U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo declines Gene Taylor's debate challenge, entertains Homeland Security chief at Ingalls

Steven Palazzo Gene Taylor

Steven Palazzo, left, and Gene Taylor

Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, left, U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo and Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias tour the Pascagoula shipyard on Thursday, April 17, 2014. (HII photo)

PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo rejected an offer for a debate with political foe Gene Taylor today and also entertained Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson on a tour of Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula.

Taylor, a longtime Democrat and congressman who lost to Palazzo in 2010, has switched parties and is challenging Palazzo in the June 3 Republican primary for the 4th District seat.

On Thursday, Taylor -- accompanied by some media -- personally delivered a letter to Palazzo's Gulfport office, offering to debate the incumbent "anytime, anywhere."

"He's not being genuine, so no," said Palazzo campaign manager Hunter Lipscomb. "This was all a coordinated effort to push a debate. He's a lifelong Democrat who only became a Republican because he thinks that increases his elect-ability. We don't believe it's genuine."

Palazzo and Taylor held one debate prior to the 2010 general election and it was held at WKFK-TV 7 in Pascagoula.

"During your terms as Congressman you have been unwilling to hold town-hall meetings; your constituents have been unable to get answers from you on the issues that impact them," Taylor's letter stated.

"You also show an unwillingness to take part in frequent press availabilities, either within the district or in Washington, which has further shown the voters and the press that you are either unable or unwilling to defend your record.

"The people of South Mississippi deserve a congressman who is not afraid to defend his record to the voters!"

When Taylor was delivering his letter, Palazzo was touring Ingalls with Johnson and discussing other issues like flood insurance and mitigation. There was no media access to the visit for security reasons put in place by the federal agency.

"When I invited Secretary Johnson to South Mississippi earlier this year, I wanted him to see firsthand what Mississippi's world-class workforce could do," Palazzo said. "The National Security Cutters are extremely versatile, high-value ships that Huntington Ingalls and its employees continue to deliver on time and on budget. I am thankful for Secretary Johnson's visit, and I will continue to work with him and my colleagues on the Homeland Security Committee and in Congress to ensure funding for the eighth National Security Cutter."

Johnson and Palazzo toured the shipyard and the Ingalls-built National Security C

utter Hamilton (WMSL 753). They 
were also shown Ingalls' fifth NSC, James (WMSL 754), as the ship is preparing to move to the shipyard's drydock and launch next weekend. A sixth NSC (WMSL 755) began construction late last year and will be launched in the fourth quarter of 2015.

"Today was a great opportunity to show Secretary Johnson the quality craftsmanship of our shipbuilders," said Cuccias. "We have a hot production line with our National Security Cutters with three ships already delivered and three more in production. These cutters play a significant role in homeland security operations, and all of the shipbuilders at Ingalls take pride in providing an agile and innovative ship that the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard need to perform their missions."

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