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Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun
Rep. Dina Titus answers an education question asked by moderator Jeremy Aguero during a 3rd Congressional District debate with Joe Heck on Saturday at the CSN Cheyenne Campus.
Published Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010 | 7:28 p.m.
Updated Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010 | 12:38 p.m.
Sun coverage
Democratic Rep. Dina Titus and Republican Joe Heck met for their first debate Saturday in their race to represent the 3rd Congressional District, striving to point out their differences but agreeing on most topics.
In a meeting that was mostly high-road, incumbent Titus and challenger Heck said small businesses are key to reviving the economy; growing the economy is necessary to reduce the federal deficit; math, science and technology must be emphasized in education funding; and colleges and universities should be held accountable for results if they receive federal dollars.
Titus and Heck disagreed significantly, though, on the federal health care reform bill and stimulus package. Heck said both were flawed in their execution.
Heck views the stimulus package as a bailout that adds to the national debt. Titus said the bill created much-needed jobs in Nevada and provided money to schools and colleges.
Heck conceded that certain provisions of the health care bill would help small businesses but argued that the law adds regulatory burdens that will prohibit businesses from growing. Titus defended the merits of the bill but said it is a work in progress.
The candidates also differ on how K-12 education should be managed. Titus supports the federal Department of Education. Heck believes control should be given to states.
In both his opening and closing statements, Heck asked the crowd gathered in a University of Southern Nevada auditorium whether they were better off today than two years ago.
“If the answer is no, you can be part of the new direction by joining my campaign,” he said.
Titus rebutted that Heck’s version of a new direction was resorting back to the failed Republican policies of the past.
In her remarks, Titus emphasized her record and mentioned women and minorities — both voter demographics she is looking to secure — several times.
Titus took a casual approach to the debate, smiling often and urging the moderator to call her by her first name. Heck was more serious and formal.
Both candidates remained professional and steered clear of name-calling and personal attacks, although they did each manage a few digs.
Heck accused Titus of fear-mongering in her television commercials. Titus, in responding to Heck’s criticism of her record, told her opponent: “You are entitled to your own opinion but you are not entitled to your own facts.”
The crowd of a few hundred appeared split in their loyalties. Audience members responded most vigorously, both with jeers and applause, when health care and stimulus spending were debated.
Those issues are certain to come up again as the campaigns rush toward conclusion. Titus and Heck are scheduled to appear in three more debates this week.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid also fielded questions at the event, sponsored by the college and several local minority chambers of commerce.
Republican Brian Sandoval declined an invitation to appear.
Reid spoke briefly about education, small business and green technology. But by then, most of the audience had left.
Chunky says:
BORING!!!!
Same old same old from the same old party lines!
That's what Chunky thinks!
I voted for Titus in 2008, never aGAIN!!!
We attended the debate and just the fact that the first four rows were reserved for Titus supporters told us all we needed to know. She also caused them to start late, claiming a wreck on the 15 delayed her. We saw nothing on the news about a wreck but we're still looking for it.
Dina Titus was the clear winner.
Shame on Joe Heck and any other republicans who
are against health care reform.
REPUBLICAN GREED AT IT'S WORST.
SAVE OUR STATE AND HEALTH CARE,
VOTE DINA TITUS.
jmoh,
Yes, there was some major delay on the freeway before the debate. I received a nervous call from Delen Goldberg, our reporter covering the debate, who feared she would miss the beginning of it because she was caught in the middle of a major freeway traffic jam.
"Yes, there was some major delay on the freeway before the debate. I received a nervous call from Delen Goldberg, our reporter covering the debate, who feared she would miss the beginning of it because she was caught in the middle of a major freeway traffic jam."
the RJ will stop at nothing! :-)
A vote for TITUS is a vote for OBAMA's agenda.
It IS that simple.
Is it just me or does Dina Titus come off as some backwards hick with a coon dog that just wondered out of the woods. Apart from that, she does not represent her District's constiuents properly. She has already proven that if re-elected she will use her vote to push for more government intrusion in our lives. Voting for Government Takeover of the greatest Health Care System in the world was idiotic. The system needed repairs not destroyed by her hand. Dump her before she can harm our state (and country) any further. Dr. Joe Heck will properly represent his district and help in repealing this mess Titus got us in.
Dessert Sun - First shouldn't that be DESERT Sun or did you actually mean like a piece of pie or cake in the sun?
Second, to answer your question - Yes, it's just you.
rickkorbel.......
A vote for Heck is a vote back to the Bush
agenda.
It's that simple.
Dina Titus is moving us in the correct direction.
We're not going back to greedy republican policy.
NO WAY, NO HOW.
The fact is that I can make better spending decisions with my money than any politician can. They all need to quit telling me what I have to buy and what cause I have to support.
I will support the candidate who supports my right to choose for myself.
( so true )
A vote for TITUS is a vote for OBAMA's agenda.
It IS that simple.
Titus has my vote!
Dessert Sun, she certainly represents this constiuent properly!!
#1 in unemployment.
#1 in foreclosures.
#1 in bankrutcies.
#50 in education.
Yes Titus is doing a great job for Nevada.
Please Ma'am may I have another 2 years!
A vote for Titus is a vote for NEVADA. It is THAT simple.
She lost my vote when she voted for Obamacare and the failed stimulus. She needs to be fired for not listening to her constituents.