On the issues: Kevin Kiley and Dr. Kermit Jones on immigration, abortion and fires

Democrat Dr. Kermit Jones, left, and Republican Kevin Kiley are vying to symbolize an unlimited congressional district stretching alongside the Jap Sierra.

(Getty)

Republican Assemblymember Kevin Kiley and Democrat Dr. Kermit Jones are vying to symbolize the largely rural third Congressional District, which stretches a whole bunch of miles from the southern tip of Lassen Volcanic Nationwide Park by way of Mammoth Lakes to Dying Valley.

The race is considered one of 10 key California contests within the Nov. 8 midterm election that might decide the steadiness of energy within the Home of Representatives.

Jones’ solutions are drawn from a questionnaire despatched to candidates in aggressive California congressional races. The responses have been edited for readability and size. Kiley didn't reply, so details about his views was collected from his marketing campaign web site, debates, previous votes and information protection.

Expertise and priorities

UPDATED Oct. 25, 2022 | 5:14 PM

Why do you have to be elected to Congress?

Jones
Jones spoke of his work as a medical physician and a Navy veteran; he joined after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist assaults and served as flight surgeon for a Marine helicopter squadron.

“I've a report of service and management, whether or not on my household farm and enterprise, throughout two deployments to Iraq or the almost 20 years I've spent placing my sufferers first. I’ll by no means be afraid or unwilling to work with each events or anybody to repair our most urgent issues, like inflation, securing ladies’s constitutional rights to privateness or to face as much as leaders of both get together after they’re incorrect.My constituents will know the place I stand and that I'll combat for them.”

Kiley
Kiley mentioned throughout a debate in Could that “political failures and radical insurance policies” are ruining the standard of life within the state.

In his candidate assertion for the voter information, Kiley mentioned he's “operating for Congress to cease the wasteful spending, defend our Structure, defend our freedoms and make our authorities accountable to the individuals.”

How do your experiences make you certified?

Jones
“I had the respect and privilege of being a part of a Marine helicopter squadron that represented the pursuits and goodwill of over 350 million People after I was in Iraq. Service to our nation, whether or not within the army or in Congress, has by no means been about partisan politics for me; it’s about protecting the oaths I made to my sufferers and our nation.”

He mentioned it was about ensuring the residents of the district “have somebody preventing for a federal fireplace insurance coverage plan and elevated funding for first responders in our district; it’s about whether or not our enterprise leaders and job creators know they've a strong associate on the federal stage to help financial alternative and progress; and it’s about ensuring our working households have a good shake and likelihood on the American dream. That is my focus, and that is what makes me most certified to symbolize this district.”

Kiley
Kiley is an legal professional who has served three phrases within the state Meeting. He was considered one of a slate of Republicans who campaigned to interchange Gov. Gavin Newsom within the 2021 recall election and ran unsuccessfully for state Senate in 2019.

Kiley’s marketing campaign web site highlights his legislative work on training, free speech, legal justice and different points.

What can be your prime legislative priorities?

Jones
Jones lists his priorities as “commonsense laws just like the Chips and Science Act to carry provide chains and jobs again to the USA and convey costs again all the way down to Earth; a federal fireplace insurance coverage plan to assist our communities get well from the devastating fires in our neighborhood; and federal grants and forgivable loans to extend the variety of medical suppliers in rural areas and assist docs type small teams multispecialty practices that improve doctor autonomy and negotiating energy.”

Kiley
On his web site, Kiley says he would work to cut back charges and taxes on power manufacturing, reduce taxes, strengthen border safety, reform the Division of Veterans Affairs, enhance forest administration to cut back wildfires and strengthen legal guidelines towards “violent and repeat offenders.”

Coverage

UPDATED Oct. 25, 2022 | 5:07 PM

How would you're employed with the opposite get together?

Jones
“I'd work diligently with my Republican colleagues to create a federal fireplace insurance coverage plan for each eligible family within the nation. Fires, which worsen throughout the Western states each single 12 months, are burning houses and property whatever the political affiliation of the proprietor. Many Republican voters stay in these rural areas close to the wildfire city interface, so I'd work urgently to safe broad help from Republicans as nicely, serving to to safe their constituents economically of their houses. There's already a mannequin for this in a federal flood insurance coverage plan.”

Kiley
Kiley has refused to say whether or not President Biden received the 2020 election. He has been outspoken in his frequent criticism of Biden, Newsom, Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi and different Democratic leaders. In his marketing campaign announcement on Twitter, he mentioned he would “combat Biden and Pelosi’s radical agenda simply as onerous as I’ve fought Newsom and the Supermajority.”

What's your stance on abortion?

Jones
Jones helps federal safety for abortion entry, saying he has “at all times felt there isn't any place for the federal government, partisan politics or the political preferences of elected officers or unelected justices to make these choices for these households.”

“Banning abortion goes towards our most sacred, American ideas of self-determination,” he mentioned.

Kiley
Within the Meeting, Kiley voted towards inserting a constitutional modification on the poll to explicitly defend abortion rights in California and voted towards different abortion rights measures.

Throughout a debate forward of the primaries earlier than Roe vs. Wade was overturned, Kiley mentioned he would “combat for pro-life insurance policies.”

On the time, he mentioned the leaked Supreme Court docket opinion overturning the landmark 1973 ruling was the “applicable resolution from a constitutional viewpoint.”

What would you do about mass shootings?

Jones
Jones believes “People have a proper to really feel protected of their locations of worship, colleges, hospitals and grocery shops. Like most People, I do know that weapons don't belong within the palms of harmful criminals. I consider in expanded and extra detailed background checks, robust psychological well being help, red-flag legal guidelines and learning the impacts of elevating the minimal buy age for high-capacity weapons and high-powered semiautomatic rifles.”

Kiley
After the mass taking pictures in Uvalde, Texas, Kiley proposed creating psychological well being funds for colleges and placing law enforcement officials at each college. In a Q&A broadcast final 12 months within the San Diego Union-Tribune, Kiley wrote that he “will work to get weapons out of the palms of criminals with out making it tougher for legislation abiding residents to apply their Second Modification Rights.”

What would you do to make sure election integrity?

Jones
Jones mentioned he would help the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Development Act, which might require states with sure earlier Voting Rights Act violations to get federal approval earlier than altering practices which may have an effect on voting rights.

“My father grew up in segregated Arkansas, so I'm just one technology faraway from individuals being restricted from voting based mostly upon race or different attributes protected beneath our Structure,” he mentioned.

“I do consider individuals who tried to overthrow our democracy must be held accountable to the fullest extent potential.”

Kiley
When requested throughout a Could debate whether or not Biden was legitimately elected, Kiley, who has been endorsed by former President Trump, responded that it “is determined by what you imply by ‘legit.’”

He added that defending elections is “an essential precedence.”

What's your opinion about efforts to overtake police funding?

Jones
“I consider we have to look a lot broader than police funding once we try to determine tips on how to preserve our communities protected, which is our final aim. We have to begin by investing in applications to raised join the police with the communities they defend, making certain belief and communication. I don't consider we profit by defunding the police. I'll at all times work to ensure that native police have the funding and sources they should preserve us protected and work with our communities.”

Kiley
In a Q&A broadcast final 12 months within the San Diego Union-Tribune, Kiley mentioned he's a “robust supporter of our legislation enforcement and the essential position it performs in protecting us protected.”

What are your insurance policies on healthcare?

Jones
Jones mentioned he helps a public choice to the Inexpensive Care Act, however his healthcare proposals transcend insurance coverage.

“An individual will be totally insured and nonetheless have entry points as a result of there should not sufficient docs, nurses or different healthcare staff in rural areas. That particular person may nonetheless pay an excessive amount of for medicines or require pointless journeys to the hospital for companies she or he may obtain at house,” he wrote. “I've probably the most complete healthcare plan of anybody who has ever run for Congress. My plan would decrease prescription drug prices whereas encouraging innovation and a cost-saving mechanism by rising extra tele- and digital medical care and offering incentives for preventive well being.”

Kiley
In an interview final 12 months with Kaiser Well being Information, Kiley argued that authorities guidelines on medical health insurance and different laws have contributed to elevated prices.

“I’m unsure it’s essential to be regularly specifying what each single plan must entail,” Kiley instructed the outlet. “I don’t know that legislators are at all times in the very best place to be weighing in.”

How would you reform immigration coverage?

Jones
“For the final 40 years, Washington politicians have put partisan politics forward of doing their jobs, resulting in a disaster at our borders. I consider that each side must cease taking part in political video games and begin working to seek out options. I help complete immigration reform that begins with strengthening our border after which creates a pathway to citizenship or visitor employee applications for law-abiding immigrants who play by the foundations and pay taxes.”

Kiley
Kiley “helps stronger border safety to cease unlawful immigration and opposes California’s loopy sanctuary metropolis legal guidelines,” his web site says.

In a Q&A final 12 months with the San Diego Union-Tribune, Kiley spoke out towards Senate Invoice 54, a 2017 legislation that limits state and native legislation enforcement’s communication with federal immigration officers and prevents them from holding individuals on immigration violations.

What's the federal authorities’s position in coping with the homeless disaster?

Jones
“The federal authorities must closely put money into housing and work with states to incentivize zoning legal guidelines which improve multifamily housing. The federal authorities additionally must strengthen its protections and protection for psychological well being points, substance abuse and home violence, all of that are social points which contribute to our homeless disaster.”

Kiley
Kiley mentioned in a Q&A final 12 months with the San Diego Union-Tribune that in addressing homelessness, he would make sure that shelters can be found.

“However as soon as homeless people have a roof over their head, I'd join them with the wanted companies, equivalent to psychological well being counseling, substance abuse remedy and job coaching,” he mentioned. “Whereas homelessness isn't just a housing problem, there isn't any doubt that California has an affordability disaster. We have to get rid of the overregulation that makes housing so troublesome and expensive to construct.”

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