Since the start of the State Legislature in January, the GOP majority has made time to debate bills about deer-hunting, bear traps, carrying concealed weapons at the State Fair and allowing magistrates to decide if they will marry same-sex couples.

But we haven’t had time to bring up a comprehensive economic development policy.

Republican Governor Pat McCrory has practically been begging his own party to give him funding for the Jobs Development Incentive Grant program to provide him an important tool in his economic development and recruitment toolbox.  But so far there haven’t been any committee hearings or floor debate on a comprehensive bill on setting a course for economic development and job growth in our state.

Two weeks ago, Volvo announced plans to construct a $500 million production facility near Charleston, South Carolina.  This is South Carolina’s second major car manufacturing facility.  The new plant will employ more than 4,000 workers but will also generate another 4,000 jobs created by supplier companies providing goods and materials to the production plant.

The State of South Carolina also announced to the New York financial markets that the State Treasurer of South Carolina would be requesting up to $120 million in economic development bonds to help Volvo offset construction and set-up costs for the new plant.

So through these news reports we learn that a $120 million economic development incentive package lured Volvo to the Palmetto State.  That $120 million incentive package is more than double the economic incentives that had been coordinated in North Carolina, according to published news reports.

Tea Party South Carolina has a conservative Legislature and well-known conservative Governor.  Yet, these same Republicans in our neighbor to the south don’t even blink for a moment when it comes to providing economic incentives for job creation and job growth.

Why?

The Republicans in South Carolina understand the dynamic energy and stimulus that such a large manufacturing facility can provide.  Their track record with BMW in the Upstate region has clearly paid dividends for their citizens.

The investment in high-tech, high-wage jobs improves their infrastructure, their education system, their ports, their parks, and their quality of life.

It’s not often that we look to our neighbors to the south with a jealous eye, but this very public rebuke is stinging for our political leadership, our business community and our economic development efforts.

Let’s put the conservative social agenda on hold for a few weeks.

Let’s bypass the ultra conservatives and let the business minded legislators from both parties work in a bi-partisan manner to pass a comprehensive economic development package that will provide the Governor, the Commerce Department and local economic developers the tools they need to make sure our state can compete in recruiting major corporations and industries to our state.

Creating jobs and economic growth should be our top priority in the North Carolina General Assembly.  It’s time to get to work on a jobs plan for North Carolina.  It’s the right time.  It’s the right thing to do.

Enough with the distracting right-wing social agenda, it’s time for Republicans and Democrats to roll up their sleeves and start working on a comprehensive economic development policy that includes incentives so North Carolina can compete in the Southeast, nationally and across the globe.

Rep. Brad Salmon (D-NCHD 51, Harnett and Lee Counties)

Member of the Main Street Democrat Legislative Caucus

AUTHORIZED AND PAID FOR BY THE NC MAIN STREET DEMOCRATS PAC