THE RACE IN NEVADA'S CONGRESSIONAL-DISTRICT-TWO IS A REMATCH: CONGRESSMAN DEAN HELLER AND DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER JILL DERBY.

AS THIS RACE HAS TIGHTENED, THE TWO CAMPAIGNS HAVE BEEN BEEN ATTACKING EACH OTHER'S RECORDS IN TELEVISION ADS.

IN HIS LAST ADWATCH REPORT, KOLO-EIGHT-NEWS-NOW'S ED PEARCE EXAMINED ONE OF HELLER'S SPOTS. NOW HE PUTS A DERBY AD TO THE TRUTH TEST.

(TV Ad script)
"Sometimes the signs are just there. Dean Heller's taken care of the special interests and forgotten about us.
He took $40-thousand dollars from big oil
Voted against alternative fuels (HR6 #40 1/18/07, HR5351 #84 2/27/08)
And gave big oil billions in tax breaks while they make record profits (HR6 #1/18/07, HR 5351 #84 2/27/08)
Heller sold out and we're paying the price. In times like these, we can't afford Dean Heller."

Let's rewind and take a look at the detail behind those claims, point by point.

"Sometimes the signs are just there. Dean Heller's taken care of the special interests and forgotten about us.
He took $40-thousand dollars from big oil."

TRUE, BUT......

This appears to be true. A check of Heller's campaign contributions turns up names like EXXON MOBIL, OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM, CHEVRON AND THE WILDCATTERS FUND, but taken together they represent, but a tiny fraction of the more than a million dollars in contributions to Heller's campaign. So, the suggestion that $40 thousand puts the Congressman in the pocket of big oil is at least a huge exaggeration. By the way we found no oil company money in Derby's contributions.

"Voted against alternative fuels And gave big oil billions in tax breaks while they make record profits."

TRUE, BUT.....

Again this is true as far as it goes, but fairness deserves a closer look.
The ad cites 2 bills....HR 6 The Clean and Renewable Energy Act of 2007 and HR5351 the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008. Heller voted no on both.
The bills provided incentives for things like solar power, hybrid vehicles and biofuels, but they also sought the repeal of subsidies to the oil and natural gas industry.
But Heller argues repealing those subsidies amounted to tax increases something he opposes. So, we're left with a question.

TAX BREAK OR SUBSIDY?

Is a subsidy a tax break? And if it is, is getting rid of it a tax increase?

REPEAL = TAX INCREASE?

Heller would argue that it is. Those who supported the bills argued the subsidy was hardly needed at a time the oil companies were registering record profits.
It should be noted that those subsidies were put in place before Heller was in Congress and he has supported other alternative energy bills.

"Heller sold out and we're paying the price.In times like these, we can't afford Dean Heller."

As always that's your call.

DEAN HELLER AND JILL DERBY HAVE AGREED TO BATTLE FACE-TO-FACE.
THE TWO WILL DEBATE IN ELKO ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 20TH.
***HELLER AND DERBY WILL FACE QUESTIONS FROM A MODERATOR, QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE... -AND- THEY WILL ALSO GET A CHANCE TO QUESTION EACH OTHER.