Sen. Hagan makes stop on campaign swing
By Steve Herring
Published in News on October 22, 2014 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Sen. Kay Hagan reacts to applause at a campaign stop at Wilber's Barbecue on Tuesday.
More than 60 people, mostly senior citizens, crowded into a back room at Wilber's Barbecue Tuesday afternoon to listen as Sen. Kay Hagan pledged her support of Medicare, Social Security and other programs for senior citizens.
Ms. Hagan, a Democrat, is in a tight race with Republican state House Speaker Thom Tillis in the Nov. 4 mid-term election.
She spoke for about 10 minutes also touching on education and how Tillis would work to dismantle programs that help senior citizens.
Ms. Hagan spent just as much, if not more, time shaking hands, exchanging hugs, chatting and taking photos as she did talking.
Her day started out in Wilmington before her stop in Goldsboro on her way to another campaign stump in Wilson as part of her North Carolina First tour.
She was critical of state legislation that taxes retirement benefits noting that there 1.1 million senior citizens in the state.
"I am never going to balance the budget on the backs of seniors like Speaker Tillis," she said.
Ms. Hagan said she opposed the Paul Ryan budget proposal that would turn Medicare into a voucher system.
She also opposes privatizing Social Security. The program cannot be subject to the whims of the stock market, she said.
Ms. Hagan said she would like to see changes to the current EZ tax form that does not have spots for Social Security or retirement information.
She also wants to amend the law that allows people with two chronic illnesses to consult once a year with a pharmacist about the medications. Mrs. Hagan said she wants to see the law changed to include people with just one chronic illness.
In an interview after her comments, Ms. Hagan said jobs and the economy are among the main things people talk to her about on the campaign trail.
"People in North Carolina want to make sure that we have a vital economy, and they don't want tax cuts to the wealthy that are bleeding the middle class," she said. "When you see there has been no Medicaid expansion here in North Carolina, 500,000 people affected, that is wrong.
"If you are going to have a sound economy, you have got to have a sound education system. So when you do tax cuts for the wealthy and put the burden on the middle class and small business that is ruining the system, and it has really done a terrible thing to our education."
Ms. Hagan said the race is being billed as the costliest election in the county. It is something that people are talking about as well, she said.
"They have never seen anything like it," she said. "You look back to the Supreme Court decision, Citizens United, which opened up secret money funneling into campaigns. That is wrong. We need to have the Disclose Act passed. I am the sponsor of the Disclose Act.
"It says that anybody who gives money for campaigning that they have to identify themselves, what their employer is and how much that donation is so people can follow the money and so you understand what the agenda is."
Ms. Hagan said ensuring that the country has a strong military is one of her top priorities
"That means our men and women in the military have the resources and the tools to keep them safe," she said. "We have got to have a strong VA system. We need to increase the minimum wage that would impact a million people in North Carolina.
"We need to get people paid for equal work. Not only does that affect women, it affects families' bottom lines. We need to be fair and just."
Ms. Hagan said she supported both arming and training the moderate Syrian rebels to deal with the ISIS terrorist threat.
"I actually had a discussion on that about a year and a half ago to move that forward," she said. "I serve on the Armed Services Committee and held numerous counter-terrorism hearings as chair of the subcommittee.
"I also think targeted airstrikes are good. I think boots on the grounds should be the Iraqis and the Syrians. They need to take ownership in the interest of direction of their countries. By the Syrians, I mean the moderate Syrian rebels."