Mark Robinson’s plan for the NC economy: More tax cuts, fewer regulations, embracing crypto

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has said North Carolina families “work too hard to make ends meet” in campaign ads focused on prices and the cost of living.

A three-page plan released by his campaign this week offers a roadmap for what he would prioritize in the economic realm — cutting taxes, trimming government regulations and making the state a “national leader” in cryptocurrency, among other proposals.

Robinson, the Republican nominee for governor, wants to continue cutting taxes for businesses and individuals alike, building on recent cuts approved by the GOP-led legislature .

He would aim to remove any state regulation that “hinders business and does not provide meaningful impact on customer protection.”

And he would keep a close eye on government agencies’ duties and efficiency, making “changes” if needed.

“I know what struggling families are going through because I’ve lived those same struggles,” Robinson said on social media as he shared the plan. “North Carolina families and businesses need relief — and my plan puts more money back in your pockets to make ends meet and save for the future.”

His Democratic opponent, Attorney General Josh Stein, has called for an “economy that works for everyone” on the campaign trail. Stein has proposed a refundable income tax credit for working families with children, and called for well-funded schools and training programs to bolster the state’s workforce.

“Mark Robinson would kill jobs in North Carolina,” Stein campaign spokesperson Morgan Hopkins said in a statement to NC Newsline.

“He wants to strip women of their reproductive freedoms and ‘slash’ public school funding. He opposes Medicaid expansion and job incentives. And he says awful, hateful things about people and promotes violence and conspiracy theories.”

Hopkins said Stein “has a plan to tackle the high cost of living, grow the economy, and make sure it works for more people.”

Robinson’s campaign spokesperson did not respond to a request for further comment on the economic plan.

Robinson plan touts government efficiency, less regulation

Regulatory agencies should provide “guardrails,” but not “roadblocks,” Robinson says. And across government, agencies should develop a “culture of excellence.”

Both points from the candidate’s plan indicate a desire for a slimmer state government that is less hands-on with taxpayers and businesses alike.

“We need to ensure that agencies work quickly and efficiently,” Robinson says. “Delays from agencies on permitting, licensing, and approval for projects costs time and money; and are a disservice to North Carolina’s taxpayers.”

Robinson says he will create “an expectation of excellence from every state agency and the leaders of those agencies.” And he says “changes must be made” if those agencies are “not effectively serving” taxpayers.

It is unclear whether that could include cuts to agencies’ workforces, or elimination of consolidation of departments altogether. (Robinson’s campaign did not respond to a request for clarity on the matter.)

The plan does not address agency staff shortages that have contributed to some current delays.

The lieutenant governor has also been critical of the state’s role in luring businesses to North Carolina.

In 2020, he answered a candidate survey “no” when asked if the state should offer tax breaks and other financial benefits to convince companies to relocate.

Two years later, Robinson told Business NC he was “not really in favor of giving away the store, so to speak, or being bribed into bringing these companies in by giving them these so-called huge tax giveaways.” Asked if he would stop the program, he said “I can’t say that,” but didn’t reject the possibility.

Stein told Axios in a statement earlier this year that he supported “performance-based incentives” for companies, while touting North Carolina’s top performance in CNBC’s state business rankings.

Robinson: ‘I will lead the charge’ on cryptocurrency

Robinson says he would embrace the cryptocurrency industry if elected.

“I believe that North Carolina is positioned to become the national leader in cryptocurrency, and as governor, I will lead the charge,” Robinson says in the plan.

He has expressed prior interest in the industry, visiting a Bitcoin mining facility in Graham in 2022. And he has continued to maintain the state’s Blockchain Initiative, established by former Lt. Gov. Dan Forest.

Crypto has been championed by some conservative politicians and advocates who say it represents a new frontier in currency independent from the government. But the industry has also come under intense scrutiny — in part due to the 2023 collapse of leading exchange FTX , as well as mining facilities’ significant energy usage .

Robinson also says he will “never allow” for a central bank digital currency to be established in North Carolina. Those currencies are similar to crypto, but have a fixed value through a central bank, and are equivalent to a nation’s fiat currency .

A bill was passed with bipartisan support by the General Assembly this year to ban the currencies, but was vetoed by Gov. Roy Cooper, who urged lawmakers to await federal guidance and standards . It remains to be seen whether the Senate will finalize an override of the bill later this year.

Other priorities: ESG, infrastructure & workforce

Among the other policy priorities included in Robinson’s economic plan:

• Preventing environmental, social and governance investing (ESG) — which some corporations have adopted in recent years to prioritize environmental and social issues — from “harming taxpayers.” House Bill 750 , passed by lawmakers in 2023, banned state agencies from considering ESG when investing, awarding contracts or making employee decisions. And it requires the state treasurer to make investments for the state pension fund based solely on financial impact.
• Investing in infrastructure — rural broadband, “safe and wide roadways,” and more. Gov. Roy Cooper has touted investments in state infrastructure — such as roads, bridges, water and internet — funded in part by federal spending by Congress and the Biden administration.
• Developing the workforce, through both higher education funding and technical and apprentice programs.

Democrats say Robinson’s ‘extreme record’ would damage NC’s economy; Republicans point to Stein praise of Biden

North Carolina Democrats pushed back on Robinson’s economic plan, arguing that his record of inflammatory statements and remarks would cost the state jobs.

The North Carolina Democratic Leadership Committee’s “Robinson War Room,” in a news release Tuesday, outlined its own, “more accurate look” at Robinson’s 10-point plan.

It blasted Robinson’s comments calling teachers “wicked people,” his prior opposition to the Affordable Care Act, and his prior opposition to the state’s incentive program.

“ Robinson’s economic plan is another desperate attempt to rewrite history and run from his extreme record that would kill jobs and hurt workers,” spokesperson Dawson McNamara-Bloom said.

The Republican Governors Association, in a statement touting Robinson’s plan, called Stein “out-of-touch” and tied him to the Biden administration’s economic policymaking.

“The contrast is clear in North Carolina,” rapid response director Kollin Crompton said. “Josh Stein’s comments are a slap in the face to North Carolina families while Mark Robinson is fighting to make opportunity available to all.”