For years, the experts have pronounced the North Carolina economy "in transition." In many ways, they are right. The economy once based on the agricultural and manufacturing products produced in towns from Murphy to Manteo has transformed into an economy centered on sometimes abstract new ventures like high-tech, bio-tech, and even nano-tech. These changes speak to the fundamental shift that characterizes markets today: an economy once dependent on manual labor alone is now fed by knowledge, skills, creativity, and innovation. This new paradigm plus population consolidation and urbanization have together given rise to startling affluence in centers of prosperity like the Charlotte Metro Area, the Triad and the Research Triangle Park. But the "new economy" promise of greater efficiency and lower costs sounds empty to those families who have seen their livelihoods outsourced.

Partly because of the textile, furniture, and other manufacturing jobs North Carolina has lost over the past two decades, we continue to lag behind the rest of the nation on three key measures of well-being: median household income, the poverty rate, and the proportion of residents lacking health insurance. Overall, we have the 14th highest poverty rate among the fifty states. This is unacceptable economically and morally.

The best way I know to fight job losses, improve our quality of life, and stimulate the economy is to reduce the demand government places on the private sector - so the private sector can focus on what it does best, creating jobs and economic growth. My economic plan is grounded in these principles:

• Lower Taxes. The right tax policy reduces burdens on working families and small businesses so people can keep more of their own money to spend, save, and invest. In a recent speech on the Senate floor, I criticized the Liberal Democrats for not using a record surplus to provide tax relief to our citizens.
• Control Spending. Every Republican Senator and 30 Republican House Members united with me last session to sponsor a Taxpayer Protection Act which controls the dramatic growth of government by limiting the growth rate to the sum of inflation and population increases. Click Here
• Eliminate Needless Regulatory Barriers. We all understand we need clean water and clean air. But we can't afford to force our business leaders to be more focused on jumping through red-tape than delivering the goods and services which make our economy strong and competitive.
• Enforce the Rule of Law. North Carolina has over four hundred thousand illegal immigrants. We are paying to educate sixty-seven thousand of them in our schools - at a cost of five hundred million dollars. Securing our borders is about securing our future and our freedom. Click Here
• Build and Maintain Good Roads. Republicans believe that investing in good roads is critical for economic success. Liberal Democrats recently raised the gas tax 10% for the "Highway Trust Fund," while at the same time continuing to raid the Trust Fund to feed big government. As is too often the case, the truth is different from the Liberal Democrats' press releases. Click Here
• Protect Private Property Rights. The Kelo decision took private property from one person and gave it to another person. I know some good politicians and some bad politicians. I know some good lawyers and some bad lawyers. I don't know ANY politician or lawyer who should be able to take away your home for economic development. Click Here
• Provide Affordable Healthcare. We can take Medicaid off the backs of the counties, use health information technology to reduce medical error and cost, reform medical liability laws and offer health savings accounts to make healthcare consumer-driven. Click Here

A farmer understands that he has to create the right environment for plants to grow. Our government needs to understand that removing the tension between the private sector and public sector creates the right environment for job growth.