North Carolina's two senators split Monday on the test vote on the tax cut deal, with Republican Sen. Richard Burr voting for it and Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan opposing it.
Hagan came across as the deficit hawk, saying she she opposed it because it would add $858 billion to the national debt.
“It is time for Congress to tighten its belt, like American families must do daily,” Hagan said. “Every year Democrats and Republicans make empty promises about bringing down our deficit, and its's time we started putting our money where our mouth is,” Hagan said in a statement.
“While the bill includes provisions that I support,” Hagan said, “I could not vote in favor of a bill that would give tax cuts to people making over $1 million a year and add $858 billion to our national deficit.”
“Continued deficits threaten the economic security of our children,” Hagan said. “The bipartisan fiscal commission, co-chaired by North Carolina's own Erskine Bowles, released their report this month – a blueprint for reducing the deficit. Republican and Democrats must work together to back this critical problem so future generations aren't aren't left with today's bill.”
Comments
Earmarks
December 17, 2010 - 11:57am — PeterWillEarmarks are not inherently bad. As with most things, if used in moderation, they can be a sign of a legislator who knows how to get things done for their constituents. If used as the only way to get things done with no benefit to the US or their constituents, then they (and the people who abuse them) are part of the problem.
You can't claim to be a deficit hawk and request 3x as many earmarks as your Senior counterpart. It would be interesting to see how many of the earmarks were included in final legislation, which of those earmarks benefited North Carolinians and companies that employ a signifigant amount of people in NC.
Also, this tax deal was the only piece of truly bi-partisan legislation to pass the Senate this year and she voted against it, so her comments about working together are laughable.
I am not a millionare, but I still do not see how increasing taxes only on the highest earners is "fair."
Lastly, was Senator Burr unavailable for comment or did the observer just not want a balanced report?
Deficit dove is more like it
December 16, 2010 - 9:08pm — yourkillingmeGlad to see Rob has maintained a sence of humor about all this.
Kay Hagan - Deficit Hawk? Not really.
December 15, 2010 - 10:21am — MooseletI beg to differ.
Senator Hagan requested 338 earmarks totaling $724,277,278 for 2011.
Senator Burr requested 82 earmarks totaling $287,194,440 for 2011.
As Senator Reid famously said, "you can have your own opinion but you cannot have your own facts."
My info is derived from endingspendingdotcom. If you are using a more reliable source, could you cite it for the edification of your readers? I'd appreciate it!