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Mike Thompson Watch
Mike Thompson, Representative from California's District 1, surprised some of his constituents by voting with the Democrats consistently since they took control of Congress. Thompson, a Democrat, is known for having often voted with the Republicans during their ascendency.
Mike voted Yes on adoption of the House rules proposed by the Democrats. This included a provision to reform the earmarking process (that allows Representatives to put projects specific to their district, and usually to their campaign contributors, in bills without oversite).
Mike voted with the vast majority of Representatives (passed 229 to 128) to implement the remaining 9/11 commission security recommendations.
Mike voted for for the Fair Minimum Wage Act, which will raise the national minimum wage to $7.25 per hour over the next two years. While it is better than no increase in the minimum wage, it does not bring workers up to parity with gains made by the middle and upper classes in the past decade.
Mike also voted to expand federal funding of stem cell research and to negotiate Medicare prescription drug prices. He voted for the Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act.
All of these measures passed the House of Representatives, mostly by wide margins.