Richard Moore proposed an economic stimulus package.

At a press conference this morning, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate called for property tax relief for senior citizens, reducing the waiting list for day care subsidies, cutting small business taxes and tying the minimum wage to inflation.

He noted that pension plans and Social Security already provide cost of living adjustments based on inflation. He estimated that the minimum wage would go up a dollar during the next governor's four years in office.

"All you've got to do is go to projected four-dollar a gallon gas to understand why," he said.

He also pledged that the state would pay for two years of community college for all high school graduates, though not for students who drop out and get a general equivalency diploma, or G.E.D.

"I shudder to think that any high school student in North Carolina does not take the next step to continue their education," he said.

He said that the proposal would cost around $50 million and would be paid for using interest earnings from Golden LEAF Foundation.