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Fitzpatrick, citing his 10 years experience as Bucks County commissioner, listed his accomplishments in open space preservation, resources for seniors, and job creation.
Schrader characterized long-time public officials as being out of touch. "You have people who sit there, year after year, in public office, never having to answer for what they do. In corporate America, if you don't do what we need you to do, we fire you."
Schrader pointed to her achievement as a corporate VP, and as a single mom who entered law school at age 39. "When I get to Washington, I will not take excuses from anyone - I will get something moving," she said.
The hour-long debate was co-sponsored by the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters.
In response to a question about taxes and the national debt, Fitzpatrick claimed that most jobs are created by small businesses, and he applauded a recent move by Congress to cut middle-class taxes and give tax relief to small businesses.
He promised, if elected, to meet with members of Congress to tackle issues before the 109th Congress begins. Schrader pointed to the $7-trillion federal budget, and she emphasized that 40 percent of the nation's debt is held by foreign investors. She sparred with her Republican opponent, telling the audience, "Mike Fitzpatrick has had to raise your property taxes five times because enough money wasn't coming to him."
Fitzpatrick claimed that he heard Schrader say that she wanted to raise taxes, and he answered, "It's a promise that I'm afraid she's going to keep, if elected."
Democrat Schrader responded by saying she wants to "roll back tax cuts for the top 2 percent, and start funding programs that can protect families, and educate, and make a better future."
"Bill Gates and Ted Turner will have to take care of themselves," she said.
Fitzpatrick called health care "maybe the most important issue facing Pennsylvania," and said he blames a "health care liability system that's out of control" as the principal problem.
Schrader said that fixing the health care system is a benefit for everyone. "I know what most of you are worried about," she told the audience. "We have people paying more for their health care than their mortgage."
Schrader said she favors lower premiums for doctors, and getting rid of frivolous lawsuits that penalize attorneys.
Fitzpatrick said, "You can't be on the side of doctors, patients and trial lawyers at the same time. You have to make a choice, and [Schrader's] choice is with trial lawyers."
Responding to a question of leadership experience, Fitzpatrick referred to his demonstrated leadership in public and private life, community volunteerism, and board of directors positions held with numerous organizations.
Schrader said she doesn't owe her job to anybody.
"I can work for you," she said, to a round of applause.
Fitzpatrick noted that as county commissioner he has worked hard on issues concerning domestic violence, donating his time as a practicing attorney, and procuring health benefits for uninsured women and children. "I'd like to take that experience to Washington, D.C.," he said.
Schrader said: "No one knows women's issues more than a woman does." She said that the right for a woman to choose, a right to privacy, is "the law of the land, and I will do everything in my power to uphold that law."
On the subject of equal pay for equal jobs, she said, "My head kind of hurts from that glass ceiling, when I was in corporate America."
When asked about the war in Iraq and homeland security, Fitzpatrick noted the "difficult decision" made by the members of Congress, and he called for supporting our troops and doing everything possible to hasten their return.
He said that Bucks County's first responder system is "second to none," a statement acknowledged by applause from the audience.
Schrader said she also supports our troops, wanting them to be "safe, equipped, and paid appropriately." She said her son is a police officer, and she believes that police at home do not have everything they need to protect our homeland effectively.
She pointed to inconsistencies in security practices on airplanes and trains. "We're not safe yet," she said.
When asked about a specific plan to encourage sustainable business enterprise in Upper Bucks County, Schrader said we must close the loopholes that are sending jobs oversees, and provide affordable health care solutions for small businesses. She also favors extending a train route to connect with Upper Bucks.
Fitzpatrick praised the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce for revitalizing older neighborhoods like Quakertown. He also said it's important for Bucks County to take measures to "keep farming a continuing viable operation."
The cost of education has become "sky-high," according to Schrader, and more low-cost loans and grants should be available to avoid the now staggering debt faced by students.
Fitzpatrick expressed concern that one of Greenwood's stated reasons for leaving public office for the private sector was to afford his children's college tuition.
Available grants are not keeping up with escalating education costs, according to Fitzpatrick, and the federal government has "a critical and important role to play in making higher education affordable to any American who wants to go to college."
Schrader, facing the audience, asked, "How many of you out there would take Greenwood's salary and be glad to send your kids, like I did, to good state schools?"
Responding to a question of environmental concerns, Fitzpatrick called preservation of land "a hallmark of my 10 years as county commissioner," and he said he provided leadership for a May 1997 open space referendum.
"This one really gets to me," Schrader responded. "We're getting the message from Washington that the environment doesn't matter."
She said that 80 percent of the trash in Bucks County comes from out of state. "I don't consider a landfill to be open space," she said. "Mr. Fitzpatrick didn't even fill out his Sierra Club endorsement papers."
Libertarian candidate Arthur Farnsworth and Constitution Party candidate Erich Lukas were also on hand, to debate the issues with the major party candidates.
Farnsworth's comments centered on what he believes to be the unconstitutional intrusion of big government, in areas of taxation and individual liberties.
Lukas promoted a strong pro-life stance, and also pointed to the Constitution as the basis of his platform, even offering copies to the audience. In her closing statement, Schrader said there are four building blocks: good health care, jobs, good education, and home ownership.
"When I go to Congress, I will fight for those things, because those are things you've always wanted," she said. "I understand."
Fitzpatrick restated that he is the only candidate with a significant measure of experience in elected government. He said he has an unmatched record in making difficult decisions.
"Together we can make Bucks County an even better place in the future to live, work, raise our families, and retire," he said.
