Ehasz, Fitzpatrick Take Part In Race’s Only Debate

Republican incumbent Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick squared off against Democratic challenger Ashley Ehasz in Bristol Township Tuesday afternoon in the race’s only debate or forum.

A crowd of at least 200 people filled the main room at Gene and Marlene Epstein campus at Lower Bucks. Professor Bill Pezza moderated the debate.

Fitzpatrick framed himself as a moderate who has solutions, while Ehasz told the crowd she will protect a woman’s right to chose and her experience growing up and as a U.S. Army pilot has forged her into a candidate who can represent the First Congressional District, which covers all of Bucks County and part of Montgomery County.

Fitzpatrick started off with a zinger and welcomed Ehasz to Bucks County. She grew up in Northampton County and moved to the district shortly before she announced her run.

“I spent my entire life here,” said Fitzpatrick, who spent several years away domestically and internationally while serving as an FBI special agent and special U.S. Attorney.

The congressman said he was making bipartisanship the theme of the debate for him and said his opponent would focus on one-party solutions.

Ehasz said she grew up in a family where her parents were not together and things were tough. She said she received support from a teacher and joined the U.S. Army at 17. She moved up in the ranks, commanding several hundred soldiers.

“We are finding ourselves in a moment of crisis in our country. There are too many families living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to afford the basic necessitates. Millions of women remain second-class citizens with the overturning of Roe V. Wade. In the year following January 6th, we have seen our voting rights, our reproductive rights, and economic rights stripped away from us. And I do not think that is a coincidence,” she said.

Ehasz later criticized Fitzpatrick for calling her out for her changing addresses. She cited her military service assignments and mentioned Fitzpatrick has supported GOP U.S. Senate candidate Mehmet Oz, who has faced criticism for being a recent New Jersey resident with properties across the country.

Fitzpatrick said he respects those who serve, but he said she never lived in the First Congressional District until just before she announced her run.

Pezza’s first question was on abortion and mentioned varying abortion laws in states. He asked if the federal legislature should codify a national abortion statue.

Ehasz said she was a “second-class citizen” due to the overturning of Roe V. Wade and Fitzpatrick’s vote against the Women’s Health Protection Act shows where he stands. She was for codifying abortion protections into law, noting changing laws state-to-state makes it difficult for women seeking care.

The Democrat compared Fitzpatrick to Republican nominee for governor Doug Mastriano on the issue of abortion.

The congressman batted back at Ehasz and said he supported H.R. 36 in the 115th Congress. The bill provides exceptions for abortions in dire medical situations at any time and up to five months in all other cases.

“Where is the line drawn?” Fitzpatrick asked, citing the bill he previously supported is similar to laws in European countries.

The congressman said the Pennsylvania abortion laws have more restrictions that H.R. 36 proposed and called Ehasz out of touch with most voters.

Ehasz said women should consult their doctor when considering an abortion and not the congressman.

The candidates were both asked what Congress should do to ease financial burdens on families while keeping the economy growing.

Fitzpatrick said the economy is “overheated” and bad policy made inflation worse. He said “pumping endless amounts of money” into the economy has hurt.

“This is a math problem … inflation is the result of bad policy,” the congressman stated.

The congressman called for elected officials to be more mindful of spending.

Fitzpatrick called for expanding domestic energy production and reforming pharmaceutical prices. He added that many unions support him.

Fitzpatrick said there’s a balance that needs to be struck to fund the government without overburdening families.

Ehasz said gas companies have been raising prices and making large profits. She also stated families need help at the pump, reducing health care costs, and want an official that supports Social Security.

Ehasz said Republican leaders have talked of possible cuts to Social Security and she is against cuts.

“I will overturn the Trump tax cuts, which, by the way, Brian voted for,” she said.

Pezza asked the candidates about infrastructure funding and what local projects they would advocate for.

Ehasz said her military service and time as a logistics officer has shown her the importance of funding infrastructure work. She called for green infrastructure that will create jobs, benefit residents, and be environmentally friendly.

Fitzpatrick spoke of the importance of expanding access to broadband, improving water infrastructure, and working on roads, bridges, and schools.

The congressman called the infrastructure bill, which his Problem Solvers Caucus worked on, a “once in a lifetime investment.” He added that Bucks County is set to benefit from the bill.

Ehasz looped back to the bipartisan Problem Solver Caucus and said it doesn’t seem to have solved a lot of problems. She also claimed Fitzpatrick named the caucus, which Fitzpatrick said was untrue because the caucus was created years before he was in Congress.

The candidates were asked how they would continue improve health care.

Fitzpatrick called for preserving the Affordable Care Act, which is also often called Obamacare.

“It needs improvement for sure, but I voted to protect it,” he said.

The congressman called for reforming medical liability and putting forward legislation to balance innovation in pharmaceuticals without making them unaffordable.

Ehasz called for putting more resource into mental health care and expanding the Affordable Care Act.

“We need to make sure health care costs are lower for families,” she said.

She additionally called for more effort to be put into lowering drug costs and paying for the changes by rolling back the President Donald Trump-era tax cuts, which she said largely benefited the rich.

Fitzpatrick said Ehasz would vote to raise taxes if she was elected, citing her mentions of rolling back the Trump tax law.

“When someone shows you who you they are, believe them,” she responded. “Brian just stood there and defended corporations and the top 1 percent of earners and what they’re taxed.”

The next question from Pezza asked how the country can become less dependent on foreign products.

Ehasz said military logistics taught her how important the supply chain and redundancies in it can be.

She called for increasing manufacturing in the U.S. and creating systems to ensure important products are made at home. Additionally, she called climate change a national security risk that impacts supply chains.

“I will make sure we make more at home and make sure we are not dependent on foreign entities,” she said.

Fitzpatrick mentioned his part in writing the CHIPS and Science Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden in late summer. He said the bill invests in semiconductor production at home.

The congressman said China’s aggression threatens semiconductor production and returning that industry back to America is important.

Fitzpatrick said the country needs to also focus on making products domestically and trading with nations that share our values.

In a follow up, Fitzpatrick said China wants to steal our vital industrial trade secrets and the nation needs to continue protecting them. He pointed to recent cases by the FBI.

Pezza then asked about immigration and what each would do.

Fitzpatrick called for “robust” border security and local assessments of what is needed at the southern border. He added that more funding is needed for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security border forces and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Fitzpatrick stated there needs to be a mix of barriers, technology, and law enforcement personnel to protect the border.

“Look at our border now. It is a complete and unmitigated disaster,” he said.

The congressman said dreamers need to be made citizens and should be treated with respect.

“We have to bring them out of the shadows,” he said.

Ehasz said she would make sure dreamers are protected and would support a smoother path to citizenship.

“We need to make sure there’s more funding,” she said of the immigration system.

She additionally called for addressing 1980s-era immigration quotas.

“We do need to make sure our borders are secure,” she stated.

Ehasz said one wall won’t work and other measures are needed. She said a good step would be improving the immigration system, which would benefit those looking to come to the country and the economy.

Pezza asked the candidates for realistic ways to fight climate change.

Ehasz said she is fearful of the national security risk from climate change and that adversaries will develop green energy before America. She also called for securing energy resources at home while making sure to not make climate change worse.

In addition, Ehasz called for putting pressure on Saudi Arabia to stop manipulating the gas market, which increases prices at the pump.

Fitzpatrick said it wasn’t a coincidence energy prices went up when Biden became president.

Ehasz responded that one of Republicans largest funders are gas companies.

Fitzpatrick talked of legislation he introduced that would create a so-called “carbon tax” and repeal the national gas tax. He added that countries that aren’t taking climate change seriously should have an additional tax on their imports.

The congressman said the nation’s massive national gas deposits need to be tapped.

“Why the hesitancy on unleashing what is right below us?” he asked.

Pezza asked how the candidates would support Social Security.

Fitzpatrick said Social Security benefits need to be made tax free and increases linked to inflation rates.

“That is the starting point to saving it,” he said.

Ehasz cited GOP leadership’s recent comments that they could threaten Social Security. She urged voters to be worried Republicans may overturn Social Security.

“This is what the GOP will do if they have the majority,” she stated.

Ehasz said she supports protecting what seniors are entitled to and Social Security needs to rise with inflation.

Pezza asked the candidates what posture the U.S. should take against China.

“I do identify China as the number threat both militarily and economically,” said Ehasz.

She said America needs to make less in China and more in America. She also called for supporting U.S. allies in the region, adding Republicans may cut that support if they get the majority.

Citing the Chinese leader’s aim to weaken America from within, Fitzpatrick said the country has to be more alert to the threat. He said China wants to replace the dollar with the yuan as the international currency.

Fitzpatrick said he has legislation with a Democratic lawmaker that will hold China accountable.

Pezza asked if both candidates will keep supporting Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion.

Fitzpatrick and Ehasz both wore Ukraine pins to the debate to show their support.

Ehasz cited recent comments by U.S. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy that said if Republicans took control of the House there wouldn’t be a “blank check” for further Ukraine funding.

Fitzpatrick, who lived in Ukraine when assigned as an FBI special agent, said he talked to McCarthy and funding for Ukraine will continue if Republicans take control. He said there shouldn’t be a “blank check” for any government funding.

Fitzpatrick, a former resident and recent visitor to Ukraine, said he supports keeping up support for Ukraine’s military. He also called for stepping up efforts to get them weapons they need.

Ehasz said American needs to make sure Ukrainians can get the equipment they need for as long as possible.

Citing the January 6, 2021 insurrection, false claims about the 2020 election, and a international anti-democratic movements, Pezza asked the candidates how they can restore faith in democratic institutions and stop political grandstanding.

Ehasz said one way is to elect officials who will “stand up to the tyranny of the former president and his cronies.” She also stated elected officials need to hold those who took part in the insurrection accountable.

The candidate said Fitzpatrick hasn’t done that and his actions have shown it.

“Brian and I took the same oath to defend our Constitution against enemies both foreign and domestic,” she said. “And he failed that oath.”

Fitzpatrick said he supported the bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6th attack, but he didn’t support the current investigative select committee that has seven Democrats and two Republicans.

Fitzpatrick said people who deny facts need to be called out, but that elected officials need to listen to those who have concerns about the 2020 election.

Ehasz added that Fitzpatrick voted against legislation to update voting laws and expand access.

The congressman shot back that it was a lie and then stated he voted against the bill but because a revision to the legislation removed a voter ID requirement. He added he is supporting a bill to make it free to get ID to vote.

The two candidates received cheers from their supporters at the end of the debate.

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