Greensboro-High Point Named Top Small Metro Region; Two Rural Communities Also Take Top Spots

Gov. Mike Easley announced today that North Carolina placed first in the nation in Site Selection magazine’s annual ranking of states with small metropolitan areas having the most new and expanded corporate facilities. The Greensboro-High Point area in Guilford County was named the No. 1 small metro region. Lexington-Thomasville in Davidson County and Statesville-Mooresville in Iredell County swept the first- and second-place spots for rural areas.

“The latest Site Selection ranking proves that it is not just the large cities that benefit from North Carolina’s investments in education, workforce development and the state’s top-ranked business climate,” Easley said. “As industries recognize they can find the 21st century training programs and qualified workers they need in all communities across the entire state, we gain jobs and effectively compete to lead in the global economy.”

U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre’s bill to create jobs and fight poverty has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. A new regional economic development commission will place a federal focus on job creation, worker training, entrepreneurship and business development.

Congressman McIntyre stated, “This is an exciting day for economic development in North Carolina and the southeastern United States! Passage of this important bill brings us one step closer to helping bring jobs and economic development to our area. This bill will help with resources and capital, so that we can attract jobs and improve lives.”

Jackie Calmes, Wall Street Journal
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As smooth-talking Mitt Romney dashes into North Carolina today for a fundraiser, he has a new ad in Iowa and New Hampshire that stumbles on the perfect metaphor for his campaign: Romney running.

His latest dash is away from embattled U.S. Senator Larry E. Craig.

While other Republicans, including GOP presidential rival John McCain, are calling for Craig to resign, Romney has yet to give the same advice to the man who served as his campaign’s co-chairman in the Senate.

But that’s not the only thing Romney is running from.

House Energy Package Promotes Renewables, Efficiency, & Protects National Security

North Carolina Democrats in are making America energy independent, curbing global warming, and developing America's economy through renewable energy. North Carolina Democrats joined a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives Saturday evening to pass two landmark energy bills.

The bills making up the House Energy Independence Initiative - H.R. 3221, New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act and H.R. 2776, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 - will make historic investments in biofuels and new energy technologies, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and strengthen research and diplomatic efforts on climate change to protect the planet.

"America must lead the world in the use, development, and production of renewable energies to reduce global warming and end our reliance on foreign oil. Our Nation's energy policy must be focused on securing our long-term energy future and being good stewards of God's creation, not protecting the profits of Big Oil companies," said Rep. Heath Shuler. "These energy bills will strengthen our national security, create jobs, and protect consumers."

U.S. Representative Melvin L. Watt (D-NC), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, today announced a hearing to consider the implications of the growing use of credit-based insurance scores for consumers. Specifically, the hearing will review a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report to Congress entitled, "Credit-Based Insurance Scores: Impacts on Consumers of Automobile Insurance" and examine its key findings. The hearing will also study the efforts underway by the States to regulate the use of credit-based insurance scores.

Republican State Auditor Les Merritt’s website explains that the Auditor’s office exists “to ensure that our state government executes its management responsibilities in compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and policies.” [http://www.ncauditor.net/webproject/default.asp?intro_full]

But when it comes to his own business affairs, Mr. Merritt has a hard time following the law.

When he’s not working as State Auditor, Mr. Merritt is the president of LDC Mobile Estates, Inc.  State law requires all corporations to file an annual report with the Secretary of State’s office.

But Mr. Merritt has failed to submit required paperwork and now his annual reports for 2004 and 2005 have been rejected. It also appears that his annual report for 2006 will soon be rejected as well.  [http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/corporations/AnnualReportCount.aspx?PItemId=6457211]

“Mr. Merritt expects others in government to be meticulous in filing reports,” said NCDP Chair Jerry Meek.  “Perhaps he should practice what he preaches.  Either Mr. Merritt is incompetent, or he just doesn’t believe in following the law.  Either way, voters should be worried.”

When George W. Bush and Karl Rove recruited Richard Burr to run for the Senate, they knew that if elected, Burr would be a rubber-stamp for the administration.

They got what they wanted.

Last night, the U.S. Senate passed the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

It was hard to tell how Richard Burr would vote because he spoke out of both sides of his mouth for so long. When the vote was cast, Burr, along with Sen. Elizabeth Dole, voted in favor of CAFTA.