Aryanna Strader supports President Obama's health care plan, opposes a Republican initiative to allow people to invest their Social Security dollars in the stock market and wouldn't sign a "no tax increase" pledge.

Joe Pitts supports construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, believes in free market solutions for health care and blames Democrats for being unwilling to close tax loopholes and lower the deficit.

The exchange between the two candidates for the 16th Congressional District played out before about 200 Lancaster Rotary Club members at the Farm & Home Center on Wednesday afternoon.

The differences mirrored those of the two major political parties in Washington, D.C., but also showed the contrast between the candidates.

Strader, a Democrat, is a political newcomer and young mother. Frequently during the hourlong debate, she referred to growing up in poverty as the youngest of 10 children of a waitress mother.

She also cited her service as a soldier in the Iraq War.

Government assistance through public education and college loans helped her to become successful. Social Security and Medicare have allowed her mother to retire.

Pitts, a Republican, is seeking re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives seat he has held for nearly 16 years. Previously, he served 24 years in the state General Assembly.

The silver-haired Pitts served in the Air Force in the Vietnam War.

In addition to Strader, he is being challenged by independent candidates Jim Bednarski, of Manheim Township, and John Murphy, of Chester County. Bednarski and Murphy were not included in the Rotary forum.

In addition to answering questions posed by moderator Tom Gemmill, the candidates got the opportunity to question each other.

It was their only opportunity to do so. Although Strader appeared with Murphy and Bednarski at a debate last week, the Rotary luncheon was the only event which Pitts agreed to attend with Strader prior to the Nov. 6 election.

Most of the discussion concerned domestic issues.

On Social Security, Pitts noted the program is scheduled to go bankrupt in 20 years without changes. He supports an initiative that would allow younger workers to invest a portion of the money they would eventually receive in the stock market.

Strader opposes the initiative. Noting Wall Street upheaval in 2008 and 2009, she asked whether people who don't choose to put money in the market would be asked to bail out those who lose retirement savings there.

She called for an increase in payroll withholdings to ensure the current system remains solvent.

On Medicare, Pitts said that program is expected to be bankrupt in 10 years. He supports providing recipients with credit of about $15,000 and allowing them to select their own health coverage from approved plans.

Strader called for eliminating inflated costs for medical care, called "upcoding," and unnecessary tests to save program money. She also called for greater use of technology in medical administration to increase efficiency and drive down costs.

About the only thing the two agreed on was redistricting.

Strader said the Republican-drawn district lines conveniently took her home out of the 16th District after she had laid the groundwork for her campaign.

She proposed Pennsylvania adopt a program such as the one used in Iowa, where a nonpartisan panel set boundaries based on municipal lines and population instead of politicians.

Pitts said he was unsuccessful in trying to keep all of Lancaster County and the Chester County area that includes his Kennett Square home in the 16th District.

He called the process "gerrymandering," but noted that it is decided at the state level and neither he nor Strader could do anything about it.

The reconfigured district includes Reading, in Berks County, a portion of Chester County that includes Kennett Square and most of Lancaster County.

County voters with the exception of those who live in Christiana Borough and Bart, Colerain, Leacock, Paradise, Sadsbury and Salisbury townships, will decide the race.

The district is still heavily Republican, with GOP-registered voters making up 46 percent of the electorate. Democrats comprise 39 percent. Independent or third-party voters make up the remaining 15 percent.

Polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6.

bharris@lnpnews.com