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Mike Thompson makes his case
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CommentRep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, visited the Register editorial board at the end of August, laying out the reasons why he believes residents of Napa County and the rest of California’s sprawling First Congressional District should return him to Washington, D.C., for his sixth term in the House of Representatives.
In the near future, the Register will decide whether to endorse Thompson and will explain the reasons for the endorsement. Here are the points Thompson, a St. Helena native who first served as a state senator, made in the meeting.
In the near future, the Register will decide whether to endorse Thompson and will explain the reasons for the endorsement. Here are the points Thompson, a St. Helena native who first served as a state senator, made in the meeting.
He began with an emphasis on local matters.
“One area I take pride in is constituent services,” he said. “My job is not just how I vote in Congress.”
“One area I take pride in is constituent services,” he said. “My job is not just how I vote in Congress.”
He pointed out that his staff in Napa and Washington is often at work straightening out problems local individuals have obtaining veterans and Social Security benefits or dealing with passport and immigration matters. His campaign literature notes that his staff answered 80,000 calls, e-mails and letters from constituents in 2007.
In another aspect of local advocacy, Thompson is a reliable supporter of the wine industry who sought and got federal funding for research into beating the glassy-winged sharpshooter and other pests. He said that his advocacy for the slow-and-go Napa flood control project has brought in $27 million above what the president has allocated over the years.
In another aspect of local advocacy, Thompson is a reliable supporter of the wine industry who sought and got federal funding for research into beating the glassy-winged sharpshooter and other pests. He said that his advocacy for the slow-and-go Napa flood control project has brought in $27 million above what the president has allocated over the years.
This money, which also can be credited in part to California’s two senators and local officials from the county and the city who trek to D.C. twice a year on lobbying trips, has kept this vital project going. Yet the project remains underfunded at the federal level — a victim of higher U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ priorities such as the rebuilding of New Orleans’ levees — and is about a decade behind schedule.
On matters of national interest, Thompson has been consistent in his criticism of the war in Iraq. He first pushed for a hard timetable for withdrawal of troops, a timetable that was tied to President Bush’s mandate for the country to draw up a new constitution. He later co-sponsored failed legislation with Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., to redeploy troops and continues to advocate “to get troops have as quickly and safely as we can.”
As for Congress’ recent performance, Thompson admitted frustration at the pace of change, but noted that Democrats lack the super-majority needed to beat a filibuster.
Accomplishments of Congress he cited included fending off potentially harmful cuts to the Medicare program and passing the first increase in mandatory fuel-performance standards for vehicles in more than three decades. He said the so-called CAFE standards bill also included little-noticed provisions boosting energy efficiency in appliances and new structures.
In the course of the meeting, Thompson offered comments on a number of other matters, from a Calistoga wine controversy to the prospect of hostilities in Iran. We will share his comments on those matters Wednesday.
On matters of national interest, Thompson has been consistent in his criticism of the war in Iraq. He first pushed for a hard timetable for withdrawal of troops, a timetable that was tied to President Bush’s mandate for the country to draw up a new constitution. He later co-sponsored failed legislation with Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., to redeploy troops and continues to advocate “to get troops have as quickly and safely as we can.”
As for Congress’ recent performance, Thompson admitted frustration at the pace of change, but noted that Democrats lack the super-majority needed to beat a filibuster.
Accomplishments of Congress he cited included fending off potentially harmful cuts to the Medicare program and passing the first increase in mandatory fuel-performance standards for vehicles in more than three decades. He said the so-called CAFE standards bill also included little-noticed provisions boosting energy efficiency in appliances and new structures.
In the course of the meeting, Thompson offered comments on a number of other matters, from a Calistoga wine controversy to the prospect of hostilities in Iran. We will share his comments on those matters Wednesday.
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kevin wrote on Sep 9, 2008 4:48 AM:
With record fuel prices, you didn't think to ask what his solution is? "
musikluvr wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:09 AM:
Ruff Limblog wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:32 AM:
Kinda whiney to me.
RMD "
PlasticPinkFlamingo wrote on Sep 9, 2008 11:35 AM:
Thompson should just be grateful he has a guaranteed seat because of his funny looking district boundaries. Were it not for that, he would have to get a job actually doing something useful.
But I will be interested to read his case for continuing his phony baloney representation. Should be a lot of good one-line zingers to follow . . . "
musikluvr wrote on Sep 9, 2008 12:51 PM:
vocal-de-local wrote on Sep 9, 2008 3:00 PM:
We live in a world of "let's have it all now and forget about the impact on future generations". It reminds me so much of what goes on inside the brains of my drug addicted relatives, the ones who have had a minimum of 5 children per female for two generations, haven't raised even one child fully, and remain completely dependent on social services. No, they don't care about the future of the world or even the future of their offspring. Think this is an isolated case? Wake up.
Similarly, politicians and businesses do not care about the influx of immigrants and the impact on our environment and social fabric. It's such a mentality of "take care of ME now and forget about the mess we're leaving future generations. It's drug addict logic.
So please, start addressing the foundation of all environmental problems. Quit pretending it doesn't exist, the relationship of increased population with increased environmental problems which then trickles down to more regulation. Population assault on our environment is the greatest threat we face in California. Do something about it. Start by seriously limiting immigration into the country. Address governmental programs which lead to "population enabling". "
Napanee wrote on Sep 9, 2008 3:46 PM:
AgCommish wrote on Sep 9, 2008 3:56 PM:
Rich wrote on Sep 9, 2008 4:38 PM:
musikluvr wrote on Sep 9, 2008 5:59 PM:
Raven wrote on Sep 9, 2008 7:34 PM:
Joe B wrote on Sep 11, 2008 10:34 PM: