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.