Man in Custody after Making a Threat in Senator’s Office

SEN. KAY HAGAN

"A Russian immigrant is in police custody after making a threatening comment to employees at Senator Kay Hagan’s Greensboro office earlier today.

Yakov Izrailevick Mamut, 60, was in the office at 701 Green Valley Road for a pre-scheduled appointment when he apparently became frustrated. Mamut, who speaks limited English, was using the office’s Language Line to help resolve his complaints. After becoming dissatisfied with the progress of his issue, he stated through the Language Line employee words to effect of “I have nothing loose. I might as well shoot someone.”

An office employee called 911 at 10:47 a.m. Police arrived an took Mamut safely into custody at 11:06 a.m. He was not in the possession of a weapon.

After interviewing Mumut, he was charged with Communicating Threats, and banned from Senator Hagan’s offices.

The senator was not in the office at the time of the event. No one was injured.

As is standard when an alleged threat is made towards members of Congress, GPD notified United States Capitol Police who are conducting a threat assessment.

Mamut’s last known address was 1373 Lees Chapel Road. "

A Police Report         

Sen. Hagan to visit Winston-Salem for fundraiser

Kay Hagan

US Sen. Kay Hagan, who is girding herself against a home-state backlash to the Affordable Care Act and preparing for what promises to be a fierce, tea party-driven Republican challenge, will be in Winston-Salem on Friday to raise money for her 2014 reelection campaign.

The fundraiser will be held at the office of Noah Reynolds, a scion of the Reynolds tobacco family who ran unsuccessfully for city council this year. "Hosts," who are paying $1,000 to $2,600 to attend, include Mayor Allen Joines, Councilwoman Denise D. Adams, Councilman Derwin Montgomery, Councilman-elect Jeff MacIntosh, NC Rep. Ed Hanes Jr., Forsyth County Commissioner Everette Witherspoon, former Mayor Martha Wood, former NC Sen. Linda Garrou and Greensboro developer Michael Schiftan.

Charlotte pastor who pushed marriage amendment jumps into Senate race

Mark Harris, a Charlotte pastor, launches his bid for US Senate today.

Harris' candidacy puts him into contention with NC House Speaker Thom Tillis and Cary obstetrician Dr. Greg Brannon in the Republican primary to challenge Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan.

A Winston-Salem native, Harris served as senior pastor at Center Grove Baptist Church in Clemmons before assuming his current position as senior pastor of the 3,400-member First Baptist Church in Charlotte. Harris has held several leadership roles in the NC Baptist State Convention, and played a prominent role in promoting the marriage amendment supported by North Carolina voters last year.

Harris is touring the state by plane today to talk up his candidacy, and will be at Landmark Aviation, located at 1060 PTI Drive in Greensboro at 2 p.m.

Tillis is widely considered the frontrunner in the Republican field. Brannon has been campaigning since the beginning of the year. The Brannon campaign reported yesterday that the candidate has raised more than $275,000 since the start of the campaign. Brannon calls himself a "tea party favorite" and the "foremost grassroots candidate in the race."

Greensboro religious leaders unite to support immigration reform

Numerous Greensboro clergy gathered at Temple Emanuel this afternoon to speak in support of comprehensive immigration reform at the national level. Local non-profit FaithAction International House organized the press conference to show Senators Kay Hagan and Richard Burr the unified sentiment among various faith communities across the city.

Rev. David Fraccaro, FaithAction's executive director, predicted that the North Carolina senators will cast two of more decisive votes when Senate addresses the reform bill in June.

FaithAction staff members Ghaisha Yahaha-Mohammed and Endy Mendez (l-r) share their experiences since immigrating.

Rabbi Fred Guttman of Temple Emanuel

Rev. Jeff Paschal of Guilford Park Presbyterian Church

Rev. Clarence J. Shuford of St. Philip African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church

Pastors Raul Landa and Jonathan Lewis of Christ Wesleyan Church

Minister Wesley Morris and Rev. Dr. Nelson Johnson of Faith Community Church

After speaking, each cleric signed the FaithAction poster, which will be mailed to Sen. Hagan and Sen. Burr on Friday.

Baptist clergy call for immigration reform in Winston-Salem

Upwards of a dozen Baptist pastors gathered in Winston-Salem today to call for comprehensive immigration reform in Washington.

"We're asking Sens. Kay Hagan and Richard Burr and Congresspersons Virginia Foxx and Mel Watt, as well as the other congresspersons in North Carolina to act now on comprehensive, fair immigration reform that respects the God-given dignity of every person, protects the unity of every immediate family, respects the rule of law, guarantees secure national borders, ensures fairness to taxpayers and establishes a path toward legal status and/or citizenship for those who qualify and wish to become permanent residents," the Rev. Brandon Hudson, pastor of Northwest Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, said on behalf of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina.

The Rev. Ryan Eller said the fellowship represents Baptists with a broad range of political and theological orientations, including people who consider themselves evangelical, moderate and progressive. Almost 400 congregations belong to the fellowship. A full-time organizer with Change.org, Eller is also a pastor with the Via Faith Community, an emergent congregation that meets at Community Arts Cafe on West 4th Street in Winston-Salem.

A handful of pastors read the statement on behalf of the fellowship, including Scott Orr, pastor of Lindley Park Church in Greensboro, and Latino, black and white clergy from congregations in Goldsboro and Siler City. The press conference took place in front of First Baptist Church on Highland Avenue.

"Our Scriptures constantly tell us: Care for the immigrants and strangers among us," said Ka'thy Gore Chappell, leadership development coordinator for the fellowship. "And in the Scriptures, we know that Jesus told us in Mark 12 and Matthew 22 that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our passion, prayer and intelligence and then to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves."

PHOTOS: Two arrested protesting deportation at Sen. Hagan's office

Two immigration activists connected to the NC Dream Team were arrested Thursday for refusing to leave US Sen. Kay Hagan's Greensboro office. The two women were protesting the scheduled deportation of single mother Maria Juana Perez, pictured in the center (in a chair wearing a dark coat).

Perez, who lives in Greensboro, has two young daughters (also pictured) who are US citizens. She was arrested for driving without a license and has been in the country since 2000.

Over 20 supporters, including her sister (the woman in blue seated right) assembled at Hagan's office, some meeting with her staff and others holding banners outside. Perez is scheduled for deportation to Mexico on Dec. 27, two days after Christmas — which coincidentally is her birthday.

The two activists who were arrested around 6:50 pm did so as an act of civil disobedience while supporters and reporters looked on. Below, Elisa Benitez can be seen in red through the window in Hagan's office while a police officer (in yellow) talks to the other Dreamer being arrested. More coverage in the next issue of YES! Weekly, available in print and online Wednesday.

Photos and reporting by Eric Ginsburg.

Photos from Sen. Hagan's business round table

US Sen. Kay Hagan met with business leaders at Gateway University Research Park in Greensboro this morning.

Labor and business battle for Southern Dems' souls

There's significant money and vocal expectations on both sides of the Employee Free Choice Act, for which North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan could be a critical vote.

Labor unions contributed heavily to Hagan's successful bid last year to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

Mark Binker has reported in the News & Record that labor unions gave Hagan more than $250,000 in the 2008 campaign. The Washington-based Center for Responsive Politics breaks down contributions to the Hagan campaign from labor unions, totaling $132,550:

1. National Education Association -- $12,300
2. Teamsters Union -- $10,250
3. AFL-CIO PAC -- $10,000
4. Air Line Pilots Association -- $10,000
5. American Federation of Teachers -- $10,000
6. Communication Workers of America -- $10,000
7. International Association of Fire Fighters -- $10,000
8. Machinists/Aerospace Workers Union -- $10,000
9. Office & Professional Employees Union -- $10,000
10. Plumbers/Pipefitters Union -- $10,000
11. Service Employees International Union -- $10,000
12. Sheet Metal Workers Union -- $10,000
13. United Food & Commercial Workers Union -- $10,000

Despite the fact that Hagan did not sign on as a cosponsor to the Employee Free Choice Act, her continued support for the legislation has been received with appreciation from the NC AFL-CIO.

Anti-union forces have been no less vocal, beginning with Americans For Prosperity, whose North Carolina chapter specifically targeted Hagan in a "Save My Ballot" rally in Greensboro in February.

Americans For Prosperity's funding can be traced back to Kansas-based Koch Industries, whose political action committee, members, employees and their immediate family members strongly backed Hagan's opponent to the tune of $23,600 in last year's election.

Other companies linked to efforts to derail the Employee Free Choice Act include Charlotte-based Bank of America and Atlanta-based Home Depot, whose political action committee slightly favored Republicans over Democrats last year.

The Huffington Post has somewhat famously reported that Bank of America hosted a conference call with business leaders and conservative activists last October to organize opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act. Other participants reportedly included AIG, Home Depot cofounder Bernie Marcus, Rick Berman of the Center for Union Facts.

Bank of America is Hagan's fifth-ranked contributor, with a total $19,050, but the company's political action commmittee, members, employees and their immediate family members have given more to the Dole campaign.

New York-based Citigroup has also reportedly hosted a conference call to build opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act.

The political math behind the fate of the Employee Free Choice Act remains uncertain. Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania's announcement on Tuesday that he will switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party and the likelihood that Al Franken will be seated to represent Minnesota presents the realization of the Democrats' goal to achieve a filibuster-proof majority. However, as President Obama acknowledged during his press conference on Wednesday, Specter holds a reputation for voting independently of any party.

Opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act have hinted that they may apply pressure on conservative, business-friendly Democrats from the South to prevent the bill's passage.

“I agree with Bernie that if there are not enough Republicans operating as a firewall after this election it is going to be very hard to hold the line," Rick Berman can be heard saying in a recording of the conference call last October. "The only way after the election if we don’t have a filibuster-proof Senate is to make this so hot for some Democrats –- Mary Landrieu from Louisiana would be one –- there is a possibility, I would say there is a remote possibility, in some states that even a Democrat who is up for reelection in 2010 has to think twice about whether they’re going to let this thing go by, but I’m not certain that it’s doable.”

Actually, Landrieu was up for reelection last year. Maybe Berman was thinking of Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, who faces reelection in 2010. Like Hagan, Lincoln has not signed on as a cosponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act. The senator from Arkansas cast one of the 51 votes for cloture on the Employee Free Choice Act in 2007 (60 are needed to bring the bill to the floor for consideration), but likely has mixed feelings. Lincoln received $25,800 from Wal-Mart Stores, a staunchly anti-union corporation from the senator’s home state, in the 2008 election cycle. The big-box retailer was Lincoln’s third largest contributor.

The only Senate Democrats from the South, not counting the two members of the Maryland delegation, who are cosponsors of the Employee Free Choice Act are Bill Nelson of Florida and Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia.

Meanwhile, both labor and anti-union forces have staked significant resources on Senate Democrats from the South.

Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia has received $30,250 from labor unions since he was first elected in 2006. And Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia received $12,000 from the Communication Workers of America in the 2008 election cycle.

On the other side, Home Depot's political action committee made significant outlays to Southern Democrats in the 2008 election cycle: $10,000 to Mark Warner of Virginia, $5,000 to Landrieu, $4,500 to Mark Pryor of Arkansas and $2,000 to Lincoln. Bank of America's political action committee gave $10,000 to Warner, $10,000 to Landrieu and $6,000 to Pryor. And Citigroup's political action committee gave $6,000 to Pryor, $4,000 to Warner and $1,000 to Lincoln.

UPDATE, April 30, 12:25 a.m.: Wal-Mart workers will be on Capitol Hill today lobbying for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.

Hagan's awkward position on card check

Kay Hagan went on record in support of so-called card check legislation, which would allow employees to unionize by checking their preference on a card in majority numbers rather than go through a lengthy and costly secret ballot election, during her run for Senate against Republican Liddy Dole last year.

Campaign spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan said in an e-mail to me a month before the election: “Kay supports it as a way to level the playing field for working families. Right now, employees can unionize by either a secret ballot or a card check, but the employer is essentially allowed to decide which method will be officially recognized. This bill simply allows the workers, not the employers, to decide which method to use, and stiffens penalties for intimidation.”

For some voters looking for daylight between the positions of the business Democrat Hagan and Republican incumbent Elizabeth Dole, the card check issue was one reason to support Hagan. YES! Weekly, in fact, based its endorsement of Hagan on the premise that she would help the Democrats achieve a 60-percent supermajority and her support for card check. (The Rhinoceros Times, on the other hand, endorsed Dole for exactly the same reasons.)

Since being sworn in to the US Senate, Hagan has repeated her support for card check, but I haven’t heard back from the senator’s new statewide office in Greensboro, making me wonder whether Hagan is getting cold feet.

The Employee Free Choice Act remains stalled in committee with 39 cosponsors, none of which is Kay Hagan. So what’s happened? I left a phone message for one of the Hagan’s aides at the senator’s new state headquarters office in Greensboro, but I have yet to hear back. Let’s hope that changes.

Hagan has a bit of a tight-rope walk, suggested John Quinterno, a research associate with whom I spoke at the left-leaning NC Budget & Tax Center.

“Many Southern senators face cross pressures from labor interests and business groups in their respective states," he said, "and until there’s a concrete bill in front of them they will be reserved in their judgment.”

NC delegation weighs in on AIG bonuses

We're action packed this week, so some material prepared for print is getting bounced on to the blog. Posting for Keith T. Barber here....

In response to reports that employees of American International Group will be receiving $165 million in performance bonuses, members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation offered harsh criticism of the company’s actions. Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan issued a statement March 17 touching on the American public’s response to the failing financial services company using the $170 billion in government bailout money it received to reward its employees. “I share the public’s outrage at their taxpayer dollars being used in this manner. At a time when working families are struggling to make ends meet, this is atrocious use of our money,” Hagan said. A number of senators, including Hagan, demanded AIG give the money back. Rep. Brad Miller, the Democrat who represents North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District, joined Hagan’s call to hold AIG executives accountable. “It should be a condition of any future contract with taxpayer money to deny these kinds of bonuses,” Miller said. Rep. Howard Coble, the Republican who represents the 6th Congressional District, said the reason he opposed the second $350 billion payout from the Troubled Assets Relief Program was that it provided no guarantees that taxpayer money wouldn’t end up in schemes such as the bonus payouts issued by AIG.

Hagan against overturning NC collective bargaining law

Members of the NC Association of Educators, the state teachers unions, wield a lot of votes. They tend to lean Democratic. And they're a natural constituency for Kay Hagan, the Greensboro Democrat seeking to unseat Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole. What's more, in these times of widening income inequality, home mortgage crisis and financial meltdown, there would seem to be a natural opening for a populist who supports collective-bargaining rights for public employees and making it easier for employees overall to unionize — a proven means for workers to raise their standard of living.

Enter Hagan. The only problem is that as a business progressive not to mention a former banker, challenging the business establishment is not really in the candidate's makeup. Nor can she afford to alienate that constituency.

It was strange, then, to see Kay Hagan first offering to consider a federal law to override North Carolina's prohibition against collective bargaining for public employees, and then emphatically opposing it.

Thanks to News & Record political reporter Mark Binker for pointing me to this blog post from Sept. 8. My browser wouldn't load the audio, but I trust this transcript is accurate:

[Editorial writer Doug] Clark: "This is (about) collective barging [SIC] for public employees. So, North Carolina law doesn't allow that. But would you support federal legislation that would mandate recognition of collective bargaining writes [SIC] for state employees?

Hagan: "Not mandate it, but I would look at having the collective bargaining process available if the employees so voted on that."

Clark: "If the employees...?"

Hagan: "They would have the authority to make that decision."

Clark: "So, if the NCAE wanted collective bargaining rights, you would support that?"

Hagan: "Yes."

Clark: "Even though current state law currently prohibits that?"

Hagan: "Yes."

On Sept. 8, Hagan called Binker and said, "I obviously misspoke," adding, "you know first hand how business friendly I am."

The paper published this statement from Hagan yesterday: "Once I'm elected to the U.S. Senate, I want you to know that I will never support a bill at the federal level that mandates states allow collective bargaining of state government employees. I truly believe that's a state's rights issue."

Campaign finance: Kay Hagan

Office sought: US Senate
Party affiliation: Democrat
Current occupation: NC senator
Residence: Greensboro
Incumbent: Elizabeth Dole
Information current as of Dec. 31, 2006

Total receipts: $562,695

Contributions of $5,000 (maximum allowable amount) from political action committees:
• America Works PAC, Washington, DC
• Prairie PAC, Springfield, Ill.
• Searchlight Leadership Fund, Washington, DC

Contributions of $4,600 (maximum allowable amount for both primary and general elections combined) from individuals:
• Anthony Atala, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem
• Crandall Bowles, Springs Industries, Charlotte
• Gail Boulton, Greensboro
• Nancy Brenner, Advance
• James C. Carlisle, Greensboro
• Linda Carlisle, Greensboro
• Sue Cole, Granville Capital, Greensboro
• Alan Cone, Blue Gem, Greensboro
• Sally Cone, Greensboro
• John W. Davis III, Deutsche Bank, Winston-Salem
• Wesley R. Elinburg, Greensboro
• Lisbeth Evans, Winston-Salem
• Betty Fraser, Miami
• Anne H. Gray, Atlanta
• Bernard Gray, Gray Ventures, Atlanta
• Anne B. Hagan, Winchester, Mass.
• CT Hagan, Boston Scientific, Greensboro
• Carrie C. Hagan, Greensboro
• Charles Hagan III, Hagan Davis law firm, Greensboro
• Charles T. Hagan Jr., Greensboro
• Jeanette Hagan, student, Santa Barbara, Calif.
• John C. Hagan, Revolution Plastics, Greensboro
• Mary G. Hagan, Greensboro
• R. Philip Hanes Jr. (former CEO of Hanesbrands), Winston-Salem Cultural Affairs office, Winston-Salem
• Carl Icahn, Icahn Associates, New York
• Leonard J. Kaplan, Greensboro
• Randall Kaplan, investor, Greensboro
• EJ Lambeth, Reynolds American, Winston-Salem
• Robert E. Long Jr., investor, Greensboro
• Kathy E. Manning, Manning & Associates law firm, Greensboro
• Mackey J. McDonald, VF Corp., Greensboro
• Kenneth Miller, Granville Capital, Greensboro
• Mary N. Oglesby, Chapel Hill
• Jane B. Preyer, Environmental Defense Fund, Raleigh
• Joe P. Ruthven, the Ruthvens, Lakeland, Fla.
• Judy B. Ruthven, Lakeland, Fla.

Contributions of $2,300 (maximum allowable amount for primary elections) from individuals:
• John L. Atkins, O’Brien Atkins, architects, Research Triangle Park
• Michael Brader-Araje, Sunpocket Management, Chapel Hill
• F. Cooper Brantley, lawyer, Greensboro
• Abe Brenner, Advance
• Mike Brenner, Atlantic Scrap and Processing, Advance
• Joseph M. Bryan Jr., financier, Greensboro
• Jan R. Capps, Moses Cone Health System, Greensboro
• Stephen A. Capps, Idexx Pharmaceuticals, Greensboro
• Judy Carter, Fairview
• Mott Carter, Summerfield
• WL Carter III, Southern C’s Farm, Summerfield
• Wilbur L. Carter Jr., Summerfield
• Jimmy Clark, Guy M. Turner Inc., Greensboro
• Pete Cross, Cross Sales & Engineering Co., Greensboro
• Candace S. Cummings, Greensboro
• Henry V. Cunningham Jr., Cunningham & Co., Greensboro
• Frank Davidson, Raleigh
• Jane Ellison, Design Collection Limited, Greensboro
• John G. Ellison Jr., Ellison Co., Greensboro
• Linda Garrou, NC senator, Winston-Salem
• Lynda Goldberg, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill
• Belinda Harris, Ray Harris Towing, Greensboro
• Stephen C. Hassenfelt, Granville Capital, Greensboro
• David R. Howard, real estate development, Greensboro
• Anne D. Hummel, Greensboro
• Leslie A. Hummel, policy analyst, Washington, DC
• Sam Hummel, Greensboro
• James B. Hunt Jr. (former North Carolina governor), Womble Carlyle law firm, Lucama
• Debby R. Kern, Trace Holdings, Greensboro
• Burley Mitchell Jr. (retired NC Supreme Court chief justice), Womble Carlyle law firm, Raleigh
• Daniel D. Mosca, investor, Browns Summit
• OU Mutz, Lakeland, Fla.
• Robert L. Page, Replacements Limited, Greensboro
• Mary K. Parks, Parks Chevrolet, Winston-Salem
• Robbie Perkins (Greensboro city councilman), NAI Piedmont Triad, Greensboro
• Margaret R. Perry, Winston-Salem
• William R. Perry III, Atlantic Scrap & Processing, Kernersville
• Jim W. Phillips Jr., Brooks Pierce law firm, Greensboro
• Susan J. Phillips, Greensboro
• L. Richardson Preyer Jr., Deep Springs, Hillsborough
• Marilyn Jacobs Preyer, Hillsborough
• Keith S. Rosen, Atlantic Scrap & Processing, Greensboro
• Joe L. Ruthvens, Ruthven Investments, Lakeland, Fla.
• Thomas R. Sloan, Essilor of America
• Joy Shavitz, Greensboro
• Stephen E. Shavitz, Triad Commercial Properties, Greensboro
• Theresa Stone, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston
• Susan A. Stuyler, Fairview
• Lynn Webster, Lifetree Medical, Salt Lake City
• Pamela K. Whitaker, Key Resources, Greensboro

Source: Federal Election Commission

Hagan: I’m running against Liddy, not Jim

The announcement by NC Sen. Kay Hagan (D-Guilford) that she will seek the US Senate seat currently held by Republican US Sen. Elizabeth Dole comes three weeks after a staffer confirmed for YES! Weekly the accuracy of an Associated Press story stating that she would not run for US Senate.

In the meantime, Chapel Hill investment banker Jim Neal entered the race. Neal is running on a platform of fiscal conservatism and ending the war in Iraq, but what generated the most attention was Neal’s frank and unapologetic admission that he’s gay.

Here’s what Neal’s website says about his stance on Iraq:

In broad strokes: “Our troops have done everything we asked — and I don’t want to see any more of them die.”

The bold position: “It’s time to bring them home to the heroes’ welcome they have earned, to rejoin their families, resume their careers, and be part of their communities again.”

The caveat: “To guarantee we don’t have to send them back in a few years, we need to redeploy small strategic units in the region to counter terrorism and train Iraqi security forces.”

So why did Hagan change her mind and decide to join the fray?

“I’ve been inundated by requests from Democrats and Republicans throughout North Carolina to reconsider my position,” she told me in a phone conversation today. “I think that people don’t see her and don’t know what she’s done for them. The mood around the state is that we need change. I want to be that fresh voice in Washington.”

Hagan is critical of Bush’s handling of the Iraqi war — as are virtually all Democrats and most Republican these days.

“We need accountability to end the war in Iraq so we can reinvest those resources here at home,” she says in her official announcement. “How can Washington reject healthcare for 123,000 North Carolina children, while continuing to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on this mismanaged war?”

Hagan indicates that she does not favor Congress cutting off funding for the war.

She told me: “First and foremost, the president got us in the war, and it’s up to him to decide when to bring the troops home. I come from a military family, and I want to emphasize that I want to be sure that the men and women in the military have all the equipment they need.”

Hagan stresses her political stewardship as a state lawmaker.

“I’ve spent nine years in Raleigh,” she says. “I think I bring accountability to the budgetary process, and I’m a results-oriented leader. I want to bring those qualities to Washington on behalf of the people of North Carolina.”

Should anyone wonder (as I did) whether Hagan’s running to keep her Democratic rival, Jim Neal, from winning, she transfers the focus to the finish line — Election Day 2008.

“I am running against Liddy Dole,” Hagan says, “so that Kay Hagan can be the next US senator from North Carolina.”