The Democrats are accusing Republican Sen. Richard Burr of hypocrisy in showing up at the ceremony announcing the expansion at Cree Inc. in Durham on Monday.
Cree, which manufactures LED lighting, received nearly $40 million in federal stimulus money that Burr voted against in Congress, reports Rob Christensen.
“Hypocritical Senator Richard Burr voted against the stimulus package and called it 'wasteful' and said it would provide 'little to no stimulus' but that hasn't stopped him from showing up at stimulus funded events in North Carolina,” said Deirdre Murphy, spokeswoman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
“If Senator Burr had had his way, this company would never have received funding to expand and add jobs,” Murphy said.
Burr was part of a gaggle of political leaders to show at the Cree announcement for a $135 million expansion that included 600 more jobs. Also present were Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue, Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan and Democratic Congressmen David Price and Brad Miller.
The Burr campaign did not respond.
Comments
NOT ASLEEP YET
September 22, 2010 - 5:33pm — samiam123And that picture of Perdue and Richard Burr....is there no dignity held for the office...that picture says it all, and I am sure it will travel around the internet and the world to see. I am ashamed of North Carolina.....but will stand by her past triumphs.....
OVERSEAS JOBS
September 22, 2010 - 5:27pm — samiam123Is anyone going to ask these leeches about the expansion of Chinese jobs that has occured due to not only the Cree "expansion" of 240 jobs, which is nothing to crow about, not to mention all of the jobs that Governors Perdue and Easley were supposed to be created when they made high expense (MY MONEY) trips to Europe and China? How much more do you all expect us to go one thinking that you are doing any good.....Good night nurse....
Expansion not due to Stimulus
September 22, 2010 - 2:56pm — PeterWillDidn't Cree expand production in the states due to tax breaks given by the state/local government and not the Stimulus package? Also, Senator Burr did not just "show up", he was probably invited by Cree.
The question to the DSCC is what has Senator Hagan or other Dem leaders done for Cree? Voting for a bunch of earmarks (aka the stimulus package) is way offset by the new Healthcare taxes coming to all individuals and companies, as well as the shrinking credit market brought on by the financial "reform."
Think about this...
September 22, 2010 - 1:58pm — louisburgpatriotAs far as I know, both David Price and Brad Miller do not represent the same district that Cree is located. So couldn't it also be said that one of them is there to take credit for something that is not in their district for a photo op...?
They might have expanded anyway, deidre...
September 22, 2010 - 11:48am — BitterEXdemocratenough with the DSCC propaganda...its NOT the government/taxpayers's obligation to do this!