Protesters Send Message to Lawmakers Considering Veto Override
Lawmakers return to Raleigh Monday for a special session to consider overriding Gov. Mike Easley's veto of the Goodyear incentives bill. One group staged a rally a day early to get its message across.
Posted — Updated"Americans for Prosperity-North Carolina" said the bill would simply be a matter of the government picking winners and losers. Organizers, along with Sen. Fred Smith (R-Johnston), met Sunday in front of the State Legislative building, stating their opposition to giving taxpayer money to private corporations.
Although the bill does not specifically refer to Goodyear, it would end up giving the company about $40 million in new state tax incentives to its Fayetteville plant. The company would have been eligible for the grants if it invested $200 million to upgrade its Fayetteville tire plant and limited any cuts to its work force.
Those in favor of the bill have said Cumberland County cannot afford to lose the Goodyear plant. Goodyear employs about 2,700 people in Fayetteville and is Cumberland County's largest private employer.
North Carolina's governor received veto power in 1997. Easley has issued eight vetoes since being in office; of which none have been overturned.
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