North Carolina has been named the state with the the "top business climate" for the fifth year in a row by Site Selection magazine, Gov. Bev Perdue announced this morning.

"We are are all mighty proud given the circumstances we were dealt in January," Perdue said in making the announcement at the Council of State meeting, Rob Christensen reports.

But Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry poured cold water on the announcement. She noted that a half million citizens were about to lose their unemployment benefits and that the state's employment levels had declined to 1999 levels.

Since this time last year, Berry noted, the state had lost more than 200,000 jobs.

Perdue replied that North Carolina was part of "a global recession."

Perdue is a Democrat and Berry is a Republican.

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More than 70 percent of state residents disapprove of Gov. Beverly Perdue's trip to China and Japan, according to a poll by the conservative Civitas Institute.

Perdue has been on an economic development trip. Civitas asked 600 registered voters in the state whether they approve or disapprove of spending $80,0000 on the trip.

The poll found that 72 percent disapproved, 21 percent approved and 7.5 percent were unsure.  

It's a fair guess that the results might have been different had the question not included the $80,000 figure.

The poll, which was conducted Oct. 20-21, had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

State commerce officials say Gov. Beverly Perdue's upcoming trip to Asia, which is being paid for in part by private benefactors, does not violate state ethics rules that forbid elected officials from receiving gifts.

Kathy Neal, spokeswoman for the state Department of Commerce, said in an e-mail to Dome that all travel costs for the state delegation will be paid for with an estimated $76,700 in taxpayer money. State funds will also be used to provide a van and driver, interpreters and business cards in both Japanese and Chinese.

Private donors, meanwhile, will pick up the $94,730 tab for hosting five functions in Japan and China, along with other promotional and entertainment expenses.

First Gentleman Bob Eaves, who is accompanying his wife on the trip, will pay his own way.

The delegation is scheduled to depart Thursday. For the record, the governor is flying commercial.

UPDATE: A spokesman for Gov. Perdue on Wednesday clarified a statement from earlier in the week, saying that the travel expenses for the state's first gentleman will be covered by the N.C. Democratic Party.

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PLEDGE DRIVE IN D-MAJOR: The struggling N.C. Symphony has begun its new season with an unusual fundraising drive to secure private donations to be eligible for additional state money. One patron bid $10,000 for a private recital by famed violinist Joshua Bell. (N&O)

PATIENTS BEGIN MOVING: Opposition to the safety of the new Central Regional Hospital in Butner is easing and a judge has allowed the first patients to move to the facility, which is eventually intended to replace Raleigh's Dorthea Dix Hospital. Dix will remain open with at least 100 mental patients for the foreseeable future. (N&O)

IT'S NOT YOU, IT'S ME: North Carolina aggressively courted Dell, but the company dumped the state Wednesday, announcing it was planning to walk away from a $150 million manufacturing facility and turning out nearly 1,000 workers. Maybe the state can find a rebound company. (N&O)

Gov. Beverly Perdue's schedule in New York was "grueling," a spokeswoman said in explaining why Perdue was too busy to review and sign a letter supporting health care.

The adjective begs the question, so Dome requested her schedule for that day. The names of those she met with have been removed because state law considers companies considering a move to the state confidential.

Here's the schedule:

8:30 a.m.    Depart RDU

10:10 a.m.    Arrive Teterboro Airport (TEB)

10:10 a.m.    Travel to NYC

11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.    Client Meeting

11:45 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.    Meeting/Financial Services Seminar

12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m.    Visit New York Stock Exchange Trading Floor

1 p.m.    - 2 p.m.    Travel to Hotel and Check-in, Lunch

2 p.m. - 3 p.m.        Travel to Client meetings outside of city

3 p.m. - 5 p.m.     Client Meetings

5 p.m. - 6 p.m.        Travel back into city

6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.        Site Selection Consultants Event

Senate Republican leader Phil Berger said Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue's business recruiting trip to New York doesn't make any sense.

Berger, an Eden Republican, said in a news release that Democratic policies, such as a recent tax increase, will eliminate plenty of jobs.

"Governor Perdue continues her erratic behavior this week going on a corporate recruiting trip after she did everything in her power during the last legislative session to make it more difficult to do business and find a job in North Carolina," Berger said. "Democratic policymakers continue the tax-and-spend economic policy that is killing jobs in North Carolina. Do they really hope to draw new businesses from outside our state? Until Democrats reverse course, reduce state government spending, and provide tax relief to businesses and families, North Carolina will continue to see jobs leave."

Democrats, including Perdue, have said the tax increase of nearly $1 billion was necessary to avoid painful cuts to vital state services.

Gov. Beverly Perdue is visiting New York City today and tomorrow to sell financial firms on the merits of relocating to the Tar Heel state.

During the day, Perdue is meeting with officials at several financial services companies that spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson declined to identify, Alan Wolf reports on the .biz blog.

Tonight Perdue will work the room at a reception hosted by the N.C. Department of Commerce for site selection consultants who work with financial clients.

"Her sole reason for being there is to recruit businesses to this state," Pearson said.

As North Carolina's jobless rate of 10.8 percent remains well above the national average, Perdue and other officials are eager to win new expansions and jobs. Pearson said that since taking her position, Perdue has made hundreds of recruitment phone calls and held dozens of meetings with prospective companies.

Financial services is one industry that's an important target for North Carolina, especially as firms look outside of Wall Street for cheaper offices and strong workers.

Beverly Perdue is holding a discussion on rural development today.

The governor-elect will hold the roundtable at the Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville at 10 a.m.

It is part of a series of issue-oriented "listening" events she is holding. Previous roundtables on the economy and other topics in the Triad, the Triangle and Charlotte.