Greensboro's own Senator Kay Hagan had the opportunity to vote in favor of Cut, Cap and Balance. However, it turns out that she followed her party leadership and voted to table. (HT: Carolina Politics).
This is fairly astonishing. Let's consider what we have been led to believe about Hagan.
First, this is the same Kay Hagan that our local media absolutely loves. They consistently describe her as a "centrist" or "moderate". They even promote her as a possible vice-presidential candidate.
Part of the reason she is described as a centrist or moderate is because she is described as being pro-business, and as being fairly conservative on fiscal matters.
Second, let's remember that this is the same Kay Hagan who ran against deficit spending during the 2008 election season. She made it a point back then to boast that she had helped balance the state budget in Raleigh when she had served in the North Carolina Senate-- even though a balanced budget is required by the state constitution.
Yet, when she is given the opportunity to help resolve the national debt crisis via spending reductions and a Balanced Budget Amendment, she votes no.
This is an incarnation of Kay Hagan about which we do not learn through the usual channels.
"She made it a point back then to boast that she had helped balance the state budget in Raleigh when she had served in the North Carolina Senate-- even though a balanced budget is required by law in our state.
Yet, when she is given the opportunity to help resolve the national debt crisis via spending reductions and a Balanced Budget Amendment, she votes no."
Imagine that!
"This is an incarnation of Kay Hagan about which we do not learn through the usual channels."
I wonder when they'll start their campaign to elevate her to sainthood?
Posted by: bubba | July 23, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Kay is all Democrat, nothing but spending other people's money will keep her happy.
Posted by: Don Moore | July 23, 2011 at 12:32 PM
Joe,
What's 'astonishing' about a politician voting along party lines? The local media 'absolutely loves' her? Do you have something more substantial than the stupid VP story to back that claim? I don't understand the 'incarnation' reference at all. Bash her all you want... the liberals don't like her either. But bring something to the table.
Posted by: jo | July 24, 2011 at 09:17 PM
What about her support of a "tax holiday" to allow corporations to repatriate income stashed overseas with little or no taxation so they can invest it here at home and create some jobs?
Posted by: Roch101 | July 25, 2011 at 08:22 AM
Roch, my reaction is that she can cite a micro-measure that might be helpful against the overwhelming tide of
things she has supported that are ultimately bad for business, and bad for job creation. And she can do this while her compatriots rail against corporations not paying enough taxes.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 25, 2011 at 01:05 PM
Jo, the News and Record's ongoing coverage of Hagan over the years has been extremely supportive and affirming. They try to soften the extremism of many of her votes by characterizing her as a moderate; they look past her flaws; and of course, they repeatedly have endorsed her and helped her with the manner in which they cover her.
There is nothing astonishing about her voting the party line except for the fact that we have been led to believe she is a moderate.
The incarnation of Hagan as party hack who votes in an extreme manner is what we do not see reported.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 25, 2011 at 01:08 PM
So you like the idea?
Posted by: Roch101 | July 25, 2011 at 01:40 PM
Roch, I think it is better to have permanently low tax rates. I am not sure how much temporary measures help in the long run. Corporations make decisions on the basis of confidence in what the future will hold with respect to the tax and regulatory environment they will be facing.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 25, 2011 at 01:48 PM