Deficit The Big Issue In 4th District Debate

BRIDGEPORT-As you'd expect at an event held by the AARP, the hot ticket issues were Social Security and Medicare. But in a year where the struggling economy is everything, Wednesday's 4th District Congressional debate was at heart all about the deficit.

"The unfortunate truth is that government can't afford to give a COLA right now," said Republican challenger Dan Debicella, a state senator, in response to the first question, referring to the cost-of-living adjustments that affects Social Security payments.

"Why is that true? In the 23 months that Jim Himes has been in office, we have $3 trillion more in debt. There's been a spending spree going on in Washington on pork barrel projects."

"Sen. Debicella just said we can't afford an increase in COLA and talked a lot about the debt that his party began running up in 2001," responded Himes. "And yet he just told you that he supports a permanent extension of tax cuts. The price tag on that is $700 billion."

Himes noted that the COLA is tied to inflation, not to the nation's fiscal situation. "So when you hear that this country can't afford to make it easier for our seniors to go to the grocery store or pay their heating bill, you're not being told the whole story," he said.

Though many of the talking points have become familiar during the campaign, both candidates threw some serious punches.

""Jim, you've been in power for two years now, you and Nancy Pelosi," said Debicella. It's time to take responsibility for the governing that you have done in the last 23 months."

Debicella, as Himes mentioned toward the end of the debate, referred to Nancy Pelosi six times in the 90-minute event. He also referred to Himes' eloquence - in a style over substance kind of jab - at least three times.

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