Mike Thompson vs. John Munn for California Congress race: Candidates answer key questions
Longtime Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, faces Republican farmer and rancher John Munn in California's 4th Congressional District in November.
The 4th District, which is solidly Democratic, contains all of Lake and Napa counties plus parts of Yolo, Solano and Sonoma counties. It includes Davis, Woodland, Napa, Vacaville and most of Santa Rosa.
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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.
Mike Thompson
Political party:
Age:
Birthplace: St. Helena
Residence: St. Helena
Occupation: U.S. Representative
Education: California State University, Chico (Master's degree in Public Administration, Bachelor's degree in public administration and minor in economics); Napa Valley College (General Studies)
Offices held: U.S. Representative (1999-present); California State Senator (1990-1998)
Campaign website address: mikethompsonforcongress.com
Q. What steps will you urge to improve cost of living and quality of life for people?
I supported the Inflation Reduction Act allowing Medicare drug price negotiations and capping insulin at $35.
If passed, my bipartisan bill to help owners harden their properties against fires will encourage insurers to re-enter markets and lower prices.
I secure millions in federal funds annually for local projects, including repairing roadways and improving our water systems.
I chair Democrats' gun violence prevention work and supported the most significant gun safety legislation in 30 years.
My Low-Income Housing Disaster Tax Credits funded 1,800+ units of affordable housing.
Q. What changes, if any, do you support for immigration and border policy?
I support comprehensive reform to make legal immigration easier, address border crossings, provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, youth, and DREAMers, and protect those who are legally here and fleeing dangerous situations.
I'm for reforming the H-2A program to give farm workers flexibility and better meet the needs of our agricultural economy.
I supported the bipartisan border security bill that Trump killed, which would have added immigration judges and border personnel, cut the screening time backlog, and directed asylum seekers to apply before crossing the border.
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?
Climate change is the greatest challenge facing us.
I authored the tax portion of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to make the largest climate investment ever enacted and use the tax code to help transform our country to a clean energy economy. The IRA is reducing climate change risks and creating millions of new jobs. The success is evident throughout our district and country.
I also supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was the largest infrastructure investment since the Eisenhower Administration and is helping Californians improve roads, bridges, rail and water systems.
John Munn
Political party:
Age:
Birthplace:
Residence:
Occupation: Rancher, farmer; retired from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Education: University of California, Davis (Master of Science in soil science, Bachelor of Science in engineering, Bachelor of Science in soil and water science)
Offices held: President of Yolo County Taxpayers Association (2008-2012); Davis School Board (1997-2001); President of Yolo County School Boards Association (2001); Chairman of Yolo County Republican Party (1994-1997); President of Professional Soil Scientists Association of California (1991 and 1992)
Campaign website address: MunnForCongress.com
Q. What steps will you urge to improve cost of living and quality of life for people?
It is interesting that this question does not mention that prices increased dramatically during the past four years.
First change would be eliminating policies leading to fuel price increases and to promote energy independence that stops sending U.S. dollars to foreign oil producers. Reducing fuel prices will also reduce the cost of food production and delivery and other production costs, from fertilizer to cars.
Reducing interest rates would make housing and consumer credit more affordable and would reduce increased federal spending on debt payments.
Q. What changes, if any, do you support for immigration and border policy?
Finish building the wall and prevent entry into the United States.
Once in, reduce complexity of and time required by deportation process. This will also reduce the taxpayer subsidy for illegal immigrant housing, food, and other support.
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?
The current federal habit of borrowing one-quarter to one-third of federal spending is not sustainable as interest payments on the national debt are now our third largest federal expenditure and are crowding out spending on expected programs. Failure of the federal budget would hurt all of us and would reduce opportunities for future generations.
To prevent an economic crisis, federal spending must be capped, growth of the economy encouraged, and use of increased revenue dedicated to paying down the deficit and then the debt. The debt hole took years to dig, will take years to fill, and must get started.
