By Tom Waring
Wire Staff Writer
U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick and Democratic challenger Kevin Strouse gave voters a couple of chances last week to choose one of them in the upcoming election.
Fitzpatrick, a three-term Republican, and Strouse debated last Thursday afternoon at Bucks County Community College’s Bristol Township campus. The moderator was BCCC professor Bill Pezza.
The two debated again on Friday morning at the Waterwheel restaurant in Plumstead. The event was sponsored by the Central Bucks County Chamber of Commerce, the Upper Bucks County Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of Bucks County.
The 8th Congressional District consists of all of Bucks County and a portion of Montgomery County.
Election Day is next Tuesday, Nov. 4. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters will also choose a governor and members of the state Senate and House of Representatives.
Fitzpatrick is the clear favorite in the race. In 2012, he took almost 57 percent of the vote against Democrat Kathy Boockvar. This year is shaping up as a pretty good one for Republicans, and the incumbent has a huge fundraising advantage on his opponent.
Fitzpatrick is a lawyer and former Bucks County commissioner who was elected to Congress in 2004. He lost to Democrat Patrick Murphy in 2006 before returning four years later to beat Murphy.
Strouse is a former Army Ranger and CIA counterterrorism analyst and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He lives in Middletown with his wife, Amy, and two young children, Wally and Charlotte. He is program director of Teach2Serve, a nonprofit that teaches social entrepreneurship to high school students.
The challenger grew up in Delaware County. He moved to Bucks County two years ago.
“I welcome Mr. Strouse and his family to our community,” Fitzpatrick said in his closing statement on Friday.
In the Democratic primary, Strouse edged Shaughnessy Naughton by 817 votes.
In 2016, Republicans will field a new candidate, as Fitzpatrick has limited himself to four two-year terms.
At Friday’s debate, there was an audience question about term limits.
Strouse said term limits wouldn’t be needed if there were more competitive congressional districts. He opposes gerrymandering and backs campaign finance reform, believing those two changes would result in higher voter turnout.
Fitzpatrick acknowledged that there are some good members of Congress who would have to leave office, but he thinks 20 years is plenty. He’d limit members of the Senate to two six-year terms and members of the House to four two-year terms.
The congressman said he is practicing what he preaches by promising to leave Congress after his next term.
“It’s not just what you say, it’s what you do,” he said.
Fitzpatrick, in Friday’s closing statement, blamed the Democratic-controlled Senate for failing to vote on the 340 bills — many of them bipartisan — that passed the House.
The congressman noted that, when he served as a commissioner, budgets were balanced and the county had a Triple-A bond rating.
“We always got the job done,” Fitzpatrick said.
Today, Fitzpatrick said he tries to get things done as a member of the bipartisan No Labels caucus. One of the group’s initiatives would halt congressional paychecks if members don’t pass a budget on time.
“Stop fighting, start fixing,” Fitzpatrick said.
Strouse likes the concept of No Labels, but questions its effectiveness.
In general, Strouse believes Fitzpatrick talks so much about his time as a commissioner because he doesn’t have congressional achievements to mention.
The challenger also recalled his background in the military and the CIA, telling the crowd those agencies produced greater results than Congress.
“We were always able to work together,” he said. “I’ve always been able to get results. It’s always been about country and community first.”
Strouse supports an increase in the minimum wage and the so-called “equal pay for equal work” legislation. The candidate said “equal pay” is not just a women’s issue.
“This is an American issue,” he said.
Asked by Friday’s moderator which issue is the biggest one facing the 8th Congressional District, Fitzpatrick pointed to the $17 trillion debt. He wants reduced spending and a pro-growth agenda.
“That’s the thing that really worries me going forward,” he said.
Asked the same question, Strouse answered that voters tell him they are frustrated that Congress doesn’t do anything about people’s financial uncertainty.
“Those are the things I hear over and over,” he said.
On Obamacare, Strouse said he’s pleased that 7,400 more residents of the district have health care and that premiums are lower overall. Having health care helps cut down on the chance that an individual or family will have to declare bankruptcy, but health care costs are still too high, in the candidate’s view.
“It was a good first step,” Strouse said of Obamacare.
Fitzpatrick questioned Strouse’s figures on the people covered by Obamacare and the premiums they pay, and overall is not a fan of the health law.
“It never dealt with the issue of cost containment,” he said.
On gun issues, both candidates believe background checks can save lives. In relation to gun violence, Strouse called America’s treatment of mental health an “utter disgrace.”
Fitzpatrick criticized President Barack Obama for what he believes is a lack of accountability and responsibility on scandals involving the IRS and Departments of Justice, State and Veterans Affairs.
“It needs a lot of congressional oversight,” he said.
On illegal immigration, Fitzpatrick recalled his visit to the border between Texas and Mexico.
“The first thing you do is secure the border,” he said.
Strouse said it is difficult to secure the long border, adding that it can be dangerous for foreign children making the trip to the U.S.
“It’s clear we need comprehensive immigration reform,” he said. “We’re not going to deport 11 million people.”
