Boockvar / Fitzpatrick Debate on WNPV's Comment Please

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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:  8^thcongressional district still all of Bucks County but no longer NE Philly, partof 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 congressionalhouse in order and to criticize my party when wrong and Democrat party whenwrong.  I am one of the most independentcongressional representatives.
KB:  Thanks.  Thanks to the Inquirer for endorsing me.  I’ve never been a politician but always inpublic service, representing disabled veterans, women, senior citizens.  Running whole life, feel congress has lostpublic service, now it is all about them. I want to bring it back to being about people.  Move things forward for all of us, boostingeconomy.
Questions
DB:  Nature of thiscampaign, a lot of money on negative ads, how you’ve been characterized byother campaign
MF:  It is anissue.  A lot of money spent by outsideorganizations.  Think I and KB wouldagree that things should stay in Bucks Co. I have a voting record.  I’mdescribed one way when my voting record is another.  Cites document from bipartisan group (BipartisanPolicy Center) on vanishing moderates. Always independent.  My constituentsknow me and my record.  National Demstrying to change people’s minds.  Don’tthink it will work.
KB:  Congressman doeshave a voting record.  MF has voted withTea Party on important issues, in favor of Tea Party record, in favor ofabolishing Planned Parenthood.  I’m proudof 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 totalk about their voting record.
DB:  So much moneycoming into this campaign, some from constituents but a lot from outside, fromPACS.  Does it seem disproportionate toyou?  Millions raised for race for what end?
KB:  I was in favor ofcampaign finance reform, never so much in favor of it as I am now.  Amount of money being spent is a nationaltravesty.  The good we could do with thatmoney.  Don’t always know who has donatedbecause of organizations that don’t have to report it.  I will work hard to enact campaign financereform.
MF:  With all duerespect, we’re all going to say we’re for campaign finance reform.  Would like to see rule that only people wholive in district can donate to race.  Triedto reach out to opponent two years ago to limit donations, they laughed, thisyear reached out no response.  Onlyoutside group is Take Down Fitzpatrick. It started early.  Trying todefine me in a way that my constituents said that’s not fair.  For the course of the year the only outsideforce involved in Take Down Fitzpatrick. Easy to say you’re for campaign finance reform but harder to do.
KB:  I have nothing todo with Take Down Fitzpatrick.  In lastquarter Fitzpatrick raised over $200K from PACS.  We’ve had over 12K individual contributors tothis race.  Fitzpatrick started out racea year before us with $1Million.  I willstart from day 1 as a member of congress to fight for voices of people to belouder than voices of corporations.
DB:  IN DC you vote onbills from party leaders.  If youapproach someone who says they are voting for other presidential candidate howto you appeal to them
KB:  I am knocking onRepublican, Democratic, and Independent doors. Bucks Countians are independent thinkers.  Everyone so frustrated with so little gettingdone.  Looking for people to work acrossthe aisle.  I don’t agree with everythingBarack Obama does or Mitt Romney does. My mediation background has me looking for common ground andsolutions.  Just at an event when a womancame over and said voting for Mitt Romney but also voting for Kathy Boockvar.
MF:  If you take alook at the voting history of Bucks, I always run looking for support of Democrats,Republicans, and Independents.  I live 3blocks from where I grew up.  One of mostdiverse communities in county.  I liveamongst and talk to Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, take all thatdown to nation’s capital.  One of themost competitive districts in state and country.  Requires a Representative who lives here andunderstands it.
DB:  Jobs and theeconomy
MF:  First, jobs andthe economy are 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd 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 administrationa failure.  Debt gone up 60% in 4years.  Real unemployment rate in double digits.  Gasoline went from $1.83 when Obama tookoffice to $4.00 today.  Dragging downeconomic ability to expand.  Talk to businessmenall the time, talk to them about the challenges they face, getting people towork.  I put together a plan called Madein the USA.  Businesses looking for lowertaxes, 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 Boockvaragenda is action not words.  MF in officefor 21 months, no action.  We’ve been ina critical situation for years now, why haven’t we moved forward.  Would lower base corporate tax rate, adisincentive 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 wantsto lower corporate rate but she’s promised to remove Bush tax cuts, increasetaxes 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, ifaffects business has to go back for review. Exploration for off shore energy.
KB:  I’m on not therecord 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 towar.  I don’t sign pledges.  Legislators should have an open mind onoptions.  Wealthiest 1 or 2% tax cutshave to end.  Will have $1T offdeficit. 
MF:  Stop threateningto raise taxes on American people and small businesses.  In a difficult economy, don’t increasetaxes.  Barack Obama said that 18 monthsago.  KB just said she is going to raisetaxes on people in Bucks County.  I’m notraising the taxes on anyone.  We need torecover first.  Her plan would raisetaxes on 1 million small businesses.
KB:  The congressmancan’t raise taxes because he signed Grover Norquist’s tax pledge.  I go in with open mind.  98% of small businesses will not be impactedby ending Bush tax cuts for top 1 or 2%. Pres. Clinton said we should end tax cuts for top earners.
MF:  between 2/3 and75% 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 (hopefullymade in US), hire people.  Smallbusinesses tell me they want fewer regulations, cut tax rate.  My opponent says she will raise taxes,increase regulations, health care.  I saygovernment that spends less, taxes less, let individuals make their ownbusiness decisions.
DB:  Repeal affordablehealth care act (Obamacare)
KB:  I would notrepeal it.  Everything MF saying ismostly inaccurate.  MF voted twice forRyan budget which puts burden on middle class not wealthiest.  My visions is to support seniors and mostvulnerable.  Pres. Clinton had high job growthwith higher taxes on wealthy, higher than under Bush when taxes lower.  Health care is no the bill or law I would havedrawn. My single biggest concern is that it not be a burden on individuals or smallbusinesses.  I owned a smallbusiness.  At the same time we should acknowledgethat 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 $870Bevery year.
MF:  I always call isPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act to be respectful.  Some reforms need to be supported, coveragefor pre-existing conditions, negotiate with employers to keep kids on healthcoverage while looking for jobs.  Butmost of what is in that bill is harmful to economy.  Business says it’s a burden. Repeal andreplace 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 youcan 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 aregood but repeal the balance.  Go withfree market reforms.  Permit individualsto purchase insurance across the state lines. 
KB:  You can’t keepthose protections if bill repealed.  Hevoted with his party over 30 times to repeal part or all the bill.  Al the citizens of Bucks and MontgomeryCounties 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 coverageas well as sick.  This is not the bill Iwould have drawn.  A lot needs to befixed.  Individual mandate developed by conservativeorganization.
MF:  Includes $715Bout of Medicare.
KB:  Same thing inRyan budget that MF supported.
MF:  When we need tostrengthen and secure Medicare.  Bill hasIPAB, decide what is provided and what is not. Senior citizens will come to DC and ask for something to be covered butdecisions made by unelected board.
KB:  The $716B changeshow providers are paid.  MF voted twicefor Ryan budget, took same $716B not to coverage but to fund tax breaks tomillionaires and billionaires.  Thepanel, 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 decisionsneed to be made by physicians and patients. If she believes you can take 716B out of Medicare and not affect medcare.  Cuts physicians.  We don’t have enough doctors now.
Closing statements:
KB:  Thank youagain.  There are two starkly differentvisions.  I believe what will make Americastronger 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 allof us.  Endorsed by National Committee topreserve Social Security and Medicare. www.boockvar.com
MF:  What reallymatters to most of us, turning economy around. Unemployment excessively high.  Standup against administration.  KB haspromoted policies of Pelosi and Democrat Party. Deficit over $50K per person in 8^th congressionaldistrict.  High gas prices.  Need change in the country.  www.fitzpatrickforcongress.com