Gov Perdue Outlines Priorities to Deal with Economic Crisis

Press Release

Gov Perdue Outlines Priorities to Deal with Economic Crisis

Candid Assessment in State of State Focuses on jobs, Education and Transforming Government to Get N.C. On Track

Gov. Bev Perdue tonight delivered a candid assessment of the challenges North Carolina faces in the midst of the global economic crisis, and what the priorities and tough choices must be to move the state ahead.

Even in this troubled economic environment, Gov. Perdue said, she will focus on job creation and retention, retraining for those who have lost their jobs and investing in the public schools. Education, Gov. Perdue stressed, will be the state's top priority and said there will be increased funding for the work that goes on in public school classrooms.

"We must, as the saying goes, ‘not eat our seed corn,' but continue to move forward on education to keep North Carolina competitive in the global marketplace," Gov. Perdue said. "Yes, even in these tough times we will increase per-pupil spending in our public schools."

"Education is the engine that propels North Carolina's future. It cannot be sacrificed," Gov. Perdue said. "This is the time to stand up to the sweet seduction of special interests, the temptations of politically popular pork barrel spending, and end the practice of backroom dealing."

She called on the General Assembly, and all North Carolinians, to help address the state's most urgent needs, focus on getting the economy moving again and bring accountability, transparency and efficiency to state government.

"I will do what ever it takes to pay our bills; keep our kids healthy and in school; make sure that when our seniors need care they can get it; keep prisoners locked up and our people safe; and create jobs and provide ways for those who are out of work to learn new skills," she said.

It was Gov. Perdue's first State of the State Address and the first time a woman addressed a joint session of the General Assembly as North Carolina's governor.

Gov. Perdue said she would work to help families facing the loss of jobs and their homes. "As elected officials, it is our moral responsibility to work together and help our citizens restart their lives," she said. "By making the tough choices, by taking decisive action to meet our challenges, we can, and will, be part of the solutions we need to move North Carolina forward."

Other key elements of her education effort include focusing on ways to keep students in school and not dropping out and making the state's education system more accountable while cutting back on unnecessary testing.

The trust of citizens in government must be restored, she said, and that is why she has adopted a "zero tolerance policy" when it comes to failures to properly serve the public.

"My ‘zero tolerance policy' in mental health, the corrections system and throughout state government in general, will sometimes be painful because I am exposing weaknesses and individual actions that are unacceptable and wrong," Gov. Perdue said. "I believe ‘zero tolerance' is how we find and correct the weaknesses that put people's lives at risk and undermine faith in government."

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