Napa Valley Register - Thompson: Partisan Gridlock Was Economy's Worst Enemy
September 20, 2012
In the current congressional term, Mike Thompson has voted his party's line 92.2 percent of the time.
That may sound extreme, but by modern standards that makes Thompson a moderate. Drawn from more than 1,700 votes, Thompson's voting pattern ranks 123rd among 190 Democratic representatives. The average Democrat votes with the party 93.1 percent of the time as does the average Republican.
Thompson, D-St. Helena, has for seven terms in Congress made his moderate, fiscally conservative, “blue dog” approach to politics his calling card even as that ideology has fallen out of fashion. The Blue Dog Coalition, which just one Congress ago had 42 members, today stands at just 25.
And “there's no Blue Dog equivalent on the other side,” notes Thompson, who is running for his eighth term to represent Napa County in Congress in the newly formed District 5. “Everything is teed up to be a political vote.”
As the number of moderates has dwindled, it has made working across the aisle all the more difficult, Thompson said. He said he believes Congress needs to take more of a long-term view at policy and look outside of partisan agendas.
“A bunch of my colleagues in both houses, four years ago, decided we're not working together,” Thompson said. In his view, the Republican agenda became making sure President Obama did not win re-election.
“It was an incredible sellout to the American people.”
Perhaps that lack of cooperation is also part of what led Thompson to introduce fewer pieces of legislation than in previous Congressional terms. Many of the 12 bills he did introduce himself as the primary author, however, directly concerned Napa County.
Most recently, the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Act was introduced in May to promote the enhancement of the ecological resources of more than 300,000 acres in Napa, Lake, Mendocino and Yolo counties.
Thompson said the conservation areas “is a better use of resources to manage the area,” and dismissed concerns that federal ownership of the land would lead to less recreational opportunities at Lake Berryessa. “There's not anything radical going on here,” he said, adding there was no “secret boat ban” at work.
Nor is it a secret that Thompson believes one of the keys to a stronger economy is reinvesting in and rebuilding the country's infrastructure, including its highways and projects like Napa's flood control initiative.
“Want to get America back to work? Fully fund the Army Corps of Engineers,” Thompson said. The “800-pound gorilla” for Napa is the still-unfunded Oxbow bypass channel that would provide the lion's share of flood protection at a cost of more than $23 million. Thompson said approving that funding would bring 700 immediate jobs to Napa, not including the additional business it would stimulate around the flood protection area.
Meanwhile, Thompson points to the national transportation legislation as a clear example of partisan politics at work in our nation's capital.
“We've messed around with this transportation re-authorization for two and a half years,” he said, because many in Congress think “it's more important to oust this guy from the White House. That's wrong. That's just flat wrong.”
In discussing the need for health care reform through the Affordable Healthcare Act, Thompson said there was $50 million in uncompensated health care services in this district last year. He said “Obamacare” recognizes the value of community clinics like Napa's Clinic Ole; increases funding for primary care doctors; prolongs Medicare for 14 years; and will help to lessen the burden on emergency rooms.
Asked about the Mishewal Wappo tribe's legal fight to gain federal recognition, Thompson argued that such action should be the responsibility of Congress and not decided by the judicial branch. The County of Napa agrees.
Indeed, Thompson said no one in Washington knows more about what this district needs than he does â€" even though 75 percent of its geography is changing in this election. He noted that he's represented almost all of the new territory previously while in the California Senate.
And while the political party extremes are slowing progress in Washington, they may also benefit Thompson in November through his new district. Seventy-two percent of District 5 voted for Obama in 2008.
That may sound extreme, but by modern standards that makes Thompson a moderate. Drawn from more than 1,700 votes, Thompson's voting pattern ranks 123rd among 190 Democratic representatives. The average Democrat votes with the party 93.1 percent of the time as does the average Republican.
Thompson, D-St. Helena, has for seven terms in Congress made his moderate, fiscally conservative, “blue dog” approach to politics his calling card even as that ideology has fallen out of fashion. The Blue Dog Coalition, which just one Congress ago had 42 members, today stands at just 25.
And “there's no Blue Dog equivalent on the other side,” notes Thompson, who is running for his eighth term to represent Napa County in Congress in the newly formed District 5. “Everything is teed up to be a political vote.”
As the number of moderates has dwindled, it has made working across the aisle all the more difficult, Thompson said. He said he believes Congress needs to take more of a long-term view at policy and look outside of partisan agendas.
“A bunch of my colleagues in both houses, four years ago, decided we're not working together,” Thompson said. In his view, the Republican agenda became making sure President Obama did not win re-election.
“It was an incredible sellout to the American people.”
Perhaps that lack of cooperation is also part of what led Thompson to introduce fewer pieces of legislation than in previous Congressional terms. Many of the 12 bills he did introduce himself as the primary author, however, directly concerned Napa County.
Most recently, the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Act was introduced in May to promote the enhancement of the ecological resources of more than 300,000 acres in Napa, Lake, Mendocino and Yolo counties.
Thompson said the conservation areas “is a better use of resources to manage the area,” and dismissed concerns that federal ownership of the land would lead to less recreational opportunities at Lake Berryessa. “There's not anything radical going on here,” he said, adding there was no “secret boat ban” at work.
Nor is it a secret that Thompson believes one of the keys to a stronger economy is reinvesting in and rebuilding the country's infrastructure, including its highways and projects like Napa's flood control initiative.
“Want to get America back to work? Fully fund the Army Corps of Engineers,” Thompson said. The “800-pound gorilla” for Napa is the still-unfunded Oxbow bypass channel that would provide the lion's share of flood protection at a cost of more than $23 million. Thompson said approving that funding would bring 700 immediate jobs to Napa, not including the additional business it would stimulate around the flood protection area.
Meanwhile, Thompson points to the national transportation legislation as a clear example of partisan politics at work in our nation's capital.
“We've messed around with this transportation re-authorization for two and a half years,” he said, because many in Congress think “it's more important to oust this guy from the White House. That's wrong. That's just flat wrong.”
In discussing the need for health care reform through the Affordable Healthcare Act, Thompson said there was $50 million in uncompensated health care services in this district last year. He said “Obamacare” recognizes the value of community clinics like Napa's Clinic Ole; increases funding for primary care doctors; prolongs Medicare for 14 years; and will help to lessen the burden on emergency rooms.
Asked about the Mishewal Wappo tribe's legal fight to gain federal recognition, Thompson argued that such action should be the responsibility of Congress and not decided by the judicial branch. The County of Napa agrees.
Indeed, Thompson said no one in Washington knows more about what this district needs than he does â€" even though 75 percent of its geography is changing in this election. He noted that he's represented almost all of the new territory previously while in the California Senate.
And while the political party extremes are slowing progress in Washington, they may also benefit Thompson in November through his new district. Seventy-two percent of District 5 voted for Obama in 2008.