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Mia Love and Jim Matheson Square Off in Debate

Utah Republican congressional candidate Mia Love and Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson clashed Wednesday over federal spending cuts during their first debate ahead of the November elections.

The two disagreed on a number of potential cuts to reduce the federal deficit during a televised debate outside KUTV studios and heard on UPR.

Love has offered a proposal to slash federal programs that provide college loans. Matheson criticized Love for that plan, saying 75% of college students in Utah depend on government aid. Love countered that she wasn't wedded to her deficit-reduction plan. She has said she's still paying back college loans herself.

Matheson said he would not cut Social Security or Medicare benefits. He said he supported a Pentagon plan for defense cuts. Love said she would "reform" Social Security and Medicare and protect defense from any budget cuts.