HARRISBURG, Pa. — 10th District Republican Congressman Scott Perry and Democratic nominee Janelle Stelson met for their first and only debate in their hotly contested Congressional race on Tuesday night in Harrisburg.
Stelson, a longtime former news anchor in south-central Pennsylvania, attacked Perry for what she says are his extremist views on common sense issues.
“He is the only one in the entire state that has a fairly conservative Republican delegation, who voted against housing homeless veterans,” Stelson said. "He also opposed giving additional healthcare to the men and women who breathe in the toxic burn pets, and that’s a real problem."
Perry responded to the criticism by saying all his votes, including on appropriations bills, are made to try and limit excessive spending.
"I vote the way I do because every hundred days we’re adding $1 trillion in debt," Perry said. "Every single bill that I vote for, every spending bill is all borrowed money. Every single bit of it."
Perry attempted to tie Stelson, who has never held public office, to the policies of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris which he says drove up inflation.
"What can we do about it? We can quit bankrupting the American people and quit bankrupting their government," Perry said.
Stelson says she would not vote for excessive spending in the House, even agreeing with her opponent on one occasion.
"We need to take audits," Stelson said. "That's one thing I certainly agree with my opponent on, that we need to take a closer look at how America is spending its money."
Stelson spoke to Perry's opposition to abortion access, including his support for the Life at Conception Act which would have banned all abortions nationwide.
"There's no reason why Scott Perry knows better than [women with] what to do with their own bodies in their most intimate health care decisions,” Stelson said.
Perry says he remains pro-life and that states should decide whether women should have access to abortion.
"We can do both things at the same time, believe and stand up for the sanctity of life, but also allow other states to make their decisions as they should," Perry said.
Perry was asked following the debate whether he would vote to certify this year's presidential election, which he voted against on January 6, 2021, despite the results in all 69 Pennsylvania counties being certified by their election boards.
"If there is a proper, fair election, I absolutely will vote to certify it," Perry said.