Blue dog, new tricks
By: Michaela Harris
Tags: California, Profile, Politics, Covid 19

Blue dog, new tricks

As COVID-19 brings uncertainty across the nation, many are looking

towards local politicians for answers on how the virus will affect their community. California’s 5th District Congressman Mike Thompson gave insight on how to economically assist national industries and the impact of his political career.

On March 27, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed, which will provide stimulus benefits to families, workers, and businesses who qualify. According to Thompson, more federal spending on top of the 2.3 trillion dollar bill is needed in order to keep assistance programs available for everyone. “It’s pretty clear that the pandemic is worse than some folks feared. And the demand on the monies that we’ve already passed is

pretty great,” Thompson explained.

Family leave, unemployment insurance, and loans for small businesses have been extended to people who previously would not qualify for such benefits. The goal of expanding these programs is to keep people working and develop state revenue that Thompson claims is

severely lacking. “[State and local government] coffers have been obliterated given what they’ve had to do to respond,” he states. Generating state revenue with minimal workers has led to over taxing employees in essential industries such as health care.

Thompson also claims that investments in our infrastructure must be made in order to combat the economic impact of the virus: “We’re going to have to fund infrastructure legislation, expansion of broadband, maybe some school, as well as some big investment in healthcare.”

Investments in healthcare are a top priority to those who have lost their access to it amidst layoffs and unemployment. As one of the co-authors for the Affordable Care Act, Thompson believes that access to public healthcare options is a necessity.

After graduating from California State University, Chico as a political science major, Thompson began his political career by running for the California state Senate in 1990. After two terms, he ran for Congress. Thompson is currently the only member of Congress to serve in the Vietnam War. He received a Purple Heart as well as a Combat Infantryman Badge for his service as

a Staff Sergeant in the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

Because of his military service, Thompson has been

staunchly against the war in Iraq and most proposed military conflicts. “I would walk to the gates of Hell if it meant that we would avoid war,” he stated.

Thompson is currently seated as a chairman for the Ways and Means Committee and was appointed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. Despite backlash from groups like the National Rifle Association, Thompson believes it is a responsibility for gun owners like himself to keep communities safe from gun violence. On his website, Thompson states that the debate for gun control “isn’t a choice between reducing violence and protecting the Second Amendment. It’s about the willingness of a responsible majority to do both.”

Over the next decade, Thompson hopes to see better access to healthcare, major investments to traffic infrastructure and renewable energy, expanded schools and broadband, and affordable housing within his district. To Thompson, the most rewarding part of being a politician is having the power to provide these resources and ultimately help people through times of uncertainty.