(RALEIGH) -- The state AFL-CIO and liberal groups created quite a loud presence outside the legislative building on Wednesday. They banged on kitchen pots with spoons in protest of Republican policies as lawmakers returned to begin their short session.

The Secretary/Treasuer for the North Carolina AFL-CIO Mary B. McMillian said the GOP led General Assembly is going in the wrong direction. "We're here because we think for too long this legislature has turned a deaf ear to constituent's concerns.  Instead of dealing with the economic crisis instead of creating jobs that citizens needs, this legislature as chosen to pursue an extremist agenda."

Republican State Sen. David Rouzer, who will face Democrat Congressman Mike McIntyre in the race for the 7th Congressional District, said the protestors should channel their energy in other ways.

"If they spent as much time and effort preparing themselves and looking for a job as they do parading around with their pots and pans, or whatever it may be, they'd get somewhere," said Rouzer. "We've got to understand that every dollar we take out of the private sector is one less dollar that an employer has to invest in people and to hire folks and to create jobs."