Day 3 #NCFirst Tour: Kay Highlights Record of Fighting for Seniors and Standing Up for Farmers

Press Release

Today, Kay began the third day of her North Carolina First (#NCFirst) tour speaking with seniors in Wilmington. Kay highlighted the clear contrast in this election between her record of standing up for Medicare and Social Security and Speaker Tillis' plan to turn Medicare into a voucher. Kay was joined by Dr. Nick Rhodes, a retired veteran, who also spoke at the event.

"I have a clear record of results for North Carolina seniors and I know that turning Medicare into a voucher program would increase out-of-pocket costs for seniors, leaving them with financial insecurity instead of the dignified retirement they've earned," said Kay. "Yet my opponent, Speaker Thom Tillis, has expressed support for this budget plan that would turn Medicare into a voucher program and leave North Carolina seniors out in the cold. Our seniors have worked hard for years, and they shouldn't have to worry about a dignified retirement while Speaker Tillis hands out tax breaks to millionaires. North Carolina deserves better."

"Senator Hagan is committed to protecting Social Security and Medicare, which provides a vital lifeline for seniors in our community and across the state," said Rhodes. "Our nation faces difficult budget choices, but what we know from watching Senator Hagan in Washington is that unlike Speaker Thom Tillis, she will never allow our budget to be balanced on the backs of seniors."

Kay then stopped at Wilber's Barbecue in Goldsboro and met with seniors who were also concerned about Speaker Tillis' agenda that hurts seniors. Kay highlighted her record of protecting Medicare and Social Security and again emphasized the clear contrast in Speaker Tillis' plan to turn Medicare into a voucher.

Kay ended the day at Sharp Farms in Wilson to discuss the importance of the bipartisan Farm Bill, which she supported and Speaker Tillis opposed. Pender Sharp, owner of Sharp farms, spoke about Kay's work to stand up for North Carolina farmers. Kay emphasized the importance of North Carolina's top industry, agriculture, which has a $77 billion impact on the economy and her work to put North Carolina farmers and jobs first. In the Farm Bill, Kay added a key amendment to strengthen crop insurance fraud prevention and successfully worked across the aisle to kill an amendment that would have hurt North Carolina family tobacco farms like Pender Sharp's.

Speaker Tillis opposed the bipartisan Farm Bill and refused to attend the North Carolina AgriBusiness Forum in Greensboro in September.

"As the granddaughter of farmers, I am proud to stand with North Carolina's farming community," said Kay. "As a young girl, I spent summers on my grandparent's farm helping with the watermelon, soybeans, and tobacco crops. It was during those hot summers that I learned how incredibly hard farmers work, and as I've represented North Carolina I always work to recognize the incredible impact agriculture has on our economy. I made key important improvements for our state in the Farm Bill, and North Carolina farmers know that I will always fight for the needs of our farmers in Washington, no matter who I'm up against."

"Senator Hagan voted for the bipartisan Farm Bill to make sure North Carolina farmers would have the certainty and stability they need and I know I am thankful for that vote," said Sharp. "And, when there was an effort to deny tobacco farmers access to crop insurance, Kay worked with Senator Burr to kill that amendment because it would hurt hardworking tobacco farmers. I am standing up for Kay because she has always made sure that North Carolina farmers have a seat at the table."

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