Economy Dominates Houck, Reeves Debate

The candidates for Virginia's 17th District senate seat used last nights debate at UMW to draw sharp ideological distinctions between themselves on economic and social issues.

Assembled before a standing room only crowd in a basement auditorium at the University of Mary Washington's Monroe Hall, incumbent Sen. Edd Houck (D-Fredericksburg) and his Republican challenger Bryce Reeves took questions from panelists and the public for more than an hour.

Houck used many of the questions to emphasize his ability to work across party lines with Republicans on key pieces of legislation and his experience as a seven term state lawmaker. He tried to label Reeves as a dangerous conservative extremist willing to sacrifice the good of the commonwealth for the sake of party ideology.

Reeves' theme of the night was jobs and public service. He repeatedly reminded the audience that he was a small business owner, even mentioning it in response to a question about abortion rights. He also peppered his responses with references to his time as an Army Ranger and a police officer in Prince William County. He tried to paint Houck as out of touch with the economic needs and social worldview of local residents and businesses.

It was perhaps economic issues where Houck and Reeves stood farthest apart. In response to a question from panelist Dick Hammerstron, local news editor for the Free Lance-Star, taking Houck to task for an ad run by his campaign which associated Bryce Reeves with the outsourcing of jobs in Virginia, Houck blasted companies which put profit over community.

The ad links Bryce Reeves' membership in Americans for Prosperity, which receives funding from the Koch brothers, to layoffs at a Virginia nylon plant owned by the Koch brothers. Politifact said the ad was false, and Houck was asked if he regretted running it.

"I do not beleive it is good for the United States of America for these billionaire companies to buy these small plants, close them down and then send these good jobs from Virginians and Americans to other countries just to have greater profits," said Houck, who told the audience he did not regret running the ad.

"I have never sent a job to China," rebutted Reeves. "Americans for Prosperity, they stand for less taxes and less government regulations, all those sorts of things that I as a small business owner look to and they are a bipartisan organization."

"So as we attack the Koch brothers for creating an enterprise, are we going to attack George Soros as well?" Continued Reeves, eliciting boos from Houck supporters.

When asked how he felt about the consolidation of wealth in the  wealthiest one percent of Americans, Reeves seemed not to mind at all.

"I think it's fantastic that folks are out there making money, because those are job creators," said Reeves. "Those folks at the top one percent are bringing jobs, jobs that people in the districts need."

"I just don't believe it's right for one percent of the people to devastate the communities and families and workers because of outsource those jobs for one reason: cheap labor and more profits," rebutted Houck.

The candidates also stood far apart on abortion. When asked how he could square his advocacy for less intrusive government with an anti-abortion stance, Reeves had a hard time reconciling the two, but was able to remind the audience that he owned a small business.

"If you've ever tried to build a building, anything, try to get permits and try to float a loan, you'll find out just how much the government has control over your pocketbook…it's a nightmare, an absolute nightmare some of the regulations that you have to deal with," said Reeves. "Do I believe that there is too much government intrusion? Absolutely…I'm not sure how you can integrate government intrusion and pro life, I just know that pro life is the way I stand."

Houck came out firmly in favor of abortion.

"I trust women to make their own healthcare deicisons," said Houck, who said abortion rights were settled laws.

Houck and Reeves also disagreed over uranium mining, with Houck saying the ban on it should stay. Reeves said that uranium mining should be allowed if it can be done cleanly.

On other issues, Houck said he was open to raising the state gasoline tax to fund road maintenance. Reeves was opposed to any increase in the gas tax.

Both Houck and Reeves pledged to work on making higher education affordable.

Houck and Reeves are up for election next Tuesday.