All right...I'm on location at the University of Houston about to live tweet the one and only #TX07 debate between U.S. Rep. John Culberson (R), and attorney Lizzie Fletcher (D.) Start time is in about eight minutes.
First question is about flooding in Houston. Culberson stresses regional relationships with NJ and Florida delegations to appropriate funds back home. #TX07
Fletcher counters that Culberson should have done more to mitigate flooding - back during Hurricane Allison in 2001.
Culberson fires back that he did do work at the hospitals to build out their infrastructures to handle flooding post-Hurricane Allison #TX07
Culberson has twice stressed that he doesn't seek media attention for his appropriations efforts. #TX07
For Houstonians: This debate is being broadcast on ABC 13 and Univision 45.
Culberson says he is trying to bring back earmarks. [We're in super inside ball on appropriations but this stuff is still super important for Houston, post-Harvey] #TX07
Culberson says he supports banning pre-existing conditions; supports putting Texans in a high-risk pool. Fletcher fires back that legislation he backed only "nominally" protected pre-existing conditions.
Both candidates are accusing the other of untruthful allegations but are avoiding the word "lie" and "liar." #TX07
Culberson refers to himself as "a free market, Constitutional conservative." #TX07
Both candidates are invoking the #TX07's most famous voter - former President George H.W. Bush - on the issue of abortion/Planned Parenthood.
Culberson mantra is he "is the right person at the right place and right time." (It's a reference to his Appropriations Committee assignment.) #TX07
Fletcher said the first things a Dem Congress should address if they takeover are ethics and corruption.
Fletcher takes an indirect shot at Culberson - says she is against "passing stock tips on the House floor." Which I glean to be a veiled reference to this: texastribune.org/2018/08/08/tex… #TX07
