Horsford, Tarkanian trade personal blows in congressional debate

Democrat Steven Horsford and Republican Danny Tarkanian ratcheted up the one-liners and personal attacks during a debate over who is best to represent Nevada in Congress.

While both candidates sought to stick zingers that might resonate with a television audience, they each failed to answer some questions on big issues from debate moderator Mitch Fox.

On other issues, including gay marriage, nuclear waste storage and the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, the candidates managed to draw clear contrasts.

The 30-minute session, recorded Thursday on tape delay for VegasPBS Channel 10, also showed the candidates' increasing willingness to use personal attacks in the campaign for Nevada's newly drawn Congressional District 4.

The harshest came when the candidates attacked each other over personal financial problems.

Horsford played the personal finance issue card first when he slammed Tarkanian, son of iconic Las Vegas basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, for his role in a failed real estate deal that court documents say have the Republican's family on "the brink of financial ruination."

"He has a $17 million judgment hanging over his head," Horsford said. "And I ask the voters: Can we really trust someone to represent us who can't handle his own personal affairs?"

Rather than address the judgment, which is under appeal, Tarkanian took a shot at Horsford over the Democrat's own personal financial history, which includes home and car loan defaults, lawsuits over unpaid bills and a 2002 warrant for failing to appear in court over a traffic ticket.

Horsford made good on all of the debts, many of which dated to 1998-2002 when he was in his 20s and struggled with bills after a car accident while helping to raise two younger siblings.

"Talk about not handling your own personal affairs, my opponent, 15 times during his adult life has failed to pay bills that he had and he was sued on and went to collections," Tarkanian said. "That's really taking care of your personal bills, isn't it Mr. Horsford?"

The candidates also dodged direct questions from moderator Fox.

At one point, Fox twice asked Horsford whether or not President Barack Obama, who recently endorsed the Democrat, has done enough to revive the struggling economy.

Twice, Horsford failed to answer directly. His first response slammed Tarkanian by saying the Republican would oppose accountability measures for Wall Street bankers.

The second time, Horsford declined to give an up or down answer to the question.

"We all share in the responsibility to do everything we can to create jobs for those who need them," said Horsford, before comparing Tarkanian to "Republicans in Congress who have not worked to offer any solutions."

At another point, Fox asked Horsford, the state Senate majority leader, about his efforts in the Legislature to eliminate mining tax loopholes and how he would treat the industry in Congress. Horsford defended his position as necessary to help fund schools and said he would support the industry in Congress.

Given a chance to respond, Tarkanian didn't give a position on mining but instead criticized Horsford for voting to raise taxes.

There were spots in the debate, though, that highlighted policy differences.

On the question of whether the candidates supported repealing the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriages, Tarkanian said it is a matter best left to the states, and Horsford said, "I support marriage equality for all people."

On the Affordable Care Act, Horsford said he supported it because it prevents insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, prohibits gender-based discrimination on rates and allows young people to remain on their parents' plans until they are 26 years old.

Tarkanian said he opposes the act because, he said, a mandate that people carry insurance is akin to a tax.

It could raise costs for employers which could hurt the economy and increases the number of government bureaucrats involved in health care.

On the issue of nuclear waste, Tarkanian said he would support using underground tunnels at Yucca Mountain for nuclear waste reprocessing. He also said if that isn't possible, he would support using the tunnels for secure data storage or military training uses.

Horsford opposed using the site for waste storage, calling such a plan dangerous.

The two candidates will meet for their last debate Sunday at Temple Sinai in the northwest valley.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@
reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285 .