Lenoir News-Topic - Sen. Hagan calls for action on jobs

Statement

By Paul Teague

With a fundamental focus on jobs, United States Sen. Kay Hagan talked with local residents on Wednesday at the Caldwell County Library in Lenoir.

A first-term Democrat from Greensboro, Hagan's appearance marked the third time in the last 10 days that a national political figure has passed through or stopped in Caldwell County. Last week, President Barack Obama made his way into the county on his way to a speech he delivered in Wilkes County. Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Richard Burr addressed a group of Hibriten High School students on Monday.

Hagan - whose serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee - said the time has come to end the partisan rancor that has dominated the Washington political scene in order to pass legislation that will promote job creation.

"I was not sent to Washington to fight for the next election," Hagan said, adding that people are tired of the bickering between Republicans and Democrats.

Hagan promoted several bipartisan pieces of legislation, including a bill co-sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to curb fraud in the textile industry. Known as the Textile Enforcement and Security Act, the measure would create an electronic verification program to track yarn and fabric imports. Hagan said the aim is to prevent practices such as mislabeling and the use of phony companies posing as United States operations.

She also has joined with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the 2008 GOP nominee for president, in co-sponsoring a bill to allow U.S. companies to return more than $1 trillion in earnings at a reduced tax rate. Termed the Foreign Earnings Re-investment Act, Hagan said the measure would encourage firms to use their profits to increase their domestic workforce.

Hagan said excessive partisanship "is not acceptable in this economic climate." She reiterated her support for Obama's jobs proposal, which also includes a provision to hire unemployed veterans. Previously, she and Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., co-sponsored a similar bill - known as the Hire a Hero Act - to provide tax credits to businesses that hire members of the National Guard or U.S. Army Reserve.

"I want to support our veterans," Hagan said.

Referred to as "Conversations with Kay," Hagan completed her opening remarks, then visited with individuals and small groups. Staff members also were on hand to assist residents with issues involving the federal government.

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