Thread by @BucksCoKierstyn

Hi #PA01 folks. I am live tweeting the @RepBrianFItz #Telephony #TownHall. I got included late, so we are joining in the midst of his intro speech.
#PA01 #Telephony #TownHall /1

@RepBrianFitz Our @RepBrianFitz is talking about something with educating girls, but I caught him at the end of it, so not sure of the details.
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@RepBrianFitz Right now Fitz is asking a polling question about a ban of e-cigarettes. Because that is the most pressing issue of our day, amirite? #ImpeachmentInquiry
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@RepBrianFitz First question is about the #deficit, from a caller from Doylestown. $22 trillion in debt, and the caller is super concerned about spending. "What your honest opinion about it?"
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@RepBrianFitz Fitz said "It's a huge problem, there's no doubt about it." He talks about fighting terrorism and the opioid epidemic as costs we have to pay for now, or we will pay more later.
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@RepBrianFitz Now @RepBrianFitz is spinning that #GOP line about 3% and 4% growth, expanding revenue in a pro-growth way. OOH! one of his favorites - "regulatory reform!!!"
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@RepBrianFitz He just talked about regulations as "duplicitous and redundant" - which makes sense when you look back to how many de-regulatory votes he took in Paul Ryan's GOP-led 115th Congress.
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@RepBrianFitz And now another big GOP talking point - "Fraud, waste and abuse." I guess I shouldn't mention the waste issue I have brought to his office several times, only to have his staff never follow-up.
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@RepBrianFitz Budget surpluses come with robust economic growth. I guess you need to be a CPA to say something that profound, right?
#PA01 #Telephony #TownHall /9

@RepBrianFitz Next caller wants to know what @RepBrianFitz is doing about #GlobalWarming.
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@RepBrianFitz So @RepBrianFitz is talking about his #MarketChoice Act. It is a funding stream to pay for infrastructure by implementing a fee on carbon. It's #bipartisan (and actually, not a bad bill)

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@RepBrianFitz If you are interested in learning more about how carbon taxes work, a wonderful #MoCTrack contributor did a write up, and it can be read here.
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bit.ly/2WR41IX

@RepBrianFitz The caller asked a follow-up question about other bills re: #CLimateChange and Fitz had the nerve to mention protecting #ANWR... after he voted to open it to energy exploitation in the #GOPTaxScam
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@RepBrianFitz #Climatechange "is a serious problem and we are gonna look at any serious proposal" and he's back to talking about #bipartisanship. "We don't want messaging bills"
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@RepBrianFitz He's now doing his best to avoid talking about what a messaging bill is, which is VERY funny, considering how many of those he has sponsored over the past 3 years.
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@RepBrianFitz Next question - another Doylestown caller who was out door-knocking for local candidate. He has a question about China and censoring of US employees and the NBA.
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@RepBrianFitz "This is one of the many issues we are concerned about with China" - says Fitz. He is worried about China using its economic influence over US companies. And that influences public opinion.
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@RepBrianFitz Aside. If anyone needs proof that @RepBrianFitz stage-manages these calls as a self-marketing exercise, you've got your proof in that there has not been an #ImpeachmentInquiry or SCIF storming call in the last 30 minutes.
#PA01 #Telephony #TownHall /17

@RepBrianFitz "We have to keep a close eye on any hindrance of free speech." - Fitz. "Economics is a big part of it, trade policy is a big part of it." <yawn, obvious>
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@RepBrianFitz Next question is from Lansdale. It's about repealing of the gas tax. And it is a follow-up to the #CarbonTax talk.
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@RepBrianFitz Fitzpatrick thinks that gas taxes are a reducing income source, as more people use more efficient cars, and the carbon tax will be an increasing revenue source. Income will be assigned to the Highway Fund.
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@RepBrianFitz "Everybody understand we need an infrastructure bill, but no one agrees how to pay for it." - @RepBrianFitz
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@RepBrianFitz Now the same caller has a question about #StudentLoanDebt. Fitz is supporting a bill called "know before you go" which is a college cost transparency act.
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@RepBrianFitz "Transparency is always the best cost reducer." - Fitz. And now he is supporting "financial literacy." Please note, he is saying nothing about the usurious rates of interest on college loans.
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@RepBrianFitz OOH, now he's talking about loan forgiveness for public service jobs. Someone remind me, don't we have a program like that and didn't Betsy DeVos's DOE get dinging for disregarding the rules and charging qualifying people?
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@RepBrianFitz OMG - #SCIF storming question from that same Lansdale caller!
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@RepBrianFitz Fitz says he was not in favor of the #SCIF storming incident, but somehow he is making this all about #Civility. Are you kidding me? <Taking deep breaths>

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@RepBrianFitz Next question is from someone in Sellersville. The question is a call about e-cigarettes and vaping. "Is this something we should worry about or is it the new facebook thing?"

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@RepBrianFitz Fitz says he is truly worried about flavored vaping. "There is as much nicotine in one cartridge as there is in a whole pack of cigarettes."

Again, is this really the most important issue of our day, weighing on the mind of his constituents?
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@RepBrianFitz I can't believe that about 1/3 of the time on this call has been spent on e-cigarettes.

I feel like I am living in an alternate universe.
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@RepBrianFitz Now the Sellersville caller is asking another question. There is a 4 year plan to shut down Rte. 309. And he's worried about the bad bridges and why the road is going to be shut down for so long.
#PA01 #Telephony #TownHall /29

@RepBrianFitz #Infrastructure - Fitz is a member of House Transpo and Infrastructure, and thought 309 is a state road, he will be staying on top of this.
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@RepBrianFitz Next question is from Morrisville.
The caller wants to know about the "#opioidepidemic and how bad it is." He's talking about the police budget being very high because of it, and increased crime.
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@RepBrianFitz Fitz is talking about how #BucksCounty is a high traffic area, but getting it designated as that will get us additional federal funding. We have to make sure police have robust funding.
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@RepBrianFitz Fitz also supports police having access to Narcan and training on how to use it. Now he is talking about his INTERDICT Act (passed in 115th Congress) and Fentanyl.
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@RepBrianFitz Fitzpatrick aslo says we have to keep track of pharmacies and drug companies to make sure they are not over prescribing or have "suspicious filling patterns." And making sure people don't fill Rx across state borders.
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@RepBrianFitz And he mentioned his co-chairing the Bipartisan Heroin Task force. Of course. But he says his priority is funding the police officers.
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@RepBrianFitz Another question from the same caller about #2a and #redflag laws.
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@RepBrianFitz Fitzpatrick says his problem is that we are always reactive in gun laws (after Pulse, no fly, no buy; after Parkland, red flag). He is a supporter of #RedFlag laws.
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@RepBrianFitz Fitzpatrick says that as long as due process rules are in place, we need to be able to give police the tools to remove guns from people who are a dange, but we must protect the #SecondAmendment as well.
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@RepBrianFitz The caller is very upset about #RedFlag laws "they take all your guns and you have to fight to get them back."

Fitzpatrick is defending the #RedFlag bill he supports, "there are due process protections in place."
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@RepBrianFitz DRINK for another #bipartisanship reference!

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@RepBrianFitz "I'm a BIG BIG BIG believer in bipartisanship - that's how we make it work!" - @RepBrianFitz. (is that a broken record or just "messaging discipline)

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@RepBrianFitz New caller is asking for Fitz's stance on #CommonSenseGunReform, and is also asking about bills being held up in the #McConnellGraveyard

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@RepBrianFitz Fitzpatrick supports the #BackgroundCheck bills. And was an original co-sponsor. They should apply to all firearm sales and the #CharlestonLoophole.

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@RepBrianFitz Talking about getting the Senate to consider bills...

AND WE HAVE THE FIRST REFERENCE TO THE #PROBLEMSOLVERSCAUCUS!

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@RepBrianFitz Now @RepBrianFitz is talking about a rules change he wants, which would force a bill to the floor of the 2nd house if it passes the first house.

#PA01 #Telephony #TownHall /45

@RepBrianFitz Caller is asking about his stance on #SemiAutomatic weapons. Fitz says he believes that military weapons should only be in the hands of the military. He's just worried about which specific model numbers are specified.
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@RepBrianFitz The caller is very frustrated that #BackgroundCheck bills and semi-automatic bans are not moving forward.

SO SAY WE ALL, caller!! PREACH!
#PA01 #Telephony #TownHall /47

@RepBrianFitz "So many bills just go to the Senate and die." - FItz. Yeah, ya think, Bri?

#PA01 #Telephony #TownHall /48

@RepBrianFitz One more question, "we hit a variety of topics" says FItz.

But how is it possible that no one has asked about #Impeachment? I know I am saying that a lot, but seriously, it strains credulity.
#PA01 #Telephony #TownHall /49

@RepBrianFitz The last called is asking about #PFAS contamination, and describing the problems she is having dealing with #UnwellWater (which, btw, the @CourierTimes and @kbagenstose wrote a great series on)

#PA01 #Telephony #TownHall /50

@RepBrianFitz @CourierTimes @kbagenstose This poor caller! She has had kidney cancer, she feels like she has no recourse over what she has experienced with #PFAS contamination. Fitzpatrick's reply - "you have an advocate now."

#PA01 #Telephony #TownHall /51

@RepBrianFitz @CourierTimes @kbagenstose She's talking about the expense of buying bottled water, and contamination letters. Now Fitzpatrick is talking about the #Bipartisan #PFAS task force where he is a co-chair.

#PA01 #Telephony #TownHall /52

@RepBrianFitz @CourierTimes @kbagenstose Fitzpatrick is talking about the process that is needed to get remediation, and the steps his office can take to help this constituent. Man, #PFAS contamination does indeed suck, poor lady.

#PA01 #Telephony #TownHall /53

@RepBrianFitz @CourierTimes @kbagenstose And now the call is wrapping up. "Leave a message after the tone and we will get back to you with an answer to your specific question." and "We want to have an honest and open Q&A."

#PA01 #Telephony #TownHall /54

@RepBrianFitz @CourierTimes @kbagenstose So. No #Impeachment questions. No mention of #Trump. No talk about #Ukraine. No talk about him getting illegal foreign donations from #Parnas & #Fruman.

They sure do screen the calls, right?
#PA01 #Telephony #TownHall /end

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