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President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech won unanimously high marks for eloquence from North Coast politicians and analysts, but there were some distinct partisan and philosophical divides.
Rep. Lynn Woolsey, a Petaluma Democrat with strong liberal views, applauded her party leader's "commitment to Main Street America" and his calls for clean energy, jobs and health care legislation.
"He made a commitment to go forward," Woolsey said. "He gave us our marching orders" on health care.
Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) is not your standard issue congressman. He owns a vineyard and orchards of olive and fruit trees â€" all of it organic. He's a catch-and-release fly fisherman. He can talk knowledgably about biodynamic farming, has cooked dinner for 350 on a two burner stove and once raised $20,000 for a local charity by cooking two dinners, each for 20 people.
The governor said he proclaimed the state of emergency because damage from Saturday's temblor is expected to reach $28 million as well as the disruption to utility lines and the continuing aftershocks.
During the hour long meeting, Thompson gave a brief speech and took questions from the audience covering a mix of local and national issues.
During his speech, Thompson praised the current congress as a group that had tackled hard issues and worked harder than people realized.
Congressman Mike Thompson was the sponsor for the Willits hospital funding and for $350,000 set aside for St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka.
This is the second year money has been earmarked for the new hospital with $190,000 included in the 2009 fiscal year's budget.
That was true of the Toys for Kids fundraiser and toy drive, which last Saturday gave out toys and Christmas cheer to children in need and their families.
Toys for Kids is a nonprofit effort started by a group of local volunteers and Congressman Mike Thompson.
Brad Onorato, Thompson's district representative, said this is the toy drive's 14th year, and it was both a successful and heart-wrenching effort.
The Obama administration took a step Monday toward silencing tarmac horror stories by ordering airlines to let passengers stuck in stranded airplanes get off the plane after three hours of waiting.
The move drew applause from North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson, who originally sponsored “passenger bill of rights” legislation several years ago.
”This is a big victory for airline passengers,” Thompson said in a press release. “Passengers no longer have to give up their basic rights when they step on an airplane.”
The battle of Calistoga ended Thursday with a federal decision to grant a new American Viticultural Area appellation to Calistoga, forcing one local winery to change its business.