Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/18075
ELECTION Guide 2010 • Allowing small business owners to join pools of coverage to access better insurance rates; • Allowing states to form compacts to allow the purchase of insurance across state lines; and • Providing tax credits for long-term care. (2)I support expanded offshore drilling as long as it is safe, clean, out of sight from the coastline and does not jeopardize our beaches and shorelines. What happened in the Gulf does not meet those requirements. Before any deepwater exploration occurs on the east coast, we need to know what the causes of the spill were and how to prevent them in the future. Furthermore, oversight of drilling needs to be improved to ensure that drilling is done safely. Once the people of North Carolina are assured that drilling can be done safely and cleanly, it is important that we do our part to lessen America’s dependence on foreign fuels. That being said, it is also important that we continue to develop new clean and renew- able fuels right here at home. That means next generation advanced biofuels — made from stuff like stover, switch grass, algae - that are made right here in Southeastern North Carolina, as well as nuclear, solar and wind power. This will help lessen America’s dependence on foreign fuels and create jobs right here at home. (3) We need to reduce government spending, balance the budget and pay down the national debt. From a short-term perspective, I am working to stimulate the economy by saving current jobs, as- sisting our small businesses, establishing retraining initiatives and increasing access to funding opportu- nities. Specifi cally, I established the Southeast Crescent Regional Economic Development Commission which will put a federal focus on job training, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, health care and education and the Microenterprise & Rural Entrepreneur Program that I helped enact so small business can obtain incentives to save and create jobs. My long-term outlook puts a focus on the “jobs of tomorrow” while supporting “Make it in America” initiatives that will get our manufacturing base back to work. In addition, I support repealing NAFTA and paying down our debt so that we can ensure that our nation is fi scally strong. (4) Unlike my opponent — who favors cutting the Department of Defense budget — I believe it is important that we do all we can to support our men and women in uniform so that they have the resources they need. Our work in Afghanistan is not complete, and I will do all I can while our military is there to support them. In fact, I recently voted against cutting funding for our military in Afghanistan. It is essential that we move toward a conclusion to our efforts in the Middle East but we must ensure that we do not harm our troops in doing so by not providing them with the resources they need. N.C. SENATE The following questions were asked of the candidates for the N.C. Senate and House. (1 )North Carolinians can drive north to Virginia or South to South Carolina and see a dramatic drop in the price of gasoline. Are you in favor of lowering North Carolina’s gas tax? And, with the amount of spend- ing on Highways, will I-40 ever be fi nished? (2) Speaking of roads, Fayetteville’s roads, particularly those going to Bragg will soon be over- whelmed. What will you do to move Fayetteville’s road woes up in the spending cycle? (3) North Carolina has not been very successful in recruiting new industry. What can be done to bring industry in to replace the jobs lost by the closing of textile mills? (4) Illegal immigration has been a hot topic across the nation. North Carolina has its own problems with the issue. What is your take on enforcing immigration laws in our state? District 19 Margaret Highsmith Dickson (1) Balancing our road maintenance and construction needs with gasoline taxes and costs to consumers requires careful consideration. Our current funding mechanisms are not adequate to sustain our roads and changes are going to be necessary North Carolina has 78,000 miles of state maintained roads, second only to Texas in size. Our gas prices in relation to our neighbor states are a refl ection of that fact. (2) We have worked tirelessly to ensure that this critical transportation and national security need for our community continues to be a high funding priority with both state and federal offi cials. They understand the critical importance of connecting Fort Bragg to an interstate highway and relieving traffi c congestion around the post. The second leg of the 295 loop has been funded and construction is underway. We will need continued strong and effective local leadership from our community in order to make sure that this remains a high funding priority at the state and federal level. (3) I have helped to lead efforts which encouraged industries like Goodyear and DuPont not only to stay in our community but to modernize and expand. However these types of manufacturing jobs will not WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM be the backbone of our 21st century economy. I am proud to have been a leader in efforts to create the Military Business Center and the Defense Security and Technology Accelerator. Both have helped local businesses and entrepreneurs obtain contracts with the military and create jobs in our community. These businesses, many of which are entrepreneurial and some that are technology based, will form the backbone of our 21st century economy. Incentives and tax relief alone will not bring new industries to our state. Our people will. We must invest in and protect our public education system in order to create a ready and competitive workforce which attracts and keeps jobs in our community. Good schools are the best economic development tool we have. (4) Our federal government has a responsibility to act in resolving the issue of illegal immigration. North Carolina leaders have taken steps to address this issue at the state level. I voted for Senate Bill 1955, which deals with illegal immigrants serving time in North Carolina prisons for nonviolent crimes. The legislation allows state offi cials to turn these prisoners over to the federal government to be deported. The bill does not release these offenders from custody – it transfers custody to the federal government, which will then proceed to deport them. I supported this legislation because North Carolina taxpayers should not be footing the bill for illegal immigrants in our jails. Wesley Meredith (1) I am in favor of lowering the gas tax, which is far higher than that of our neighboring states. The current legislators have been raiding the Highway Trust Fund to balance the budget, leaving us with less to use for the Trust’s intended purpose — to service our roads. Lower the tax, and stop the raiding. (2) I will make sure that those in Raleigh understand that our nation depends upon Fort Bragg for its national defense, and as such we must have adequate roadways for transportation of troops and equipment. (3) We must create a business friendly environment by reducing corporate tax and individual rates, and stop the redundant and burdensome over regulation. (4) The laws were written to protect the citizenry, and should be enforced uni- formly. N.C. HOUSE District 21 Wade Fowler (1) The maximum tax on gasoline in North Carolina used to be 29 cents, now that is the minimum. We need to reduce our taxes. Our real problem with our roads is that we spend the revenue raised by driving on them on things other than roads. The vast majority of passenger traveled miles in our state occur on our highways, yet the governor and the legislature routinely raid the transportation fund and pull the money away from our roads and bridges. The federal government also does the same. In 2008 North Carolinians sent $1.1 billion in road related federal taxes and user fees to Washington and saw only $670 million come back to the state for our roads. (2) I believe the 295 Loop is a national security imperative. Our troops at Ft. Bragg need quicker access to major highways in order to fulfill their mission to protect our country. We need to have our local delegation beat that drum in Raleigh to make sure it receives top priority. We need to look at our funding plans to make sure they are appropriated by the importance and necessity of the projects instead of disbursing funds based on geographical considerations. (3) The Tax Foundation rates North Carolina’s business tax climate as 39th in the country. We need to look at reducing the overall tax burden on all of our businesses, not just a few choice corporations, in order to spur business and industry growth in our state. We must also resist the impulse to mandate more and more regulations that make it costly to operate in North Carolina. (4) As the son of a legal immigrant, I am well aware of the benefits those from other less free and prosperous countries that draw people to our wonderful nation. However, they must come here legally if they wish to pursue the American dream. One way to help stem the tide of illegal aliens flooding into our state, is to prevent people who are here illegally from receiving any form of aid from our state government that is supposed to be reserved for legal citizens of the state. Another provision should be for stiff penal- ties to any business that knowingly hires illegal aliens for the first offense and possible criminal action for subsequent offenses. Eric Mansfi eld Eric Mansfield chose not to participate in the forum. OCTOBER 20-26, 2010 UCW 17