RALEIGH -- Gov. Bev Perdue began an effort Thursday to rally business support against deep cuts in education proposed by Republicans, saying the state's modern economy requires strong funding for education, from public schools to universities.
At the first of several planned events, Perdue sought testimonials from executives from such companies as Lenovo and Cisco, who said they would not have moved their facilities to North Carolina if not for the state's strong work force.
Perdue said North Carolina became a leader in the South because of its investment in education, and she said legislative budget proposals made public this week could do "generational damage" to the state.
"The star in our crown has been generational commitment to quality education investments from preschool to university," Perdue said during a meeting at the club room at the RBC Center.
"That is synonymous to who we are as a people in North Carolina," she added. "I believe that is part of our ethos. To back away from that is wrong. No governor and no General Assembly in history has done that."
The effort comes as Perdue, a Democrat, is engaged in a budget battle with the Republican-controlled legislature about how to address a budget shortfall estimated at $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion. House Republicans on Tuesday introduced part of their budget, including deep cuts to many state agencies.
Perdue responded by calling together the N.C. Business Committee for Education Roundtable, a group originally formed 27 years ago by Democratic former Gov. Jim Hunt to push for education improvements.
"The education system is so crucial to why we are here," said Ed Paradise, vice president of software quality at Cisco's facility in Research Triangle Park. He added that Cisco relies on top-quality recruits from N.C. State University.
Lenovo, the Chinese computer company, could locate its operations anywhere, but depended on the "educated work force" to keep its operations in Morrisville, said Tom Looney, vice president and general manager.
Hackney blasts cuts
Meanwhile, House Democrats held a news conference to criticize House Republicans' proposed budget cuts.
The Democrats released figures estimating that 21,000 employees at secondary and elementary schools would lose their jobs and 3,200 positions in University of North Carolina system would be cut. They also estimate that 372 jobs in Health and Human Services would be eliminated, as would 1,786 jobs in Justice and Public Safety, 500 positions in Transportation, 400 jobs in Natural and Economic Resources, and 485 jobs in general government.
House Minority Leader Joe Hackney said that such cuts could be avoided by keeping the temporary sales tax, which is due to expire in June. That would cost the average family 25 cents a day, or $85 to $88 a year.
"For a quarter a day," Hackney said, "we can protect and defend every child's right in this state."
But House Speaker Thom Tillis of Mecklenburg said Hackney, as a successful lawyer, may be able to afford that, but many people can not.
"He may have a lot of extra quarters to hand out," Tillis said.
Staff writer Lynn Bonner contributed to this report.
