On Oct. 18th Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-08) and the Democratic challenger Kathryn Boockvar appeared on WNPV's Comment Please by Univest with host Darryl Berger
The radio debate is available online so you can listen for yourself. I listened and took notes. This is not intended as a complete transcript and, as always, I apologize in advance for any errors or misconceptions.
DB: 8th
congressional district still all of Bucks County but no longer NE Philly, part
of Montgomery County in the district has shifted more to the west. Parts of North Penn area, Indian Valley.
Opening Comments
MF: Thanks. My name is Mike Fitzpatrick. I was sent to Congress in 2011 to put congressional
house in order and to criticize my party when wrong and Democrat party when
wrong. I am one of the most independent
congressional representatives.
KB: Thanks. Thanks to the Inquirer for endorsing me. I’ve never been a politician but always in
public service, representing disabled veterans, women, senior citizens. Running whole life, feel congress has lost
public service, now it is all about them.
I want to bring it back to being about people. Move things forward for all of us, boosting
economy.
Questions
DB: Nature of this
campaign, a lot of money on negative ads, how you’ve been characterized by
other campaign
MF: It is an
issue. A lot of money spent by outside
organizations. Think I and KB would
agree that things should stay in Bucks Co.
I have a voting record. I’m
described one way when my voting record is another. Cites document from bipartisan group (Bipartisan
Policy Center) on vanishing moderates.
Always independent. My constituents
know me and my record. National Dems
trying to change people’s minds. Don’t
think it will work.
KB: Congressman does
have a voting record. MF has voted with
Tea Party on important issues, in favor of Tea Party record, in favor of
abolishing Planned Parenthood. I’m proud
of my career and record, representing disabled veterans, senior citizens. This is what I’ve always done. They call me names because they don’t want to
talk about their voting record.
DB: So much money
coming into this campaign, some from constituents but a lot from outside, from
PACS. Does it seem disproportionate to
you? Millions raised for race for what end?
KB: I was in favor of
campaign finance reform, never so much in favor of it as I am now. Amount of money being spent is a national
travesty. The good we could do with that
money. Don’t always know who has donated
because of organizations that don’t have to report it. I will work hard to enact campaign finance
reform.
MF: With all due
respect, we’re all going to say we’re for campaign finance reform. Would like to see rule that only people who
live in district can donate to race. Tried
to reach out to opponent two years ago to limit donations, they laughed, this
year reached out no response. Only
outside group is Take Down Fitzpatrick.
It started early. Trying to
define me in a way that my constituents said that’s not fair. For the course of the year the only outside
force involved in Take Down Fitzpatrick.
Easy to say you’re for campaign finance reform but harder to do.
KB: I have nothing to
do with Take Down Fitzpatrick. In last
quarter Fitzpatrick raised over $200K from PACS. We’ve had over 12K individual contributors to
this race. Fitzpatrick started out race
a year before us with $1Million. I will
start from day 1 as a member of congress to fight for voices of people to be
louder than voices of corporations.
DB: IN DC you vote on
bills from party leaders. If you
approach someone who says they are voting for other presidential candidate how
to you appeal to them
KB: I am knocking on
Republican, Democratic, and Independent doors.
Bucks Countians are independent thinkers. Everyone so frustrated with so little getting
done. Looking for people to work across
the aisle. I don’t agree with everything
Barack Obama does or Mitt Romney does.
My mediation background has me looking for common ground and
solutions. Just at an event when a woman
came over and said voting for Mitt Romney but also voting for Kathy Boockvar.
MF: If you take a
look at the voting history of Bucks, I always run looking for support of Democrats,
Republicans, and Independents. I live 3
blocks from where I grew up. One of most
diverse communities in county. I live
amongst and talk to Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, take all that
down to nation’s capital. One of the
most competitive districts in state and country. Requires a Representative who lives here and
understands it.
DB: Jobs and the
economy
MF: First, jobs and
the economy are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd issue. I was sent to DC to stand up for the district,
to take on the Democrat administration when they were wrong. The jobs and economic record of this administration
a failure. Debt gone up 60% in 4
years. Real unemployment rate in double digits. Gasoline went from $1.83 when Obama took
office to $4.00 today. Dragging down
economic ability to expand. Talk to businessmen
all the time, talk to them about the challenges they face, getting people to
work. I put together a plan called Made
in the USA. Businesses looking for lower
taxes, smart regulations, health care costs out of control. Current admin failed on. More taxes, greater expenses for small biz, stand up and say he’s wrong.
KB: The Boockvar
agenda is action not words. MF in office
for 21 months, no action. We’ve been in
a critical situation for years now, why haven’t we moved forward. Would lower base corporate tax rate, a
disincentive for business. Limit loopholes,
biz able to get out of paying taxes.
Give credits to biz for bringing jobs back. Build in America so we can buy in America. Research and technology. This is the first thing I would do.
MF: My opponent wants
to lower corporate rate but she’s promised to remove Bush tax cuts, increase
taxes on dividends and capital gains.
There’ve been many bills introduced.
Harry Reid refuses to bring them up for a vote. Bills pass in in the House, not in Senate. Reins Act, reduce regulatory problems, if
affects business has to go back for review.
Exploration for off shore energy.
KB: I’m on not the
record for anything on capital gains tax.
Only talked about Bush tax cuts, end on richest 1 or 2%. Largest part of deficit is Bush tax cuts,
moreso than wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Only time we lowered taxes and went to
war. I don’t sign pledges. Legislators should have an open mind on
options. Wealthiest 1 or 2% tax cuts
have to end. Will have $1T off
deficit.
MF: Stop threatening
to raise taxes on American people and small businesses. In a difficult economy, don’t increase
taxes. Barack Obama said that 18 months
ago. KB just said she is going to raise
taxes on people in Bucks County. I’m not
raising the taxes on anyone. We need to
recover first. Her plan would raise
taxes on 1 million small businesses.
KB: The congressman
can’t raise taxes because he signed Grover Norquist’s tax pledge. I go in with open mind. 98% of small businesses will not be impacted
by ending Bush tax cuts for top 1 or 2%.
Pres. Clinton said we should end tax cuts for top earners.
MF: between 2/3 and
75% of new jobs created by small businesses.
KB’s plan would raise taxes on 1 million small businesses. We need them to buy new equipment (hopefully
made in US), hire people. Small
businesses tell me they want fewer regulations, cut tax rate. My opponent says she will raise taxes,
increase regulations, health care. I say
government that spends less, taxes less, let individuals make their own
business decisions.
DB: Repeal affordable
health care act (Obamacare)
KB: I would not
repeal it. Everything MF saying is
mostly inaccurate. MF voted twice for
Ryan budget which puts burden on middle class not wealthiest. My visions is to support seniors and most
vulnerable. Pres. Clinton had high job growth
with higher taxes on wealthy, higher than under Bush when taxes lower. Health care is no the bill or law I would have
drawn. My single biggest concern is that it not be a burden on individuals or small
businesses. I owned a small
business. At the same time we should acknowledge
that we don’t want neighbors and friends getting health care at ER. Bill should be tweaked. Need cost containment. We spend over 17% of GDP on health care,
administrative spending is unbelievable.
If we were to spend less than 12% of GDP on health care, save $870B
every year.
MF: I always call is
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to be respectful. Some reforms need to be supported, coverage
for pre-existing conditions, negotiate with employers to keep kids on health
coverage while looking for jobs. But
most of what is in that bill is harmful to economy. Business says it’s a burden. Repeal and
replace with a new bill that includes those consumer protections. Passed without a single Republican vote.
Obama said you can have your say then we’ll have our way. Elections have consequences. They said if you have health insurance you
can keep it. Not a tax. Costs won’t go up. Supreme Court says it is a tax. Premiums have gone up. Most families have seen premiums go up. You keep the consumer protections which are
good but repeal the balance. Go with
free market reforms. Permit individuals
to purchase insurance across the state lines.
KB: You can’t keep
those protections if bill repealed. He
voted with his party over 30 times to repeal part or all the bill. Al the citizens of Bucks and Montgomery
Counties agrees we need to be able to cover kids until 26, cover pre-existing conditions,
no copays for preventive care, but can’t have that unless healthy have coverage
as well as sick. This is not the bill I
would have drawn. A lot needs to be
fixed. Individual mandate developed by conservative
organization.
MF: Includes $715B
out of Medicare.
KB: Same thing in
Ryan budget that MF supported.
MF: When we need to
strengthen and secure Medicare. Bill has
IPAB, decide what is provided and what is not.
Senior citizens will come to DC and ask for something to be covered but
decisions made by unelected board.
KB: The $716B changes
how providers are paid. MF voted twice
for Ryan budget, took same $716B not to coverage but to fund tax breaks to
millionaires and billionaires. The
panel, I’ve never said I’m in favor of it.
Changes need to be made on that as well.
Not a bunch of bureaucrats, but group of interested parties
MF: These decisions
need to be made by physicians and patients.
If she believes you can take 716B out of Medicare and not affect med
care. Cuts physicians. We don’t have enough doctors now.
Closing statements:
KB: Thank you
again. There are two starkly different
visions. I believe what will make America
stronger is the principal of “we’re all in this together.” Working together across the aisle. Moving forward for all of us. Not just for the wealthy but working for all
of us. Endorsed by National Committee to
preserve Social Security and Medicare. www.boockvar.com
MF: What really
matters to most of us, turning economy around.
Unemployment excessively high. Stand
up against administration. KB has
promoted policies of Pelosi and Democrat Party.
Deficit over $50K per person in 8th congressional
district. High gas prices. Need change in the country. www.fitzpatrickforcongress.com
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