U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) and democratic nominee Justin Wagner are campaigning for Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District in November. On Friday, Kelly visited Tyler King, a disability advocate and home care recipient in Waterford, to get a firsthand look at Medicaid private duty nursing in a home.
"No matter where we're at, we are also people. We're individuals, we're here in society, and we're trying to make a meaningful impact on our own community, so having them come out and having them see what we truly live through, or how they provide our independence, creates a meaningful impact to showcase what they can take back to Congress," said King.
Congressman Kelly said it makes sense to provide help for people so that they can contribute to society.
"We should be looking to be investing into a future for people, and taking a look at potential that they have, and saying 'you know what, we can spend those dollars where there's a return on those dollars,'" said Kelly.
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Kelly's opponent, Justin Wagner, said his plan for health care in our district calls for change.
"Eventually, we do want to move towards a Medicare-for-all system. We're already paying so much for our health care and not getting the results we need. Time we tried something else," said Wagner.
Wagner held a public town hall meeting in Corry Friday, meeting with voters to hear about what they want to see. He promised to hold in-person town hall meetings at least once per month if he's elected.
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"That's the job. The job is to represent the district. It's not my job to come to Corry and tell Corry what Corry needs, it's my job to come here and listen and see what they need and then work to provide those answers for them, and you get that by having this direct voter outreach," said Wagner.
When asked about plans to hold an in-person town hall, Congressman Kelly said he prefers to do them over the phone.
"We do telephone town halls, and the reason we do it is because we can have actually have a town hall where people get to listen, people get to ask questions, and it doesn't become a free-for-all where people are just yelling and screaming, that takes away from the importance of having a town hall," Kelly said.
Kelly has held the office since 2011. Both candidates will be on the ballot for the 16th District seat in November.
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