Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on last night's lively debate between Idaho GOP Rep. Raul Labrador and his Democratic challenger, Jimmy Farris. During the face-off, Labrador backed raising the Social Security retirement age to 70, cutting a third of the staff at the Pentagon and banning all abortions other than those to save the life of the mother. Farris differed sharply on the retirement age and abortion, but found common ground with Labrador on trimming military spending. "I think there are a number of places that we would agree and admit that we can find savings," Farris said. "If Pentagon staff is one of them, I'd certainly like to look at it."

Labrador said people are living much longer now than they were when Social Security and Medicare were started, and people like himself, at age 44, have to recognize "that I'm going to have a different program than exists today." Farris disagreed, saying a better way to ensure the solvency of Social Security would be to raise the cap on earnings subject to the Social Security tax.

On abortion, Labrador said he opposes making exceptions for victims of rape or incest. "I think life begins at conception, so I believe it's important that we protect life," he said. Farris said, "This is an issue where we strongly disagree. I do support a woman's right to choose what happens to her body. ... I don't think it's the government's place to be making decisions for women about their health care." You can watch the full debate online at idahoptv.org.