Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Examining the claims in the 3rd Congressional District race

debate1

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun

Democrat Dina Titus and Republican Joe Heck have not been afraid to debate. The two met Monday in their second debate.

Titus, Heck debate

Joe Heck clarifies his position on education, refuting remarks by Rep. Dina Titus during a 3rd Congressional District debate Saturday at the CSN Cheyenne Campus. Launch slideshow »

Sun Coverage

Unlike other debates this campaign season (which shall go unnamed), the contests between Democratic Rep. Dina Titus and Republican Joe Heck have been surprisingly informative. The candidates vying for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District have frankly discussed the issues and policies they would fight for if sent to Washington.

That’s not to imply the candidates have been cordial. During a debate Monday, their second, the candidates spoke over one another, each arguing that the opponent was twisting the truth. Titus has accused Heck of making up facts, and Heck has said Titus is running a wholly inaccurate campaign.

To help voters make sense of the claims, the Las Vegas Sun put several statements made by Titus and Heck through the truth test.

Here’s what we found:

The claim

Titus said that more jobs have been created during President Barack Obama’s first two years in office than during the entire George W. Bush administration.

The context

Jobs are the biggest issue on voters’ minds, and candidates know whoever convinces the public they can get people back to work will win the election.

The candidates’ arguments

Titus believes it’s her job as a congresswoman to create jobs and argues that she has done that by supporting the federal stimulus package and tax breaks for small businesses. Titus often quotes Heck as saying “the role of Congress is not to create jobs” — an accurate quote — but one that fails to give the entire context. Heck elaborated on the thought, saying that government’s role is to create an environment with reasonable regulations and a stable tax base that will allow businesses to flourish. Heck said Monday that if Titus’ job is to create jobs, “I’d say it was a failure” because Nevada’s unemployment rate continues to push 15 percent.

Is the claim accurate?

No. According to Labor Department statistics, employment grew by about 1 million jobs during Bush’s eight-year term. The country was in a recession for about a quarter of his time in office.

During Obama’s first year as president, the country lost almost 3.3 million jobs — more the result of a global economic meltdown than Obama’s policies.

But about 600,000 jobs have been created since January. If the trend continues, Obama will likely surpass Bush in jobs created, but he hasn’t done so yet.

The claim

Heck said the federal stimulus package created less than 200 construction jobs in Nevada and only 385 jobs in the 3rd Congressional District.

The context

The $787 billion stimulus, has been a point of contention between Democrats, who see it as the driving force behind the economic rebound, and Republicans, who bash it as expensive and misguided.

The candidates’ arguments

Titus, who voted in favor of the stimulus bill, argues that spending saved more than 2,400 teachers’ jobs and kept 1,800 people working at McCarran International Airport. Heck, who said he would have voted against the stimulus package, complained that funding was spent on unnecessary projects, such as repaving Green Valley Parkway when the existing pavement was only a few years old. Heck said money could have been put to better use and created more jobs if it was spent on large-scale infrastructure programs in the vein of the interstate system.

Is the claim accurate?

Unclear and no. For the construction figures, Heck cites Applied Analysis, which studied the stimulus’ effect on construction jobs for the Associated General Contractors. Applied Analysis said it created only 134 construction jobs.

The numbers it cites are dated. It reports state officials estimate the stimulus created 4,194 jobs, while data on the state’s stimulus website report 9,290.

The website shows only 385 jobs have been created in the 3rd Congressional District. But that number is more a governmental calculation than a true picture of actual employment. The geographical breakdown also is misleading. Most stimulus funding was distributed through Carson City, so the jobs would register there even though the work took place statewide, state analyst Dennis Freimann said.

The claim

Heck said the largest tax increase in U.S. history will take effect in January.

The context

Heck is referring to George W. Bush-era tax cuts set to expire at year’s end. Without congressional action, the taxes Americans pay on income, dividends and capital gains will rise, returning to late 1990s levels. The estate tax, which expired at the end of 2009, will return, and tax credits for education and retirement will shrink. Extending the tax cuts would cost the federal government $4 trillion over the next decade and almost double the deficit.

The candidates’ arguments

Titus favors permanently extending tax cuts for the middle class and temporarily extending tax cuts for the wealthy (individuals who earn more than $200,000 and families that earn more than $250,000). Heck advocates for a permanent extension of the Bush tax cuts for all income brackets. Both argue that raising taxes would stifle the economy, but Titus said permanent cuts for the wealthy are unsustainable.

Is the claim accurate?

Sort of. It’s true that if the tax cuts expire, Americans will be hit with significant increases in their tax bills. But Titus said Congress will not let that happen.

“Sen. Heck knows well that it is going to come up in the lame-duck session.”

Democrats who control Congress generally agree that cuts should be extended for middle-class earners. At issue is whether they will be extended for the wealthy, too.

It’s also important to note that the tax cuts in question were sold as temporary. Although taxpayers’ costs could go up, the expiration of a tax cut is not quite the same thing as a tax hike.

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