Reflector.com

Ginger Livingston

WINTERVILLE - U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., discussed spending cuts and promoted her office's constituent service efforts during appearances in Pitt County on Tuesday afternoon.

Hagan met with about 25 supporters at Pitt Community College to discuss recent activity in Washington, D.C., and to see if anyone needed help.

She met with the editorial staff of The Daily Reflector prior to that event.

Hagan's office has handled 20,000 constituent cases, 2,200 involving families with mortgage problems. The office handles a lot of requests for assistance with Veterans Affairs.

"I really want people to know constituent services is a hallmark of our office," Hagan said.

Along with her D.C. office, Hagan has offices in Greensboro, Raleigh, Charlotte, Asheville and Greenville.

Hagan said she is part of a group of 20 senators - 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans - who are trying to write legislation that would implement some of the recommendations of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform which was overseen by former Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson and Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles.

The Simpson-Bowles Commission proposed solutions for solving the nation's debt and deficit.

Resolving the nation's debt and deficit problems not only is necessary to improve the economy, but is needed to maintain the national defense, Hagan said.

North Carolina could lose 11,000 jobs if defense spending cuts go into effect in early 2013, the result of a deal reached in 2011 to raise the debt ceiling. The deal called for an automatic $1.2 trillion in defense and domestic spending cuts if Congress cannot reach a solution by year's end.

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen testified that defense spending cuts are the largest national security issue facing the country, Hagan said.

Hagan said she supports a proposal called Go Big, Go Long, Go Smart that would cut $4 trillion in spending, adopt permanent changes to the tax code and invest in education, infrastructure, and research and development.

Hagan said she was pleased that Congress passed a highway bill which will send $3.4 billion to North Carolina.

The state is receiving 95 cents for every dollar of federal gas tax revenue it generates, up from the 92 cents received in previous years, she said.

Hagan said she sponsored legislation signed by President Obama in July that will provide health benefits to veterans and their families who experience illnesses related to their exposure to contaminated drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

Hagan said she also was honored to attend recent ceremonies honoring the Montford Point Marines, who were the first blacks to integrate the U.S. Marine Corps.

She was a sponsor of legislation that presented the remaining 800 Montford Point Marines with the Congressional Gold Medal.