Cannon, Burridge can agree on little

Sharp divisions on border policy, health care and Congress' current role in American policymaking marked a televised debate between the candidates for Utah's 3rd Congressional seat, Republican incumbent Chris Cannon and Democratic challenger Christian Burridge.

The Friday debate, sponsored by KUED as part of its Vote Utah campaign, was taped Thursday and aired Friday night. Questions came from a live studio audience and e-mails sent from other constituents.

The candidates expressed some degree of agreement on issues such as the No Child Left Behind Act, which both men agreed needs a serious overhaul, and setting a timetable to withdraw American troops from Iraq, which both agreed is not a good solution.

Aside from that, however, the candidates agreed on little. The first question, which asked how candidates propose to fix security issues posed by the porous U.S.-Mexico border, was one of the most hotly debated.

Burridge said the root of the problem is businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

"We need a plan that's going to solve our immigration problems," Burridge said. "That starts first with regulation of the businesses."

Cannon said punishing businesses with stringent regulations is not the answer but that law enforcement agencies need to be empowered to do a better job policing the border.

"I don't think we ought to beat businesses up," Cannon said. "You need the federal government to do its job."

The next question, which asked candidates what they intend to do about the rising number of uninsured people in Utah and around the nation, found the candidates agreeing that the high cost of health care is a serious problem but disagreeing over how to solve it.

Cannon said asking the federal government to step in will not drive down the cost of health care.

"The question is how to we create a market that works so that we have competition, so that we can keep costs down," Cannon said. "The opportunities for better health are wonderful; the key is to get the federal government out of health care and allow the market to take over."

Burridge, however, said he has seen far too many people come into his legal practice for bankruptcy help because of a medical emergency for the federal government to ignore the problem.

"I argue that most citizens in this state are one car accident, one diagnosis away from bankruptcy," Burridge said.

He continued to say the government has already created affordable health care for elected officials and would fight to extend those options to everyone in America.