Dina Titus for Congress

The Las Vegas Sun has endorsed Dina Titus; I voted for her over incumbent Congressman Jon Porter.

As Republican Jon Porter nears completion of his third term representing Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, he has done little to distinguish himself from the crowd.

The consummate backbencher, Porter has been a loyal foot soldier for the Bush administration, though he began to move away from some of its destructive policies this past term. Still, he voted 75 percent with fellow Republicans in 2007, according to the Congressional Quarterly.

If voters are seeking dynamic leadership to represent a district that cries out for someone who would fight on behalf of them instead of special interests, they would be much better served by sending Democratic challenger Dina Titus to Congress.

The longtime state Senate minority leader and UNLV political science professor is well known to Southern Nevadans. In the Nevada Legislature she supported programs that benefited children, seniors and the disabled.

Her legislation created the successful Nevada Check Up Program for uninsured children. Seniors can purchase less expensive drugs from Canada because of a bill she co-sponsored. Nevadans also have Titus to thank for a law that doubled the penalties for offenders who commit crimes against disabled individuals.

As an educator, she has been a tireless advocate of smaller classes and full-day kindergarten. Her environmental record is impeccable, including pushing Nevada toward greater development of renewable energy resources. An example was legislation she sponsored that required Nevada’s utility companies to acquire a certain percentage of renewable energy as part of the power they sell to consumers.

She also played a key role in the preservation of Red Rock Canyon.

These are the types of legislative achievements voters can expect from Titus if they send her to Washington.

What have Southern Nevadans gained from having Porter in Congress? Not much. His list of accomplishments is as thin as a wafer. That explains why his TV advertising campaign has largely consisted of negative attacks on Titus that have been as nasty as they have been untrue.

Here's the video of their debate.