Herrera, Porter are questioned about Social Security fix

Erin Neff

Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002 | 9:51 a.m.

Dario Herrera's camp thought opponent Jon Porter flip-flopped. Porter thought he was only being prudent.

But Scott Otto thought neither candidate for the 3rd Congressional District answered his question about Social Security at a debate Monday night sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas.

"Dario definitely did not, and Sen. Porter, well he didn't either," Otto said following three debates at Congregation Ner Tamid.

The question was how Herrera, a Democrat and chairman of the Clark County Commission, would fix Social Security.

Herrera instead seized the bait from Otto, a Republican planning to vote for Porter, as a way to highlight his opponent's changing message.

"I would never, ever vote to privatize Social Security," Herrera said. "Unlike what my opponent said he would do during his last campaign."

Otto stood at the microphone and told Herrera that he only told him what he wouldn't do. Otto asked again, citing three potential ways to shore up the system, including raising payroll taxes 50 percent and cutting benefits 30 percent.

Herrera said he believed America "can meet the existing needs for seniors," and that cuts or increased taxes weren't a current option. Herrera said if Congress were only responsible with America's money, the fund would be all right.

Porter said that until his mother's generation, his generation and his children's and "Dario's generation" have guaranteed coverage, he wouldn't touch Social Security.

"Until it's protected, I won't support anything," Porter said.

But Porter, a Republican and former state senator, said: "I don't believe you want a public official who won't look at options. I will always look for options."

The most pointed sparks between the two men came in response to questions from moderator Jon Ralston about television ads both political parties are running to attack their candidate's opponent. Republicans are running an ad highlighting a $42,000 Las Vegas Housing Authority consulting contract Herrera obtained without the OK of the public agency board.

"I believe there are some very, very serious ethical issues," Porter said.

He also criticized a Democratic Party ad attacking him for not voting on certain issues from which he abstained because he manages a district office for Farmer's Insurance Co.

"My record's very clear on having abstained on insurance issues," Porter said.

Herrera defended the Democratic Party ad because, he said, it raises important information about "Jon Porter's very serious ties to the insurance industry."

Herrera said Porter, as a state senator, voted against consumers twice, once by voting against a bill that mandated mental health coverage and once by failing to vote for a measure that would have prevented further insurance rate increases.

Porter said he always abstained on insurance issues and that he voted against the mental health benefit because, as a small-business owner, he understood how certain regulations can be a burden.