Kevin Kiley vs Kermit Jones: Where the candidates for California’s 3rd District stand

Kermit Jones

Party: Democratic

Birthplace: South Haven, Michigan

Age: 46

Residence: Roseville

Occupation: Internal medicine physician

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Georgia Tech; medical degree and law degree, Duke

Offices held: None

Website: kermitjonesforcongress.com

You have said you support abortion rights. What law would you like to see codified?

I support a codified right to abortion that entrusts a physician to provide the necessary medical care to save lives. The idea that a politician knows what is better for my patients than I do is absurd. I’ve spent a career in the exam room and I can tell you that the government has no place in the middle of these decisions. The Dobbs decision is government overreach.

What steps will you urge to help reduce federal deficits?

I learned in the military that we only succeed if everyone is doing their part. Today, too many billionaires and giant corporations get away without paying any income taxes at all. We need to make sure they finally start paying their fair share while cutting taxes and unnecessary red tape to level the playing field for small businesses in our community.

What changes if any do you support if Congress considers improving Obamacare?

In Congress, I won’t stop until every American has affordable and quality health care. First, we need a public health insurance option to increase competition and drive down costs, while allowing people to keep their insurance if they like it. Second, we need to take on companies that gouge patients and families.

In seeing 20,000 patients, I’ve witnessed too many denied coverage by their insurance companies for life-saving screenings and medical treatments, all while those same companies post record profits and pay their executives millions of dollars in bonuses. I’ll sponsor legislation that will ensure patients’ premiums are directed to their health, not to increase the already bloated bonuses for health care executives. No one should be allowed to excessively profit off the illness or treatment of a patient.

What should Congress’ next step be in trying to encourage efforts to combat climate change?

Our communities are facing the devastating impact of drought and fires, and I will work to address the impacts on our communities with an all-hands-on-deck approach. For my district, we need to immediately mitigate the impacts of a climate that is already changing. I’ll work to clear areas with fire risks, create a new federal fire insurance program and support the production of clean, local power.

Kevin Kiley

Party: Republican

Birthplace: Sacramento

Age: 37

Residence: Rocklin

Occupation: Assemblyman; former criminal prosecutor, public school teacher

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Harvard; law degree, Yale, master’s degree in secondary education, Loyola Marymount University

Offices held: Assemblyman, since 2016

Website: ElectKevinKiley.com

The candidate provided no responses to the questions asked. Instead, he sent this statement: Inflation and concerns about the economy dominate conversations I have on the campaign trail. Voters are worried and are unhappy with the President and Congress going on a massive tax and spending spree with inflation raging.