RALEIGH (AP) ó North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley says speeding up the start of more than $700 million in government building projects will also speed up the creation of more than 25,000 new jobs.
Easley led support for starting the projects a few months early during a Tuesday meeting of the Council of State. The panel voted in favor of the debt needed to pay for the package, which Easley said will stimulate the stateís economy.
The debt had already been approved by the General Assembly or indirectly by voters. But the council, comprised of the Democratic governor and nine other statewide elected officials, had to formally approve taking out the loans.
Two Republican council members voted no. The council meeting was the last for Easley. Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue will be sworn in as governor on Saturday.