Skip to main content

Newsroom

Latest News

August 3, 2011
Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA), a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, today sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi urging the House of Representatives to immediately consider a short-term extension of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The current FAA funding authorization expired on July 22, 2011, causing a shutdown of most of the FAA's operations and aviation construction projects.

August 2, 2011
The nonpartisan council appointed by eighteen Western governors to advise on Western water issues today told the Natural Resources Committee that it opposes legislation that would threaten the delicate balance achieved in one of California's most important water systems and preempt state's rights and federal law. The Western States Water Council, in a letter sent to members of the Natural Resources Committee, joined a growing list of stakeholders who oppose the legislation proposed by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.).

August 2, 2011
News Articles
Delta Air Lines says it will process tax refunds for the passengers entitled to them because of the suspension of several federal air travel-related taxes, acceding to requests that the airlines do so instead of the IRS. it is not yet clear whether other airlines will follow suit.

U.S. airlines have been resisting the request from the IRS, with the Air Transport Association (ATA) noting the IRS was responsible for
refunds when a similar lapse in tax collections occurred in 1996 and 1997.
Issues:Jobs & Economy

August 1, 2011
News Articles

A legislative solution to an administrative roadblock that threatens one of the most successful energy efficiency programs in Sonoma County history would remove current restraints on the PACE program imposed by housing giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

PACE, which stands for Property Assessed Clean Energy, is a federal act that gave birth to the Sonoma County Energy independence Program (SCEIP).

Issues:Energy & EnvironmentJobs & Economy

August 1, 2011
Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA), a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, today issued the following statement after voting for legislation to avoid a default on our nation's financial obligations:

“I voted for the compromise legislation to avoid defaulting on our nation's debt. Given that our nation was hours away from defaulting on its obligations, I felt a responsibility to vote yes.”


July 30, 2011
Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA), a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, today urged domestic air carriers to stop charging passengers for the cost of federal aviation taxes on their tickets in a bipartisan letter to the Air Transport Association. These taxes expired last week after Congress failed to pass a funding extension for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), but some airlines have continued to include the cost of the tax in their ticket prices.

“The bottom line is consumers are being taken advantage of by some of the airlines,” said Rep. Thompson.


July 30, 2011
News Articles
At a special Friday event local, state and federal officials offered a glimpse into a multiagency operation to fight the escalating problem of illicit marijuana grows - and the accompanying violence and ecological destruction - on public lands.

Operation Full Court Press is taking place in Lake, Mendocino, Colusa, Glenn, Tehama and Trinity counties, with emphasis on the Mendocino National Forest, according to US Attorney Melinda Haag, who spoke at the Friday morning press conference at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds in Ukiah.

Issues:Defense

July 29, 2011
News Articles

U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag says, "Operation full court press is critically important. An operation that will help bring an end to the illegal marijuana growth sites on public land in California." And they have done just that. Over the past two weeks, Operation Full Court Press, has seized over 460-thousand marijuana plants, raided 56 grow sites, and made a total of 102 arrests..

"It's going to be very important that we take back our public land, identify and prosecute those folks who are responsible," Congressman Mike Thompson says.

Issues:Defense

July 29, 2011
Congressman Mike Thompson today issued the following statement following House passage of Speaker John Boehner's deficit bill:

“Today, Speaker Boehner brought forward his proposal to address our nation's impending debt-limit crisis. Unfortunately, this short-term deal would ensure we face another crisis in six months. Rather than appealing to the most radical wing of the conservative element of the majority party, we should be finding a bipartisan, balanced solution to our current impasse. That's why I voted against this misguided legislation.”


July 28, 2011
News Articles

On Wednesday, Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) successfully offered an amendment to H.R. 2584, the Interior-Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2012, that will preserve essential federal protections for America's endangered and threatened species.

Specifically, Rep. Thompson's amendment removed language - known as the Extinction Rider - that would have prevented the Fish and Wildlife Service from spending any funding to list new plants and animals under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Issues:Energy & Environment