Jones has misrepresented Congressman Mike Thompson’s record, according to Lofgren
(From press release) In a letter to the editor published in the Napa Valley Register, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren dispelled one of Eric Jones’ most common talking points as a complete falsehood. When Eric Jones attacks Congressman Thompson’s record, he uses faulty and inaccurate data that excludes nearly $7 billion dollars worth of Social Security spending in the district.
Read the full letter to the editor here and below:
Everybody is entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts.
I was surprised to learn that San Francisco venture capitalist Eric Jones claimed in a recent debate that Congressman Mike Thompson was underdelivering for the Fourth Congressional District. Jones cited USASpending.gov data which shows less in federal funds into Mike’s district than neighboring colleagues. But saying that Thompson brings in less funding to his district is just wrong.
A quick review shows USA Spending is only counting about one-third of the Social Security checks coming into Thompson’s district. In fact, USA Spending is undercounting the Fourth District’s Social Security funding by more than $7 billion. Similar problems appear across other funding categories, too.
USA Spending is notorious for incomplete data. The Government Accountability Office and Congressional Research Service have documented its inaccuracies repeatedly.
A candidate who claims to be from this community – especially a venture capitalist with a degree from Yale – should’ve noticed the numbers are wrong.
As the Chair of the California Democratic delegation in the House of Representatives, I have a responsibility to look out for California voters and correct the record about candidates. The facts are that Mike has worked hard to deliver for his community — the very community where he was born, grew up, and still lives — and he’s succeeded in doing so.
Mike is a fierce defender of Social Security. But let’s be real: the number of people on Social Security is a function of who is eligible by age or disability, not who represents the area in Congress.
The real measure of resources brought to the district is what Mike’s been able to deliver that would not have otherwise come. Just some of what Mike’s delivered over the years includes more than $100 million returned to residents through casework, $99 million for fire recovery after the 2017, 2018, and 2019 fires, $500 million in tax relief for fire survivors, $293 million for flood protection in downtown Napa, $60 million in disaster assistance for fisheries following their population crash, helped pass the largest water and transportation investment since the Eisenhower administration and so much more. Mike is one of the most effective members of the California delegation and an aggressive advocate for the people he represents.
I hope Jones apologizes for misrepresenting his opponent’s record and holds himself to a higher standard moving forward. Voters are owed the truth.
Congressman Thompson is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over health care, tax, trade, Social Security and income security issues. Congressman Thompson is the Ranking Member of the Tax Subcommittee and a senior member of the Health Subcommittee. He is also a member of the fiscally responsible Blue Dog Coalition and a combat veteran. To learn more about Congressman Mike Thompson visit here.
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