{"id":2570503,"date":"2026-02-17T06:46:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T11:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-principled-leadership-made-north-carolina-no-1\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T06:49:53","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T11:49:53","slug":"how-principled-leadership-made-north-carolina-no-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-principled-leadership-made-north-carolina-no-1\/","title":{"rendered":"How principled leadership made North Carolina No. 1"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhow-principled-leadership-made-north-carolina-no-1%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2570503&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>An analysis of North Carolina\u2019s rise to the top destination for state-to-state migration attributes the achievement to principled, pro-growth leadership. New Census data show the state gained about 84,000 residents from July 2024 to July 2025,more than Texas or Florida,marking the first time in decades that NC led in net domestic migration. The turnaround is linked to a long-running policy agenda led by Senate leader Phil Berger and other Republicans, begining with tax reform in 2011\u20132013.The Tax Simplification and Reduction Act lowered the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-biden-admin-already-dropping-estate-tax-hike-from-economic-plan\/\" title=\"Report: Biden Admin Already Dropping Estate Tax Hike From \u2018Economic Plan\u2019\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-states-can-lead-america-back-towards-lower-taxes-and-less-government\/\" title=\"How States Can Lead America Back Towards Lower Taxes And Less Government\">personal income tax<\/a> rate<\/a> (eventually down to 3.99%) and reduced the corporate tax (toward 2%,with a plan to eliminate it by 2030). North Carolina also built a rainy-day fund of about $4.75 billion by 2022, repaid more than $3 billion in debt, expanded school choice, and increased teacher salaries. Consequently, the state&#8217;s economic outlook improved from 26th in 2011 to 2nd by 2022 in the Rich States, Poor states index. The article credits Berger\u2019s leadership and two decades of reform for a genuine economic revival and a sustained population surge, noting more than 750,000 net new residents relocated to North Carolina over the past decade.The piece is by Lee Schalk, senior vice president of policy at ALEC.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">From policy to prosperity: How principled leadership made North Carolina No. 1<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2494752\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Amid the recent winter storm, the Tar Heel State experienced a new milestone. For the first time, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/north-carolina\/\">North Carolina<\/a> ranked No. 1 in the nation for state-to-state migration. Principled <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/economy\/\">economic<\/a> policy and leadership made it possible.<\/p>\n<p>According to new <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/census-bureau\/\">Census<\/a><\/span>  Bureau&nbsp;data released late January, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osbm.nc.gov\/blog\/2026\/01\/28\/north-carolina-top-destination-domestic-migrants\">North Carolina gained 84,000 residents<\/a> from other states between July 2024 and July 2025. During this time, powerhouses Texas and Florida netted 67,300 and 22,500 new residents, respectively. It&rsquo;s the first time in decades that any state has gained more new residents than Texas or Florida.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4457870\/texas-early-voting-competitive-primary-races\/\">Texas opens early voting for competitive primary races<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4459768\/jesse-jackson-dead-civil-rights-activist-dies-at-84\/\">Jesse Jackson dead: Civil Rights activist dies at 84<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4459760\/federal-judge-orders-restoration-of-slavery-exhibit-in-philadelphia\/\">Federal judge orders restoration of slavery exhibit in Philadelphia<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>North Carolina didn&rsquo;t become the top destination for the American dream overnight. In fact, its economic turnaround can be traced back more than two decades. It&rsquo;s a story worth telling, and state leaders nationwide should take note.<\/p>\n<p>North Carolina state Sen. Phil Berger (R) was there from the start, first winning his seat in 2000. In 2005, Berger was elected leader of the Republican minority in the North Carolina Senate. By 2010, he had led the caucus to a historic victory, giving Republicans a majority in the state Senate for the first time in 134 years. He was elected Senate President Pro Tem in 2011, setting the stage for the most successful state tax reform effort in the nation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Back then, the North Carolina tax code was not friendly to job creators. The state imposed the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >highest business income tax rate<\/a> in the competitive Southeast (6.9%), while North Carolinians also faced a three-tiered personal income tax structure with a top rate of 7.75%.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>To say the economy was limping along would be an understatement. That year, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bizjournals.com\/charlotte\/news\/2011\/10\/21\/nc-jobless-rate-hits-105-percent.html\">unemployment hit 10.5%<\/a>, and North Carolina ranked <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.richstatespoorstates.org\/states\/NC\/#outlook-rank-trends\">26th in the nation for economic outlook<\/a> in the <em>Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer Economic Competitiveness Index<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>But that was all about to change.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;[Then-Gov. Bev Perdue] has been talking about making the business climate of North Carolina better for the past two years,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/uNR7RhUu2Mg?si=7Fi-c_c7rATXYxOq\">Berger explained in February 2011<\/a>. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been in the majority in the North Carolina Senate for two weeks, and we&rsquo;re already doing something about it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In the November 2012 election, North Carolina voters increased Republicans&rsquo; majorities in the House and Senate and elected Pat McCrory as governor. Working with then-House Speaker (now U.S. senator) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thom-tillis\/\">Thom Tillis<\/a>, Berger pursued a pro-growth tax reform package to ignite North Carolina&rsquo;s economic engine.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The final plan achieved $500 million of taxpayer savings over two years by lowering and flattening the personal income tax, lowering the corporate income tax, and eliminating the death tax. By July 2013, McCrory had signed the Tax Simplification and Reduction Act into law, and it was off to the races.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The following year, the corporate rate fell to 6%, and the personal income tax was lowered to a flat 5.8% for all North Carolinians. But the tax cuts didn&rsquo;t end there. Under Berger&rsquo;s leadership, the personal income tax rate has been lowered repeatedly, falling to 3.99% this year. As revenue targets continue to be met, the rate will fall even further.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For businesses across the state, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/huge-fiscal-cliff-looms-for-the-president-and-congress-after-election-cycle\/\" title=\"Impending fiscal cliff for president and Congress post-election.\">income tax cuts<\/a> are also accelerating. After dropping to 6% in 2014 and reaching just 2.5% in 2019, the corporate income tax is on its way to 2% this year and extinction by 2030. This is completely unheard of &mdash; and a major force behind the state&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/sae\/data\/\">20% job growth<\/a> from 2013 to 2023. A real economic revival.<\/p>\n<p>On top of the dramatic tax reductions, North Carolina leaders demonstrated fiscal responsibility over that decade. By 2022, North Carolina had built its empty rainy-day fund to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carolinajournal.com\/n-c-profiled-for-having-among-best-rainy-day-funds-in-the-u-s\/\">$4.75 billion<\/a>. Additionally, the economic growth generated by tax rate cuts enabled North Carolina lawmakers to repay more than $3 billion in debt, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-is-the-school-choice-president\/\" title=\"Trump Is The School Choice President\">expand school choice programs<\/a>, and repeatedly increase teacher salaries.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The state improved its economic outlook ranking in <em>Rich States, Poor States<\/em> from 26th in 2011 to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.richstatespoorstates.org\/states\/NC\/\">2nd overall by 2022<\/a>. Lawmakers also tackled costly regulations last year by overriding current Gov. Josh Stein&rsquo;s (D-NC) veto to enact <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/alec.org\/article\/alec-policy-champions-rein-in-agency-overreach-in-north-carolina\/\">Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny-style legislation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/3376241\/doge-can-learn-from-states-savings\/\"><strong>RESTORING AMERICA: WHAT DOGE CAN LEARN FROM THE STATES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Over the decade and a half that has transpired since Republicans took control of the North Carolina General Assembly for the first time in over a century, what we have seen is a real transformation of North Carolina state government, and that transformation has led to a real transformation and really a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carolinajournal.com\/berger-claims-ncs-economic-transformation-didnt-happen-by-accident-eyes-more-growth-amid-population-surge\/\">rebirth of the North Carolina economy<\/a>,&rdquo; Berger told <em>Carolina Journal<\/em> in a recent interview.<\/p>\n<p>And he&rsquo;s right. Thanks to leaders who turned their principles into policy, more than 750,000 Americans have relocated to North Carolina on net over the past decade. As the new leaders in net domestic migration and with job creation surging, don&rsquo;t expect the North Carolina economy to cool down any time soon.<\/p>\n<p><em>Lee Schalk is senior vice president of policy at the American Legislative Exchange Council.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Policy-led NC tops migration; No. 1<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4168,"featured_media":2570504,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP090129161114-e1771261698296.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[4381,51418,50402,70168,73916],"class_list":["post-2570503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-ethics","tag-governance-2","tag-leadership-2","tag-north-carolina-2","tag-public-policy-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP090129161114-e1771261698296.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2570503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2570503"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2570503\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2570507,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2570503\/revisions\/2570507"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2570504"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2570503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2570503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2570503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}