Do-Nothing Hagan Votes “No” on Alternatives After Saying Sequester Has “Serious” Consequences for NC
WASHINGTON, D.C – For months, Republicans in the House and Senate have been urging their Democratic counterparts to replace President Obama’s sequester with smarter, safer and more sensible spending cuts to lower the deficit. Instead, less than 24 hours before the President’s sequester hits, Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) voted against both Republican and Democratic alternatives to replace the sequester.
You read that correctly: Senator Hagan’s solution to a sequester that she voted for and said would be, “devastating” and have “serious, negative consequences for North Carolina,” was to stand by and let it hit.
NRSC Communications Director Brad Dayspring issued the following statement:
“Kay Hagan was right to recognize that President Obama’s sequester, which she voted for, would have ‘serious’ consequences for North Carolina but dead wrong to do nothing about it to protect her home state. North Carolina families deserve better than Senator Hagan, who for the past year seemed more interested in reelecting Barack Obama than finding a smarter, safer and more sensible solution than the sequester she supported.”
BACKGROUND:
November 2011: “After Hearing Panetta’s Remarks In Washington, Sen. Kay Hagan Said The Defense Secretary ‘Has Made It Abundantly Clear That Sequestration, Which Would Be Triggered If The Super Committee Fails To Meet Its Targets, Would Be Devastating For The Department Of Defense And Seriously Damage Military Readiness.’”(Sue Book, “Air Station Advocates Briefed On Lobbying Efforts,” [New Bern, NC] Sun Journal, 11/16/11)
October 2012: “‘We All Agree That If Allowed To Proceed, Sequestration Would Have Serious, Negative Consequences For North Carolina,’ N.C. Sen. Kay Hagan Said In A Written Statement. ‘Additionally, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has said that sequestration would severely damage our national defense. I continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find a bipartisan, balanced approach that will reduce our debt and deficit without hurting the ability of our military to protect our country.’” (Amanda Wilcox, “Sequestration Impact On Camp Lejeune Unclear,” The [Jacksonville, NC] Daily News, 10/9/12)
“‘If You Look At The Consequences Of Sequestration, They Are Amplified In Our State Because Of The Large Military Footprint We Have . . . and the economic importance of the defense industry to our local economies,’ Hagan said.” (Phillip Jones, “WFMY: Sen. Hagan: Missing ‘Cliff’ Deadline ‘Totally Unacceptable,’” Digtriad.com, 12/4/12)
