Increased State Spending
During the time Hagan has served on the Budget Committee, state spending has increased by 64%, or $8.1 billion dollars.
In 1998, the year before Hagan took office, the North Carolina budget totaled $12.6 billion.
According to the News & Record in October 1998, "At the top of the list of accomplishments is the state's $ 12.6 billion budget for 1998-1999. After months of debate, the legislature finally approved the spending plan on Wednesday." 1
According to a July 2007 article in the Triangle Business Journal, "Gov. Mike Easley on Tuesday signed the $20.7 billion state budget." 2
According to a Chapel Hill Herald editorial from August of 2007, "Lawmakers agreed to a $20.7 billion budget that reads like a wish list for powerful legislative bosses and Gov. Mike Easley." "In short, another bad budget from lawmakers who have proven all-to-skillful at spending our money." 3
In October 2008, North Carolina's governor canceled plans to buy a $9 million state jet at taxpayer's expense. 4 The money for the jet was provided in the 2007 budget,5 a bill that Kay Hagan not only voted for,6 but also helped write as co-chairman of the budget committee. 7
The News & Observer said the idea of upgrading to the $9 million jet is "another example of state officials seeming to be out of touch with budget realities and priorities." 8
1 Robert Lamme, "Session Offers A Mixed Bag Of Outcomes," News & Record, Oct. 31, 1998 [PDF]
2 "Easley Signs State Budget That Includes Transfer Tax," Triangle Business Journal, July 31, 2007 [PDF]
3 Editorial, "Approving Another Bad State Budget," Chapel Hill Herald, Aug. 7, 2007 [PDF]
4 Mark Johnson, "State's Jet Purchase Is Off, But Can We Get Back The Deposit?" The News & Observer, Oct. 9, 2008 [PDF]
5 Mark Johnson, "State's Jet Purchase Is Off, But Can We Get Back The Deposit?" The News & Observer, Oct. 9, 2008 [PDF]
6 North Carolina General Assembly, 2007-2008 Legislative Session, House Bill 1473, Vote No. 1076, July 30, 2007 [PDF]
7 "2007-2008 Appointed Bill Conferees," North Carolina General Assembly, 2007-2008 Legislative Session, House Bill 1473, http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/confcomm/confcommittee.pl?BillChamber=H&BillID=1473, Appointed June 6, 2007 [PDF]
8 Editorial, "Grounded," The News & Observer, Oct. 13, 2008 [PDF]
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