A look at the 36th District Congressional candidates ahead of elections
Congressman Doctor Raul Ruiz is facing Republican, Kimberlin Brown Pelzer in the November ballot to represent the 36th Congressional District in DC.
Primary results in June showed Ruiz ahead by more than 30 percent of votes.
News Channel 3 & CBS Local 2’s Lauren Coronado sat down with both candidates.
Ruiz, a self proclaimed champion for veteran’s rights and healthcare, says he’s continuing his promise to preserve the Affordable Care Act.
“The health insurance covers the essential health benefits, like emergency care, medications, maternity care and mental health, so that way the insurance company will help you pay for those. If they cut those guaranteed coverages, then that’s going to mean more out of pocket costs for people who need those types of service,” Ruiz said.
But Kimberlin Brown Pelzer, a Republican, calls it catastrophic.
“You’re not only paying for your insurance, but you’re paying for your healthcare too. I don’t see the benefit in that. We need to get back to a program where we were all promised we can keep our doctor, we can keep our plans,” Brown Pelzer explained.
As an employer, Pelzer says Obamacare crushed her business, and see’s President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax plan as relief.
“I can tell you real wages in my company alone, in one portion of my business, went up over six percent in one year, and over 12 percent in another segment of my business. If you talk to other business owners in the Valley, it has been beneficial,” said Brown Pelzer.
But Ruiz argues, 80 percent of the benefits from tax cuts are only going to one percent of the population.
“This is a bill that hurts Californian residents and homeowners. This is the bill that disadvantages small businesses compared to large businesses. This is the bill where millionaires and billionaires get more, and the middle-class barely gets anything, if anything at all,” continued Ruiz.
When it comes to immigration policies, both candidates are pushing for comprehensive reform and stronger border security, but their thoughts toward DACA and DREAMERS didn’t align as similarily.
“They’re (DREAMERS) in their mid-twenties, to early 30s, so hopefully they’ve already achieved that education through our public school system and I don’t entirely agree that taxpayers are responsible for everyone’s education,” said Brown Pelzer.
“Give our dreamers that opportunity that they’ve been searching for their entire life, which is to be part of our nation as citizens and contribute through an education, through their military service,” said Ruiz.
Both candidates hoping to secure their spot in Washington.
“It’s been an honor and such a privilege to represent and amplify the voices of my constituents in Washington, DC and I would be privileged and honored to do so again,” said Ruiz.
“I’ve been silent too long, as many people have, and it’s time for good people to step up to the plate and make a difference,” said Pelzer.
The last day to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 22. Click here to register to vote.
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