Report: Hagan's Husband Benefited from Stimulus Package

Report: Hagan's Husband Benefited from Stimulus Package

Senator Kay Hagan, D-N.C., left, with her husband Chip Hagan. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Friday, 26 Sep 2014 10:53 AM

By Melissa Clyne

http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/SenKay-Hagan-stimulus-package-federal-grants-tax-credit/2014/09/26/id/597097/

A manufacturing company co-owned by North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan’s husband received nearly $390,000 in federal grants and tax credits created by the 2009 stimulus law that Hagan championed, Politico reports.

The Hagan campaign has denied that Hagan did anything improper and "disputed any suggestion they have profited off the law."

The Hagans’ income from the company, JDC Manufacturing, increased from less than $201 in 2008 to nearly $134,000 in 2013, according to financial disclosure statements, Politico reported.

"Kay is not involved in her husband’s business and had no part in helping JDC apply for or receive these grants," said her spokeswoman, Sadie Weiner. "Her only involvement was when she made sure that a respected ethics attorney was consulted to ensure that it was appropriate, and the attorney found that it was."

Hagan had no advance knowledge that the stimulus package would benefit her husband’s company when she voted for it, according to Weiner, and was advised by an ethics attorney that Chip Hagan applying for the grants did not present any conflict of interest under Senate rules.

about the $767 billion stimulus package, Hagan said: "My vote for the stimulus package was a vote for the more than 490,000 North Carolinians who find themselves out of work and looking for help in these tough economic times."

According to Politico, a plastics recycling company owned by Hagan’s brother-in-law (Hagan’s husband sits on the board of directors) received $250,644 in 2011 after installing solar panels on its roof and putting in more efficient lighting and replacing furnaces. JDC Manufacturing got an additional $137,000 in federal tax energy credits and $50,000 in Agriculture Department funding in 2012 as part of a 2008 farm bill.

Legal experts tell Politico that Hagan didn’t do anything improper so long as she recused herself from the process of securing the stimulus money, but others say it’s illustrative of a problem with the law.

"It simply raises once again the clear problem that the current recusal system ill serves the senators and the members because it leaves too much gray area," according to Meredith McGehee, policy director at the watchdog group Campaign Legal Center.

In 2012, OpenSecrets.org ranked Hagan as the ninth wealthiest senator, with a net worth in excess of $24 million.

Hagan is locked in a tight reelection race against her Republican challenger, North Carolina Speaker of the House Thom Tillis.

Kay Hagan

Kay Hagan is a U.S. Senate senator, and an honorary co-chair for the Third Way.

                                                                                                              

Note: Thomas R. Carper is a U.S. Senate senator, and an honorary co-chair for the Third Way.
Christopher Coons is a U.S. Senate senator, and an honorary co-chair for the Third Way.
Claire McCaskill is a U.S. Senate senator, and an honorary co-chair for the Third Way.
Jeanne Shaheen is a U.S. Senate senator, and an honorary co-chair for the Third Way. 
Mark Udall is a U.S. Senate senator, and an honorary co-chair for the Third Way.
 David A. Coulter is a trustee at the Third Way, and was the vice chairman for JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Richard M. Daley is a senior adviser at JPMorgan Chase & Co., William M. Daley’s brother, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago. 
William M. Daley was the chairman Midwest region for JPMorgan Chase & Co., the chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration, is Richard M. Daley’s brother, a trustee at the Third Way, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Kathleen Brown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and was an attorney at O'Melveny & Myers LLP.

Ronald A. Klain was a partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP, the chief of staff to the vice president for the Barack Obama administration, and is a trustee at the Third Way.

R. Eden Martin is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP, and is an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

Susan McCue was a founding president & CEO for the ONE Campaign, and is a trustee at the Third Way.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Newton N. Minow is a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

James S. Crown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).          

Lester Crown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Daniel R. Glickman is a director, Congressional Program for the Aspen Institute (think tank), a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and was the secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank), the International Rescue Committee, the New America Foundation, Media Matters, and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a supporter for the Center for American Progress, a supporter for America Coming Together, a contributor for MoveOn.org,

William D. Budinger is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and a trustee at the Third Way.

Reynold Levy was an advisory board member the Aspen Institute (think tank), a trustee at the Third Way, and is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

International Rescue Committee is a partner with the ONE Campaign.

Georgette F. Bennett is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, and a trustee at the Third Way.

Bernard L. Schwartz was a funder & director at the New America Foundation, and is a trustee at the Third Way.

Peter B. Lewis was a donor for Media Matters, a director at the Center for American Progress, a supporter for America Coming Together, a contributor for MoveOn.org, and a trustee at the Third Way.

Thomas R. Carper is an honorary co-chair for the Third Way, a U.S. Senate senator, and was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mark Udall is an honorary co-chair for the Third Way, a U.S. Senate senator, and was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

James E. Clyburn is an honorary co-chair for the Third Way, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Joseph Crowley is an honorary co-chair for the Third Way, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

John D. Dingell is an honorary co-chair for the Third Way, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Ron Kind is an honorary co-chair for the Third Way, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Jared S. Polis is an honorary co-chair for the Third Way, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Allyson Y. Schwartz is an honorary co-chair for the Third Way, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.