Home Local News McInnis ranked as one of N.C.’s top business-friendly senators

McInnis ranked as one of N.C.’s top business-friendly senators

RALEIGH —State Sen. Tom McInnis was recently named one of the top 10 business-friendly senators.

McInnis, R-Moore, ranked eighth in the NC FreeEnterprise Foundation’s 2021 Legislative Business Ratings.

According to a press release from NCFREE, the rankings are based on “an analysis of the voting records of North Carolina General Assembly members as they relate to advancing business opportunities within the state.”

“Our 2021 Legislative Business Rating evaluates legislators on their philosophical understanding of free enterprise,” Anna Beavon Gravely, NCFREE executive director, said in the release. “Each year when the NCFREE Research Committee meets, we ask one key question: Does this vote support business and advance free enterprise in the state?”

McInnis was rated 97.3, behind seven other senators, with Sen. Brent Jackson, R-Sampson, scoring the highest at 100.3.

The other top 10 senators, in order from highest to lowest, are: Sen. Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, (president pro tem of the senate); Sen. Paul Newton, R-Cabarrus; Sen. Todd Johnson, R-Union; Sen. Jim Perry, R-Lenoir; Sen. Danny Britt, R-Robeson; Sen. Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick; Sen. Kathy Harrington, R-Gaston; and Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin. 

“It’s an honor to be recognized as one of the top lawmakers that supports our business community,” McInnis said in a statement last week. “Over the past decade smart, restrained state budgets have led to North Carolina moving up from the bottom of the pack in business climate rankings to near the top. I remain committed to making North Carolina the best state to live, work, and do business in.”

According to previous NCFREE ratings, McInnis ranked second in 2019 and 2000, sixth in 2017, and 12th in 2015.

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Gravely said the legislation considered for the ratings focused mostly on regulation.

“As North Carolina grows and builds for the future, regulation will continue to be a major issue for the business community,” she said.

“In this first session of a new decade the question — can North Carolina maintain the unprecedented growth of the last decade — remains. Reducing the regulatory burden on the business community to increase competition and choice is the key to answering that question, and this year was a step in the direction of working toward tough, nuanced solutions.” 

McInnis, a Richmond County native, earlier this year switched his residency to Moore County when new district maps were released.

He currently represents District 25, which comprises Richmond, Moore, Scotland and Anson counties.

McInnis intends to run in the new District 21, which comprises Moore County and most of Cumberland County.

He initially would have faced former state senator Wesley Meredith in a primary. However, as the Carolina Journal reported last week, Meredith decided to run for the Cumberland County House seat.

McInnis was first elected to the senate in 2014.

 



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