RECAP: Congressman Fitzpatrick, Candidate Finello Face Off In First Debate

The two candidates running for Congress came face-to-face – although physically distant – for the first debate of the election season.

Democratic congressional candidate Christina Finello and incumbent Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick squared off for the first time publicly at the debate moderated by Bucks County Community College Professor Bill Pezza Tuesday afternoon. The debate took place at Bucks County Community College’s Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol Township.

The roughly 75-minute event had no audience, aside from a handful of journalist, due to the pandemic.

Finello started off the debate by saying in her opening statement that she understands the community and the struggles among the people of the First Congressional District.

“Right now, we have a congressman who votes against us. If he has a chance to choose against us or voting with his party and Trump, he always chooses his party and Trump,” she said.

Fitzpatrick opened, like Finello, by touting his local roots. He said he is for “bridge building” and listening to all sides of an issue and finding compromise, noting his leadership role in the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.

Pezza led off by asking about COVID-19 and its impacts. He asked the two candidates to review the federal government’s response to the pandemic.

“I think it’s pretty clear we could have done a lot better on all levels – federal state and local, across the board,” Fitzpatrick said.

The two-term congressman compared the response to that of the September 11, 2001 attacks. He suggested a commission be established to review what happened and implement changes to protect Americans.

“We said never again, and we need to take that same never again attitude,” he said.

Finello said she has talked to district residents who have lost someone to COVID-19.

“What bothers me the most is Trump and Republicans in Congress, like my opponent, desperately tried to shift the blame for their party’s failures to take this virus serious and the failure to listen to medical experts and keep Americans safe,” she said, citing President Donald Trump’s efforts to downplay COVID-19 early on.

She said the country needs to be guided by health experts and science.

In addition, Finello cited a Philadelphia Inquirer fact check on statements Fitzpatrick made about COVID-19 rates stateside compared to South Korea.

Fitzpatrick rebutted by stating he and his staff have been working around the clock for constituents during the pandemic. He said residents have been “very appreciative” of their efforts.

“It makes no sense to tear eachother down in the midst of a pandemic when we need to work together,” he said.

Pezza asked the two what Congress can do to make sure a COVID-19 vaccine is safe and distribution will be efficient.

Finello said COVID-19 “did not have to be this bad.” She pointed to people who have lost jobs and are dealing with other struggles. She said listening to experts and “not playing political games” will make sure vaccine is safe and effective.

Fitzpatrick said measures are being taken and a vaccine “has got to be, for sure, safe.” He pointed to work of Operation Warp Speed and all the experts assigned to the effort.

“I’m listening to the experts every day,” he said.

Pezza next asked about race relations and how the candidates would balance support for police, law and order, and racial justice.

The congressman said the issue is one that “he has taken personally” being a former law enforcement official and supporter of the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act. He said he’s talked with police chiefs across the district and said the county is an example of what should happen across the country.

“We are working to come up with a package that works with law enforcement and also deals with inequities that have been in the system for a long, long time,” he said, noting he worked with Democratic Congresswoman Karen Bass on proposing changes.

If reforms are to be enacted, Fitzpatrick said, police need more funding and not less. He said new tools and training cost money.

“I oppose defunding the police,” Finello said, hitting back at Republicans attacks linking her to the defund the police movement.

The candidate, who is also supportive of the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act, said the system needs to treat everyone equally and improve relations between police and communities. She stated she’s happy to be part of the debate on how to add funding for mental health services, including making sure police are able to handle those calls. Finello added that more funding might be needed to improve police departments and their relations with the community.

Fitzpatrick noted that every police group has endorsed him, while Finello said the elected Democratic sheriffs in Bucks and Montgomery counties endorsed her.

In his rebuttal, Fitzpatrick criticized Finello for not condemning the defund the police movement and standing up against rioting.

Finello responded that she went to the Bristol Borough Black Lives Matter with the congressman and criticized his Defund Cities that Defund the Police Act legislation. She said it would actually take money away from police.

Pezza asked whether there is such a thing as Antifa and asked how dangerous rhetoric on both sides should be dealt with.

Fitzpatrick talked about domestic terrorism groups and said Antifa is an organization with covert funding. He said police say members lodge in hotels and show up by public transit and planes.

Finello said the largest threat is homegrown white supremacist groups. She also pointed to the president not condemning them at the recent debate.

The next question was about the Affordable Care Act and a possible repeal of it.

Finello, whose daughter has a preexisting condition, said residents of the First Congressional District are concerned about the status of the Affordable Care Act and whether people with preexisting conditions will be protected. She hit Fitzpatrick on the GOP tax bill that she said was “dismantling” the Affordable Care Act and claimed he didn’t care about women’s health care.

“Christina, I’m going to try to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you don’t know what you’re talking about rather than say you’re intentionally lying to people,” Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick said he “unequivocally” supports the Affordable Care Act and protecting people with preexisting conditions, citing his 2017 health care vote where he broke with Republicans. He said his vote for the tax bill only impacted the individual mandate, which he said was broken already.

“Everybody should have health insurance,” he said, adding that the Affordable Care Act should be improved and touting his endorsement from organizations concerned about keeping the health care law.

Pezza said asked the candidates about the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Fitzpatrick said the CARES Act “wasn’t perfect,” but it got money out to help Americans quickly. He said a new round of aid is being held up by politics. He criticized Democrats for measures, including changing funding for law enforcement and allowing economic stimulus checks for those in the country illegally, that were part in the recent proposal. Fitzpatrick noted that even 18 Democrats didn’t vote for the bill supported by their party’s leadership.

Finello said COVID-19 is bad, but the government’s response has made it worse. She said politicians like Fitzpatrick are playing political games. She noted people in First Congressional District aren’t getting help they need. She said families, small businesses, school districts, state and local governments need assistance.

“My opponents chose Donald Trump and his party over extending relief,” she said.

The congressman rebutted by noting that 18 Democrats broke with their party to vote with Republicans against the Democratic-led proposal.

Both candidates said the other side was playing political games. Finello and Fitzpatrick said they’ll do the right thing. Finello said she “will talk to anyone” to get relief.

“That’s what I’m all about,” she said.

Fitzpatrick said the Democrats’ aid bill is a “wishlist” for liberals. He said congressional leadership needs to look at the framework laid out by the Problem Solvers Caucus.

The moderator next asked about climate change and how to balance energy needs with protecting the planet.

“We’ve been talking about addressing climate change since I was a teenager and I’m in my mid-40s,” she said, adding the environment needs to be protected.

Finello said she knows the impacts of environmental problems, pointing to water contamination in Warminster and Ivyland, her hometown. She said she will bring the “people’s voice” and supports investing in green energy and jobs. She said Fitzpatrick has support from the oil and gas industry.

“There is one leading environmental organization in the nation, the League of Conservation Voters. They’ve endorsed one Republican in the entire United State of America and that’s me,” Fitzpatrick said, noting his carbon tax bill and work to fix water problems in Finello’s Central Bucks County.

The congressman said his “endorsements speak for themselves.”

Finello rebutted that Fitzpatrick is all about endorsements and she’s about actions.

Pezza’s next question was about the Supreme Court and Amy Coney Barrett.

Fitzpatrick said the U.S. Senate should have given Merrick Garland a hearing in 2016. However, he noted that nominations should take the normal course and should not be “artificially” rushed or delayed for political purposes.

“I think that’s the fairest rule we can have,” he said.

Fitzpatrick said he agrees with Sen. Bob Casey on setting state requirements for abortion providers oversight after 20 weeks. He said it could prevent tragedies from happening by adding oversight.

With woman’s rights and the Affordable Care Act set to come before the court, Finello said Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court should not be rushed through. She said those are “life and death” situations people are dealing with and a new justice shouldn’t be pushed through for “political gain.”

Finello said women’s health issues are tough decisions and women don’t need government adding provisions.

“It’s about having that autonomy to make those decisions,” she said.

Pezza next asked about congressional oversight of the executive branch and the power struggle.

Fitzpatrick cited experience as an FBI special agent and said people shouldn’t ignore subpoenas. He said balance of power is delicate and needs all sides to follow it.

“The system only works and our republic only survives if each institution and each branch respects the other,” he said.

Finello said a separation of power is “incredibly important.” She added that Congress also needs to use their oversight authority and claimed Fitzpatrick and Republicans have ceded some of that power to Trump.

Pezza next asked candidates about trade deals and America’s posture in the world.

Finello said the country has a “diminished role” among allies and stated Allies are important. She said that under Trump, the country has suffered in regards to allies.

“We do need to forge these strong alliances,” she said.

The congressman said he supports bilateral trade agreements with counties and supports the Paris Accord, adding it was a “terrible idea” for Trump to withdraw the nation. He further said that he believes in climate change and supported withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Pezza followed up with the candidates to ask about their thoughts on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Finello said it is important to maintain relationships with allies. She also said Trump has hurt cooperative relationships with allied nations.

Fitzpatrick said he supports NATO. He added that support for NATO is “incredibly important.”

For the final question, Pezza asked each candidate to ask the other a question. He took a brief pause so the candidates could formulate their query.

Fitzpatrick started his question by touting his rating as most bipartisanship member of Congress by the Lugar Center and Georgetown University, his wide range of endorsements, and times where he has gone against his party on tough votes. He asked Finello to name one other congressperson as independent as him.

Finello paused.

“No, because you just said you were ranked the number one most independent congressman,” Finello said.

She added that Fitzpatrick votes against interests of constituents often and that is what matters, citing a number of his votes.

“Again, by the metric that is set out, I can not answer that question. But again, I take issue that your record simply doesn’t bare out the fact that you are the most independent congressman.”

Finello asked why Fitzpatrick doesn’t hold “real town halls” that everyone can attend in an unfiltered way. She said she would make sure she listens to constituents.

Fitzpatrick said they have different definitions of town halls. He said he doesn’t want a big gym filled with people yelling at one another and protests outside. He added that he often talks with residents, holds open question and answer questions with groups, and gives his personal phone number out to constituents.

In her closing statement, Finello said she is the best voice for the district and linked Fitzpatrick to the president and special interest.

“Who do you want looking out for you?” she asked, adding she has been looking out for this community for years.

Fitzpatrick ended by stating: “Elections are about choices. And boy, do we have a choice here. A very, very stark choice.”

He painted Finello as being very liberal and attempted to tie her to socialism by noting she was fine with the use of the word. He added that the body of evidence shows he’s the best choice and fights against hyper partisanship.

“Our country is broken when we go down that path,” he said.

Due to the pandemic, there was not the typical large crowd for the candidates to walk out to when the debate ended.

LevittownNow.com teamed up with WBCB 1490 to livestream the event. Below is the recording:

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