Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Roe, Sappey debate in West Bradford
WEST BRADFORD >> State Rep. Eric Roe, a Republican, and challenger Christina Sappey, a Democrat, addressed more than two dozen issues at Monday night’s League of Women Voter’s 158th Legislative District candidate debate at the township building.
Almost 200 voters packed the room and heard both candidates discuss diverse subjects including, the minimum wage, legalization of marijuana and gun control, during the 100-minute debate. Barbara Lathroum moderated.
Roe and Sappey discussed health care.
Roe said the health system in England where he went to school and met his wife is not always equal.
He supports tort reforms in a bid to limit malpractice suits.
Sappey said that health care is too expensive for both employers and employees.
She said we should examine the costs.
“We need to have everyone in the risk pool,” Sappey said.
And what would happen if the Affordable Care Act was abolished?
“Throwing people out of the system is not going to make it cheaper,” Sappey said. “If we have no system in place, we’re all in trouble.”
Roe said he supports work requirements for those receiving government health insurance and he wants to “be responsible to the taxpayers.”
The candidates were asked about discrimination against the LGBT community.
“I support equal rights,” said Roe. He also said that some matters are not the government’s business.
Said Sappey: They are discriminated in the workplace and everywhere they go, we need to include them in certain equal rights measures.”
The candidates were asked about education.
“We don’t to have enough teachers in Pennsylvania right now,” Sappey said. “We need to do everything we can to ensure our Pennsylvania mandate for public education.”
Roe said he is a product of Chester County public schools.
He favors vouchers to support private schools.
“I believe in school choice,” he said. “Parents know best.”
The candidates both agreed that they would tax oil and gas companies.
“You only get one environment,” Roe said. “You don’t get a second chance.”
Sappey said that we need to have “robust protections” in place.
Would Sappey and Roe “reach across the aisle?”
“You have to make sure your party membership understands you are not a blank check,” Sappey said.
Roe said that compromise is a “good” word and not a “bad” word.
Roe and Sappey disagreed on abortion. Roe said he is pro-life and Sappey said we cannot understand unless we’re
“standing in someone else’s shoes.
“It’s a private situation, the government should have no role,” Sappey said.
Sappey and Roe favor legalization of medical marijuana.
“I do not want to become California,” Roe said about legalizing recreational weed. “The last thing I want is for the culture of our community to change.”
Sappey and Roe also disagreed on a fair minimum wage. Roe said that a true minimum wage is zero.
“I want people to not just be focused on a minimum wage but good-paying jobs,” Roe said.
Sappey favors a $15 minimum wage.
“People deserve a living wage,” Sappey said. “We can’t expect people to work four jobs to pay the rent, feed themselves, educate themselves and raise the kids.”
Both candidates believe gun laws should be tightened up.
Sappey favors background checks, waiting periods, banning bump stocks, automatic weapons and large magazines.
Roe wants to close loopholes on background checks, limit the size of magazines, favors waiting periods and dealing with mental health and drug issues.