Bob Orr opposes the governor's incentives plan.
The former Supreme Court justice, who is running for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, did not support the original legislation to help Goodyear Tire Co. But he said Gov. Mike Easley's proposed alternative is just as bad.
"It was a terrible piece of flawed legislation, and unfortunately I see this proposal as merely a way to essentially do it through the back door," he said.
Speaking at a press conference at the Republican Party headquarters, Orr said that corporate incentives to existing businesses are "the ultimate in slippery slope."
Orr argued that the state government shouldn't "pick and choose" which businesses to subsidize and instead should focus on improving education and job training and cutting corporate taxes.

