Hagan on trade: Mend it, don't end it

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:39:40 -0400

Kay Hagan is borrowing Barack Obama's line on trade.

On Friday, the Democratic Senate candidate attacked U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole for backing free trade agreements that she said hurt North Carolina workers.

But she stopped short of calling for the North American Free Trade Agreement or the Central American Free Trade Agreement to be thrown out. Instead, she proposed a "mend it, don't end it" approach reminiscent of remarks by Obama during the state primary here.

Her trade policy calls for adding enforceable labor and environmental standards to prevent companies from moving overseas and giving the U.S. Department of Justice enforcement powers over trade agreements.

Dole spokesman Don McLagan told the Associated Press that CAFTA removed tariffs in other countries that were keeping North Carolina-made pharmaceutical and agricultural products out of those marketplaces.

"I believe the only jobs Hagan has created are those for tax collectors," he said.

Kissell gets the lead out

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:53:59 -0500

The award for most creative political event of the year may go to Larry Kissell.

The Democratic Congressional candidate will host free lead screening of toys from noon to 3 p.m. Friday in downtown Concord.

The screening will use "X-ray fluorescence analysis by a certified lead risk assessor," a press release notes.

No word on whether Kissell will try to tie this to Rep. Robin Hayes' vote for CAFTA.

Update: A Dome contributor points out that Kissell also qualified for the most creative event in 2006, when he sold gas for $1.22 a gallon—the price when Hayes took office. That event made national news and drew copycats across the country.