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Monday, Oct. 11, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.
Two Southern Nevadans are running for re-election to Congress and both have shown themselves to be strong and able lawmakers.
In the 1st Congressional District, Rep. Shelley Berkley, a Las Vegas Democrat, is running for re-election on a strong record forged over the past 12 years. She has proved to be a tireless and diligent worker for her constituents over the years. Berkley has been a champion of seniors and veterans. A former Nevada System of Higher Education regent, she has been an advocate for education. She has consistently provided support for Nevada’s businesses and industry, and she has been firm in her stance against making Nevada a nuclear waste dump.
A respected lawmaker, Berkley has worked well with her colleagues and worked with Nevada’s other members of Congress to bring federal support to the state. Four years ago, Berkley was rewarded for her hard work by being appointed to the powerful House Ways & Means Committee, becoming only the third Nevadan to take a seat on the committee. That has given her a greater voice in deliberations on key legislation.
Berkley has done an excellent job representing Nevada and her district. The Sun endorses Shelley Berkley.
Rep. Dina Titus, a Las Vegas Democrat, was elected in 2008 in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District after serving two decades in the state Legislature. The former minority leader in the state Senate, she has quickly made a name for herself in Congress. Titus has been much more active and visible than the typical freshman. She has been involved in molding legislation and has spoken for her caucus on education issues.
Titus is being challenged in her re-election bid by Republican Joe Heck, a physician and former state senator. Heck has criticized Titus’ votes for many crucial bills, including the health care and Wall Street reforms, despite saying he agreed with some of the key provisions of the legislation.
Heck has tried to paint Titus as a tax-and-spend liberal, but that isn’t the case. A National Journal review of lawmakers’ votes determined Titus to be a centrist. Titus has split with her party on several key issues, including additional funding for the Troubled Asset Relief Program. She initially opposed the health care bill, objecting to provisions that she said would hurt families and small business. She voted for it after getting those provisions changed.
Titus has been an outspoken advocate for her constituents, particularly homeowners hit hard by the economic crisis. She has worked diligently to marshal federal support.
One of the most notable differences between Titus and Heck is their stances on Yucca Mountain, the proposed high-level nuclear waste dump 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Nevada’s opposition to Yucca Mountain over the years has been bipartisan and nearly unanimous among the state’s leaders. However, this year many GOP candidates in Nevada have softened their opposition as Republican leaders in Congress have disregarded safety and scientific problems with the plans. They have made clear their desire to dump at least 77,000 tons of deadly radioactive material in the state.
In an interview with the Sun’s editorial board, Heck refused to rule out Yucca Mountain as a waste dump, saying the process to approve it should “go to completion,” a view that puts him at odds with the rest of Nevada’s congressional delegation.
Meanwhile, Titus has taken a stand for Nevadans’ safety, steadfastly opposing Yucca Mountain.
The bottom line: Titus has worked hard for her constituents and been a great advocate for her district and Nevada. She is experienced, knowledgeable and has a track record of success. The Sun endorses Dina Titus.
Shocker - LV Sun backs two Dems.
Nevada has the worst educational system in the nation. If Berkley is an "advocate", then she is a pretty poor one.
Frankly, Berkley always seems to be more concerned with the state of Israel then Nevada.
Well said, TonyCrago. Totally agree.
On a national level, people have suffered under Republican failed policies.
And we Nevadans have suffered even more with Republicans that were elected into power, and not only proved to be incompetent, but liars and moral degenerates (Ensign and Gibbons).
That's why when I vote on November 2nd, it will be the willingness to slap every Republican I see out of office here in Nevada. I'm so very tired of their shenanigans.
Maybe I can't fix things nationally, but by God, I'm going to fix things here in Nevada. My vote WILL count. And my vote WILL send a clear message that the Republican Party here in Nevada needs to sit on the sidelines for a very, very long time. Because they advocate nothing but wanting to achieve power without any hint they will serve their constituents, even more economic suffering, pain, misery and frustration, and a continuance of their policy of sucking up to the rich and giving corporations everything...at the expense of the poor and the middle class. Republicans cloak themselves as serving the people, but they don't. They serve themselves. And the Tea Party faction of the Republican Party is even worse. They wish to serve the people, but they only select specific things that serve themselves. They seek to follow the Constitution, but only when it suits them...the rest of it they don't like, they want to change. Both the ultra-conservative faction and the Tea Party faction of the Republican Party would destroy America....and Nevada.
Titus and Burkley need to be sent packing back to the states that spawned them.
I agree with this editorial. Isn't it so sad that the sycophant wingnut supporters of the radical extremist republicans are suicide supporters of their own party that has given up politics and adopted the "Do Nothing" mentality with their constant no and obstruction.
I can understand loyalty in supporting our local schools athletic programs, win or lose, because these are our children.
The radical extremist republicans are not our children, they should be viewed as an employee. If their supporters viewed them as an employee, they would be fired for being corrupt and incompetent.
The miserable failure republicans bring absolutely nothing to the American table, yet they want to be seated.
The supporters are the people that can reform the so-called republican party, but they are just not doing it. Their party has no political accomplishments, therefore, they have no political legitimacy.
Gee, the Democrat party operatives that write editorials for the LVSun not only endorse their fellow Democrats, but also think they have done as "excellent job"...lmao.
What the Heck;
Why shouldn't the review process go to the end? What the HECK? Let all the details come out through analysis by committee. NRA supports Heck's position on 2nd amendment. Stand up Nevada and defend your rights to be an American.
The Sun appears to be too liberal for true Nevada voters.
In an interview with the Sun's editorial board, Heck refused to rule out Yucca Mountain as a waste dump, saying the process to approve it should "go to completion," a view that puts him at odds with the rest of Nevada's congressional delegation. - Congressional delegation? The delegation has proven itself to have budgetary incompetence. Come on SUN, get with the program.
Titus is such an obvious choice over Heck. Titus is been out there engaging the public from Day 1 after her election, Heck hides from the public and hopes that a tide of Republican votes will help him get elected, in spite of his crazy ideas.
How in the world can you endorse someone with and accent like that to represent Nevada?
Taxus Titus in Bad for Nevada!
Both these ladies represent those with a peasant mentalitly. I agree with NEZ "Titus and Burkley need to be sent packing back to the states that spawned them."
So the Sun is endorsing Titus and Berkley? Rory Reid for Gov? Why not make a BIG announcement Sun? Don't forget our good 'ole boy Harry Reid! Tell me is that what you buddy Bill said to do Mr. Greenspun? Anybody else you want to throw in there?
tbvegas: "Both these ladies represent those with a peasant mentalitly."
Well said. I especially agree with the "mentalitly" part.
Berkley is a very good congressperson. She deserves to be relected. The same cannot be said for Ms Titus. She lacks independent thought and deserves retirement. Unfortunately, the Sun like the RJ is very partison and won't look clearly at those they support. While Angle is an idiot, so is Mr Reid. It would be nice if both papers were objective.
"Centrist" politicians are what we need to straighten this country out? NO WAY! A centrist is one who moves to the center during the campaign to attract votes on the right and then, after getting elected moves back to the left. To me, these aren't "centrists". They are PHONIES! What we need are true Constitutional Conservatives, if we are to rescue our nation.
Berkley, OMG, I see a female impersonator every time I look at herm
Titus and Berkley need to be returned to Congress so we don't end up with total wingbats like Dr. Heck, Sharron Angle, Brian Sandoval in office. These folks couldn't even decide to run for office on their own - they had to be approached by other entities and encouraged to do so, and those entities are paying for their campaigns. So who's REALLY in the pocket and who's really developing their platforms??????