Margaret's Priorities
Even as our economy slowly recovers, we are not out of our difficulty yet. Too many North Carolinians remain jobless or underemployed. North Carolina's conviction and focus on public education and job growth remains the wisest strategy to protect our future and continue our climb out of this recession.
Public Education
During these tough economic times, we are all facing difficult decisions on where to put limited resources, protecting our teachers and the classroom remains my first priority for investing your state dollars.
Investing in education has long been a core value for our state. We cannot move forward without educating, training and preparing our people to compete not only with our neighbors in the next state but with people on the other side of the world.
Costs should never stand in the way of anyone committed to seeking higher education or training to find a new or better job. As a State Representative, I helped to create the Education Access Rewards North Carolina program - or EARN - to increase financial assistance for North Carolina students wanting to go to state universities or community colleges.
As our population grows and our workforce adapts to new 21st century jobs, we must meet the enrollment growth needs of our public education system. As a state legislator, I supported full enrollment growth funding at all levels of education from early childhood, K-12 and our community college and university system.
Job Growth and Small Businesses
Small business-be it a farm, a restaurant, a child care center or an auto shop-has always been and remains today the backbone of North Carolina's economy. These are the enterprises which make North Carolina strong, not the multi-national corporations whose risks and excesses landed us in our current economic downturn. Nurturing our local businesses, particularly in our rural areas, is critical to our sustained economic recovery.
Alongside my colleagues in the General Assembly, I led the effort to establish the Military Business Center and the Defense & Security Technology Accelerator, which has already helped bring new jobs and military contracts for local businesses in Cumberland County.
Quality Healthcare
After 25 years of working in a family owned business and as a mother of three, I understand the challenges of healthcare costs facing both small business owners and the working families they employ. That's why I worked to pass new laws establishing tax credits for small businesses who offer health care for their employees and allowing high risk individuals to pool together for lower cost group insurance.
Supporting Our Military Families
Growing up in Southeastern North Carolina, my family and I have always been proud of the rich military heritage of our region and of our state. I am proud to have sponsored legislation which allows our military and their dependents to attend North Carolina state universities and community colleges at a lower in state tuition rate.
It was my honor to partner with Operation Enduring Freedom veteran Representative Grier Martin, in sponsoring the Interstate Compact for Military Children, a bill which removes educational barriers for children of military families caused by frequent moves and deployments
