Ami Bera vs. Christine Bish for California Congress race: Candidates answer key questions
Longtime Rep. Ami Bera, D-Elk Grove, faces Republican Realtor and financial investigator Christine Bish in California's 6th District in November.
The 6th District is entirely within Sacramento County, covering the north side of Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights, Arden-Arcade and most of Fair Oaks. It is solidly Democratic.
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The Bee asked the candidates to fill out a survey. Their responses were checked and slightly edited for spelling and grammar.
Ami Bera
Political party:
Age:
Birthplace: Los Angeles
Residence: Elk Grove
Occupation: U.S. Representative, medical doctor
Education: University of California, Irvine (Doctor of Medicine); University of California, Irvine (Bachelor of Science in biological sciences)
Offices held: U.S. Representative (2013-present)
Campaign website address: beraforcongress.com
Q. What steps will you urge to improve cost of living and quality of life for people?
My goal in Congress has always been to help residents in Sacramento County.
I've helped secure grants of $76.8 million to SacRT for clean buses, a maintenance facility, and workforce training; $22.5 million to SACOG to lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve transportation; and $11.7 million for upgrades at SMF.
I voted for the Inflation Reduction Act to cap insulin prices for seniors and allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices.
I supported the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act and the bipartisan Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act to support hardworking families and businesses in our region.
Q. What changes, if any, do you support for immigration and border policy?
I've supported the American Dream and Promise Act, to give DREAMers a path to permanent residence status and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to stabilize the agricultural sector.
We must work to curb fentanyl at the border, promote a humane immigration process, and help restore stability to other countries.
Democrats and Republicans need to come together on immigration reform and border security. The bipartisan Border Act of 2024 contains several good ideas to address border security and it should be brought to the House floor to allow for robust debate.
Q. Other than cost of living, immigration and the border, what is one of the greatest issues Californians are facing and what tangible measures do you propose Congress take to address it?
As the former chief medical officer of Sacramento County, I understand that the cost of health care continues to be a significant issue for Californians. The fact that with Americans living longer, the need to find solutions will become greater each year.
We must work to ensure families don't have to choose between putting food on the table or paying for health care. I have authored bills to streamline the prior authorization process, improve the electronic health care system for veterans and service members, decrease the cost of prescription drugs, and increase access to health care coverage.
Christine Bish
Political party:
Age:
Birthplace: Los Angeles
Residence:
Occupation: Realtor, financial investigator
Education: Did not respond
Offices held: Did not respond
Campaign website address: BishforCongress.com
Q. What steps will you urge to improve cost of living and quality of life for people?
Q. What changes, if any, do you support for immigration and border policy?
We need to seal the border, enforce immigration laws on the books, and deprive illegal immigrants of government-funded services and housing. The problem will take care of itself.
Q. Other than cost of living, immigration and the border, what is one of the greatest issues Californians are facing and what tangible measures do you propose Congress take to address it?
Crime. Californians are tired of feeling unsafe on their streets and seeing commonplace products under lock and key.
The first thing we have to do is eliminate this notion that those who commit crime today do so out of desperation and that society owes them something. We owe them nothing but enforcement of the law and a well-funded police force able to crack down on crime. I'll do everything I can to crack down on this in Congress.
