Mike Munger got a rare statewide platform tonight.

The Libertarian gubernatorial candidate made good use of his appearance at a debate on UNC-TV to get off a few zingers. (Mingers?)

On mental health reform: "There was an overhaul in 2001. To me, it looked more like a frat party."

On corporate incentives: "This focus on trying to pay companies to come here is basically economic prostitution that's not going to last in the long run."

On the veto: "I think of the veto like spanking your child. It means that you're a bad parent, that you haven't successfully used all of the things that should come before that. Now maybe it sometimes still happens, but it really means it's a failure for you, and it's a failure for the child."

On voting for third-party candidates: "Unless you have Jedi powers, you're not going to be able to control the way other people vote. You have one precious vote. Your decision on how to cast it will send a signal to our leaders in Raleigh."

Robert Pittenger is criticizing Walter Dalton's vote to give incentives to Dell.

In a UNC-TV debate Wednesday, Pittenger said Dalton had a "major conflict of interest" in the vote because he owned Dell stock at the time. Dalton said after the debate that he does not manage his own investments and that the stock did not affect his vote.

And he appears to have sold the stock at a loss.

In 2004, Dell was considering building a computer-assembly in the Triad that it said would employ 2,000 people. Lawmakers approved $242 million in incentives over 20 years if Dell were to meet certain benchmarks.

Dalton, a Democrat, voted for the incentives. Pittenger, a Republican, voted against them. They are running for lieutenant governor.

"Probably the biggest concern I have about our differences is that Senator Dalton, he voted for incentives — a $280 million incentive for Dell — at the same time that he owns stock in Dell. And I would say very clearly that's a major conflict of interest," Pittenger said Wednesday.

Dalton said it was still appropriate for him to vote. "The key there was I was voting for jobs for the people of North Carolina," he said.

A campaign spokeswoman said Thursday that, according to a preliminary review of records, Dalton bought about $10,000 worth of Dell stock in November 1999 and sold it for about $4,000 in February 2007.

Dalton has publicly disclosed owning the stock on his state ethics filings since the 1999-2000 election cycle. In his most recent filing, he listed stocks and options in about 25 companies.

State law generally allows legislators to decide for themselves whether a conflict of interest should keep them from voting.

Things at Dell are looking down.

Pat McCrory was in the sights of his rivals Wednesday.

At an hourlong debate in Durham, state Sen. Fred Smith, Salisbury lawyer Bill Graham and former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr worked to draw distinctions between themselves and the Charlotte mayor, who has led most polls since entering the race six weeks ago.

Smith, who has attempted to paint McCrory as a liberal, portrayed himself as a conservative who would lower taxes, institute mandatory sentencing for sex offenders and improve the state's road system.

Orr drew a stark contrast between his absolute opposition to economic incentives and McCrory's efforts to draw business to Charlotte.

And Graham argued that the problem with Raleigh is too many of the same politicians in office.

For his part, McCrory stressed his experience on issues such as gangs and illegal immigration and noted that he still drives a used car as proof of his integrity at a time when political corruption is in the news. (N&O)

Welcome to Bob Orr 101: The Constitution and the Governor's Race 2008. Please have a seat.

Today, we'll be discussing Article V, Section 2(7), of the state Constitution, which says the state may appropriate money to a business only for "public purposes."

In Maready v. Winston Salem in 1996, the Supreme Court found in a 5-2 vote that cash and tax breaks given to 24 companies in Forsyth County met that test because they created jobs and helped the tax base grow.

Orr, then a Supreme Court justice, disagreed, saying the incentives were "corporate welfare."

"If a potential corporate entity is considering a move to Winston-Salem but will only come if country club memberships are provided for its executives, do we sanction the use of tax revenue to facilitate the move?" he wrote.

According to Orr, the recruitment of corporations through incentives only provided minimal job and tax base growth and hurt small communities that can't compete.

He also said the expenditures failed "the ultimate test for determining public purpose" by benefiting special interests as opposed to the public in general.

Pat McCrory says the governor needs a good relationship with business.

In an interview on WPTF talk radio Wednesday morning, the Republican gubernatorial candidate said that he would meet with business leaders interested in North Carolina.

"In job recruitment, the governor has to get out of the mansion occasionally and go out and recruit throughout the nation and throughout the world," he said.

He also said he would meet with existing businesses, saying he never takes any company for granted as Charlotte's mayor.

Bob Orr, one of McCrory's primary rivals, said that response troubled him, arguing that the governor should focus on business-friendly policies to help existing companies grow. He also questioned McCrory's stance on incentives.

"Pat will need to let the voters know where he stands on targeted tax breaks for these large corporations," Orr said in a statement.

Bob Orr wants the candidates for governor to pledge to end incentives.

Orr said in a statement Friday that candidates have dodged the issue by denouncing the practice and then defending its use because of competition with other states.

He challenged them to swear off targeted incentives and propose broader economic development programs.

"Now is the time for North Carolina to stop the madness," he said in the statement.

In October, Orr proposed a plan to end incentives that included working with the federal government and starting a workforce training initiative.

The Republican candidates talked about how to spur new business.

Bill Graham said the state has to diversify its counties so that every county has more than one type of industry, ensuring that a slowdown in one industry won't kill the economy.

Bob Orr said the state needs to grow a culture of innovation. Instead of giving large grants to one industry, the state should spread the money across workforce development programs. The state spent hundreds of millions to recruit a Google server farm that only brought 200 jobs, Orr said.

Fred Smith said the state needs to create a regulatory environment that encourages business to come here. He said the state's universities, community colleges, environment and taxes need to be focused on economic development.

Bob Orr says he does not oppose all incentives.

In e-mail to Dome, the Republican gubernatorial candidate says that his rival, Bill Graham, misunderstands his position on attracting business to North Carolina.

Orr writes that he does not oppose all incentives, just those targeted at a specific company, such as Google, Dell, Goodyear or Lowe's Motor Speedway.

"However, an incentive policy that benefits a broad range of businesses or preferably all businesses is potentially acceptable," he writes.

He also argues that there is "general acknowledgement" that targeted incentives are bad public policy.

"I would encourage Bill to oppose this system which has exploited our state and local communities rather than fall into the trap of saying that some are OK," he writes. 

Bill Graham supports the Google incentives.

During a recent interview with Dome, the Republican gubernatorial candidate said he approves of the incentives package, which is worth as much as $260 million in grants and tax breaks over 30 years.

"I think that decision has been proven right," he said. "They had furniture manufacturers going out of business left and right. You have to do something as a responsible public official if you want to maintain the economic base of your community."

However, Graham said he decides on incentives on a case-by-case basis, unlike former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr, who opposes the state's incentives system.

"I think there are a time and place for incentives," he said. "I'm sure Bob would disagree with me on that."

* U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry lambastes Congress. Retired editor Walker Lundy: Even Republican candidates are running against the GOP. (Char-O)

* U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole is leading the effort to block a rule change that would let the Federal Housing Administration charge higher premiums. (Bloomberg)

* UNC Board of Trustees honors House Speaker Joe Hackney, state Supreme Court Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson, both alums. (Chatham Journal)

* Political strategists warn that Bob Orr's focus on ending corporate incentives will not be enough for him to win the Republican gubernatorial primary. (GN-R)