THOMPSON RETURNS TO MIDDLETOWN
Thompson: 'biggest abuse' was the Republican Tax Bill of 2017
MIDDLETOWN >> Rain failed to put a damper on the crowd of more than 30 people who gathered on Tuesday at Grinders Steep coffee shop for a meet and greet with Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena). Those in attendance stood outside the shop, under shelter, to hear what he had to say.
One man thanked Thompson for voting for impeachment to which he replied, “It was a sad vote for me.”
Someone else in the crowd asked if there will be any relief for the national debt and Thompson replied, “I’ve always been a tightwad with tax payers’ money. The biggest abuse, the year before last, was the Republican Tax Bill of 2017. That was just wrong.”
A veteran, Stephanie Pahwa, said she wants a practical gun solution.
Thompson said that his introduction of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 “will expand background checks. Our background checks stops gun sales to criminals, domestic abusers, individuals with dangerous mental illnesses or other prohibited purchasers. Yet, in some states the same ones turned down can go to gun shows or computer store and get a gun from someone who’s not a licensed gun dealer. H.R. 8 will close that loophole.”
Thompson said that his bill is sitting on the stack of bills on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s desk and that it would take members of the public to call, write, and email their government officials continuously to show their support and make the passage of the legislation happen.
The congressman also addressed the Affordable Care Act and how President Donald Trump is suing to get rid
of it by eliminating pre-existing conditions. Thompson said he is fighting to protect the ACA.
Thompson also addressed Social Security, Medicare and veterans’ money. “Our District 5 gets over $2 billion in checks. Most of those checks are spent right here on rent, housing and food. You worked for it,” he told the crowd. “You are entitled to it.”
Pahwa said, “Congressman Thompson helped me as a veteran. My son was diagnosed with autism and I was going to be deployed to Iraq. Congressman Thompson helped me to stay with my son and teach him how to be a a functioning member of society. The congressman does so much for our veterans, He works on issues for everyone, Republican or Democrat.”
Moke Simon, chair of the Lake County Board of Supervisors, was present at the gathering and said, ”It was a very good turnout.
Anytime officials come out to the community and listen to the constituents’ concerns face-to-face, it’s good.”
At the end of the time at Grinders Steep, Thompson was also on the same page, saying, “I think it’s great to get out and talk to people, find out what they’re concerned about and take it to Washington.”
Thompson, who is running for re-election this year, told this newspaper on Wednesday that he still has “a lot of work to do.”
“The election will run its
course,” Thompson said. “I’m doing all the stuff that I do in a non-election year… Bottom line, I’ve got a day job.”
In the 2018 election, Thompson defeated independent candidate Anthony Mills with 79 percent of the vote. This cycle, Thompson’s opponents include Kelseyville resident John Tyler, Sonoma County resident Scott Giblin, and Napa County resident Jason Kishineff.