Whatley touts Social Security tax relief during Wilmington stop; Cooper campaign fires back

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley visited New Hanover County on Wednesday, meeting with local leaders and seniors to discuss tax relief and the cost of living.

Whatley, the former chair of the Republican National Committee, spoke at the New Hanover County Senior Resource Center, where he highlighted the “No Tax on Social Security” provision included in the Working Families Tax Cuts package.

During the roundtable discussion, Whatley said reducing the tax burden on seniors and working families is one way to help address rising costs.

“We want to bring down inflation, we want to bring down interest rates, we want to bring down gasoline prices, but in terms of tax burden that people are paying, we want to make sure that they have less that they have to pay so that they can actually keep more of their money,” Whatley said.

The visit comes as Whatley campaigns for North Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat.

Following the event, a spokesperson for former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s campaign said in a statement to WWAY:

“Washington D.C. insider Michael Whatley helped lead the charge to double health care premiums, pushed legislation to jack up prescription drug prices for our seniors, made millions lobbying for big utility companies including Duke Energy as North Carolinians’ electric bills went through the roof and spent his career delivering for corporations and special interests at the expense of North Carolina families,” Cooper said in the statement.