Source:  Office of Gov. Beverly Perdue, 2/24/11

Gov. Bev Perdue this week vetoed Senate Bill 13, her first veto of the legislative session and only the second of her administration.

The bill was widely criticized as harmful to the state’s efforts to attract businesses and grow jobs.
“This bill started out as a way to help North Carolina secure $400 million in additional savings from state government agencies during this difficult budget time,” said Gov. Perdue. “I suggested that bill to the General Assembly and was ready to sign that legislation. But the bill in its current form forces a one-time cash-grab from funds that are intended to create jobs and spur economic development. That’s not the right move for North Carolina, where jobs simply must be our No. 1 priority.”

Just last month, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said in a televised town hall that Gov. Perdue had been a “staunch competitor” for jobs and that Virginia was aggressively competing for jobs with North Carolina. Among the tools at Gov. McDonnell’s disposal were incentive packages similar to the ones Senate Bill 13 would have raided.

The N.C. Department of Commerce has a dozen active projects in 14 counties that would bring more than 1,000 jobs and more than $300 million in investment. Those projects depend on the funds Senate Bill 13 would have raided.