economy and fuel our future energy needs.
Do you support the proposed constitution amendment defining marriage in North Carolina as between one man and one woman?
Marriage should be between one man and one woman. I support a constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage.
Do you support raising the sales tax in North Carolina to restore cuts in education funding?
Seeking a tax increase during this economic downturn is one of the last things we should do. We have some of the highest unemployment rates in decades. This is no time to raise the sales tax or any other tax.
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