Claims Dept: McCrory talks jobs

bkrueger — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:39:44 -0400

Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory's latest television ad talks about jobs and the economy, David Ingram reports.

What the ad says: Pat McCrory: “Why am I running for governor? In this tough economy, we need to recognize good jobs don’t just happen by accident. We can do a lot to assure we have a tax and regulatory structure and the quality environment that attracts and keeps good jobs in every city and town in our great state. I’ve got the experience and record of doing just that. North Carolina needs to have an ‘Open for Business’ sign. The difference is leadership.”
Announcer: “Pat McCrory for governor.”

The background: Policy analysts disagree about the extent to which tax cuts and fewer regulations lead to job creation. They also disagree about whether the costs of such changes — for example, cuts in government services caused by less tax revenue — make the changes worthwhile.

It is true that, as Charlotte’s seven-term mayor, McCrory has experience in tax policy and government regulation of businesses. For example, the City Council votes on property tax rates and on some zoning issues.

There is no evidence to support the implication that McCrory created 137,100 jobs. The ad cites a Nov. 23, 2005, article in The Charlotte Observer that tracked Charlotte job growth using a Wachovia economist’s data. McCrory is not mentioned in the article. The article’s sources credit the job growth to strength in housing, finance and other industries.

Many politicians, including presidents, take credit for job creation they had little to do with. Charlotte has undoubtedly experienced a boom during McCrory’s time as mayor.

McCrory “never claimed to create the jobs,” campaign spokesman Tom Gardner said in an interview Tuesday. “He’s just one factor, but he’s out there actively recruiting jobs.”

Is the ad accurate? It’s a stretch. McCrory doesn’t say anything inaccurate. But mentioning his “experience and record” while the screen shows “137,100 new jobs” will leave some voters with an exaggerated sense of his accomplishments.

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Claims Dept: McCrory talks jobs