Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says not only will he ban the use of city funds for nonessential travel to North Carolina because of a law eliminating anti-discrimination protections for lesbians, gays and bisexuals, but he will also try to poach businesses and conventions from the state.

The law, signed by Gov. Pat McCrory, was passed in reaction to a Charlotte ordinance that allowed transgender people to use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity. Backers of the state law say it was needed to prevent predators from using restrooms marked for the opposite sex.

Emanuel attributed his ability recently to lure a Whole Foods warehouse and 200 jobs from Indiana to Chicago to that state's passage of a "religious freedom" bill that raised concerns about discrimination against gays and lesbians. The mayor also threw in a $7.4 million subsidy.

Emanuel said he has already been on the phone and has asked his staff to draw up a list of North Carolina companies they think "we can talk into considering a move to Chicago."