Dole Support of Bush Economy Hurts North Carolina
July 18, 2008
GREENSBORO, NC- According to a report by the Associated Press today, North Carolina’s economic woes can be traced directly to the slowing national economy and poor job growth nationally. Harry Payne Jr., chairman of the N.C. Employment Security Commission was quoted as saying, “The slowing national economy is taking its toll on North Carolina,” as the state lost an additional 4,500 jobs in June.
While in the United States Senate, Elizabeth Dole has continually voted to make it more difficult for workers to find and keep a job in North Carolina and the nation. In 2005 alone, Dole voted twice in favor of the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), saying that “Textiles and apparel, agriculture, electronics, transportation equipment, pharmaceuticals and other sectors would benefit tremendously.” In addition, Dole has been a reliable vote in favor of tax breaks for offshoring, voting against an amendment that would repeal tax incentives for domestic companies that move their manufacturing plants to offshore locations. In 2004, Dole voted against an amendment that would have struck $39 billion in tax breaks on overseas income, and provided for an immediate nine percent tax deduction for domestic manufacturers. Senator Dole also voted against workforce training three times and against extending unemployment benefits five times.
“Our national economy is in shambles, we have no real plan for our long-term economic security and while Elizabeth Dole would like to believe her actions in Washington happen in a vacuum, it’s very clear that they have a real impact on North Carolina families,” said Hagan Communications Director Colleen Flanagan. “While Kay has been a leader in ensuring that important economic engines like High Point’s Furniture Market, which has an annual state economic impact of $1.14 billion, stay here in the state, and has repeatedly supported business packages to help stimulate job growth, Elizabeth Dole has proven once again that special interests and lobbyists are more important than working families in North Carolina. Experience like that has done nothing to help our state weather this economic downturn.”
Indicative of the kind of leadership she will display in the U.S. Senate, in 2002, J. Patrick Danahy, chairman of the Guilford Technical Community College Board of Trustees, praised Kay for her commitment to funding education and bringing jobs to Guilford County. “When the legislature was considering a special fund for biotechnology,” he wrote, “she was on the phone to GTCC, suggesting ways Guilford County could become a leader within our state by obtaining a training center and looking ahead for ways to bring jobs to Guilford County.”
###
DOLE SUPPORTED ECONOMIC AND TRADE POLICIES THAT HURT NORTH CAROLINA FAMILIES
North Carolina Has Lost More Jobs Than Any Other State As A Result Of Free Trade. North Carolina, since 1994, “has lost more jobs than any other state as a direct result of agreements that reduce and remove import quotas, tariffs and other barriers to free trade,” according to a 2002 report by the Raleigh News & Observer. The article also noted that “the pain [of free trade] is spreading rapidly beyond the displaced workers and their families. From the coast to the Piedmont to the mountains, dozens of communities reel from the loss of their largest employers.” [Raleigh News & Observer, 8/18/02]
2005: Dole Voted For CAFTA Twice And Said It Would Bring Jobs To North Carolina. In 2005, Dole voted in favor of the Central-American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) twice. Dole said, “Textiles and apparel, agriculture, electronics, transportation equipment, pharmaceuticals and other sectors would benefit tremendously from having the same tariff-free status that the majority of products coming from that region into the United States have.” [Vote 169, 6/29/05; Vote 170, 6/30/05; Associated Press, 07/01/05]
Dole Voted In Favor Of Tax Breaks For Offshoring. In 2005, Dole voted against an amendment that would repeal tax incentives for domestic companies that move their manufacturing plants to offshore locations. In 2004, Dole voted against an amendment that would have struck $39 billion in tax breaks on overseas income. The amendment would have provided for an immediate 9 percent tax deduction for domestic manufacturers. [Vote 63, 3/17/05; Vote 90, 5/11/04]
Dole Voted Against Funding For Workforce Training Three Times. In the U.S. Senate, Elizabeth Dole has voted against increased funding for workforce training under the Workforce Investment Act three times. [Vote 102, 3/25/03; Vote 325, 9/4/03; Vote 24, 1/23/03]
Dole Voted Against Extending Unemployment Benefits Five Times. In the U.S. Senate, Dole voted against extending federal unemployment benefits five times. [Vote 85, 3/25/03; Vote 199, 5/23/03; Vote 269, 7/10/03; Vote 14, 1/22/03; Vote 152, 5/15/03]
