SENATOR DOLE STOPS IN LINCOLNTON THURSDAY
The Carolina Scoop Exclusive Video of Dole's Visit

By Jon Mayhew
Publisher

LINCOLNTON -- North Carolina Senator Elizabeth Dole (R) made Lincolnton one of her scheduled stops on a tour of the greater Charlotte area Thursady.

Dole, along with her western North Carolina field representative Graham Fields and other members of her office, stopped into the Lincolnton/Lincoln County Chamber of Commers for about a half-hour.

She met with members of both the Chamber's executive board and the governmental affairs committee.

It's Dole's first visit to Lincoln County in several years. She is up for re-election this year.

"We do have issues that we wanted to discuss with her, including the economy," said Lori Montgomery, the Chamber's membership services director. "It's not an edorsement of an elected official. It was good to have her here to let us know what's happening in Washington."

In addition to visiting Lincolnton, Dole also visited Conover in Catawba County and Moroesville in Iredell County.

The Carolina Scoop exclusive video caught part of Dole's roundtable discussion at the Chamber offices.

Chamber president Ken Kindley asked if lawmakers were considering making economic stimulous checks - also known as tax relief checks - more permanent.

"The problem is, if the Senate reaches 60 votes against any kind of tax relief measures, then there will be tax increases," said Dole.

Kindley also brought up the issue of health care costs, especially when it comes to employers (like the Chamber) providing affordable healthcare for its employees.

"Tax credits are available as well as the medical liability reform we're continuing to work on in Washington," said Dole. "We're also working to make medical information technology uniform (across the board)."

Dole was also asked about gas prices and if there would ever be any offshore drilling in North Carolina.

It's a topic Dole said she supports wholeheartedly, as long as the offshore drilling is at least 50 miles offshore.

"I'm for lifting the moratorium on offshore drilling and letting the state of North Carolina, for example, decide when and where it's going to be done," said Dole, adding with the advances made in oil drilling technology, offshore drilling needs to be done.

Dole also suggested that some of the strategic oil reserves need to be sold in order to make speculators sit up and take notice.

"Washington needs to get on this issue in a comprehensive way," said Dole. "It's a way to get prices down."

Dole also said she was in favor of looking at alternative energy sources.

U.S. Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-10) will be the next elected official to visit the Chamber offices, 4 p.m. next Wednesday.