CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is often cited as a reason why businesses relocate to Crown Town.
But with talk of an airport takeover pushed by the Republican General Assembly, could that impact job growth?
For example, Asheville's airport became a regional authority last year after a similar power-grab by lawmakers in Raleigh. Residents and leaders say now its become a bureaucratic nightmare.
To study the unintended consequences of state politicians thinking they know best, Republican Governor Pat McCrory wants his party to slow down.
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"What we're going to keep doing," said Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx?at a press conference, "we're going to come together to create jobs governor, not only in Charlotte but all across the region."
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Foxx joined McCrory on stage at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Conference Room for a big jobs announcement.
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"This is a great match between a great city, a great state and a great company," said McCrory.
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Areva is a French company that provides technical services for nuclear energy. Its North American headquarters will relocate to Charlotte, bringing 130 high paying jobs with it.
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"The transportation access out of Charlotte airport is vital to our business," said Areva's CEO Michael Rencheck.
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He says the airport gives the company easy access to the 19 states where it operates, as well as its corporate headquarters in Paris.
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"Being able to travel people and move people around facilities," said Rencheck, "is very important in how we do business."
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"First identify what is the problem and what is the best long term solution," said McCrory, as he weighed in on the current political discord between local and state leaders.
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The latest issue surrounds Charlotte possibly losing the airport to a regional authority.
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It's this kind of tension Chamber President Bob Morgan recently said endangers the city's business reputation.
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"This is not a Raleigh issue," said McCrory, "but people from Charlotte."
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As mayor, McCrory fought against politicians in Raleigh interfering with local control.
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Now, it's Foxx taking up that cause.
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"Hopefully, reason will prevail in this," said Foxx. "The reasons that are driving this will become more transparent to everyone."
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The governor insists it's unidentified factions within the business community that are pushing for a state takeover.
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But it's Republican state leaders from Mecklenburg County, like Rep. Bill Brawley, that are fast-tracking the legislation.
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McCrory says studying the consequences is a good place to start.
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"I encourage the factions to come out from under the dark and resolve it."
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House Speaker Thom Tillis, also in Charlotte for the Areva announcement, said the city's airport is a success story. He wants to make sure change for change's sake doesn't happen.
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Monday night, Charlotte City Council voted unanimously to spend up to $150,000 in public money on an airport study that will determine what impact a change from city control to regional authority would have in the future.?
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Councilman Andy Dulin will travel to Raleigh on Tuesday to discuss the study.
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