Bonus Voterspeak: Questions for Kay Hagan
North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race has become one of the most closely watched in the nation as money from national parties and interest groups has flowed into the state.
State Sen. Kay Hagan, a Democrat, is trying to unseat incumbent Republican Elizabeth Dole. The seat is key to Democrats’ efforts to win the 60-vote majority in the Senate, which would allow them to pass legislation over the objections of Republicans.
The News & Record asked its Voterspeak panel of readers to suggest questions they thought were still unanswered in this final week of the campaign. Coming Wednesday: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s responses.
Questions for N.C. Sen. Kay Hagan:
Phyllis Davis, 64, Republican:
“How do your views differ from those of Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee for president?”
A: “They do differ. One of the big ones is on drivers’ licenses for illegal aliens,” Hagan said.
Hagan is referring to comments Obama made during primary debates that he would allow states to give drivers’ licenses to illegal aliens. Hagan says that should not be allowed.
The issue has not been a major part of the presidential campaign but has become the subject of an ad by the National Republican Trust PAC in recent days. Differences on illegal immigration policy were one of the first major points of contention between Hagan and Dole.
Hagan said she also opposes Obama’s plans to raise the capital-gains taxes — those taxes paid when property or stock is sold at a profit.
According to documents on his web site, Obama would eliminate capital-gains taxes for some small businesses and keep them the same for families making under $250,000. For families making more than $250,000 who are in the federal government’s top two tax brackets, Obama would raise the capital gains tax to 20 percent. Hagan opposes that rise.
“Explain in concrete terms your position on off-shore drilling? What safety concerns do you have about preventing oil spills?”
A: “I was an early support of the bipartisan ‘Gang of 10’ legislation,” Hagan said, referring to an energy bill drafted by Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Senate. That “gang” is now a gang of 20, and Dole has joined.
“It would allow North Carolina to get 37.5 percent of the profit,” Hagan said of the bill, saying it was important that the state see return on the exploitation of its oil reserves.
Hagan said that improvements in technology have allayed many, if not all, of her safety concerns.
She added that the governor and state legislature should get to make the final decision about drilling.
Deonna Kelli Sayed, 34, Democrat:
“Looking back at your time in the legislature, what would you do differently?”
A: “I do think I learned that legislation comes from compromise,” Hagan said when asked to reflect on her time in the state Senate. She pointed to the state’s clean smokestacks bill as an example of something that taught her the value of working with Republicans.
When asked if there were votes she wishes she could redo, Hagan said, “I’m sure there are, but I’d have to think about it.
“I’m proud of the stand we took on education, financial literacy for high school students” and other issues.
Update: Hagan later said through a spokeswoman that in hindsight she would have voted to ban soda from middle schools, and would have liked to have seen the ban expanded to high schools, as well. She also said if she was still in the state senate, she would work to add nutrition classes to the school curriculum.
Compiled by staff writer Mark Binker.
