[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 105 (Wednesday, September 8, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1549-E1550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO STEVE THOMPSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 8, 2004

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in tribute to a man with a 
distinguished career in public service. Throughout the course of his 
illustrious career, my great friend, Steve Thompson, served his beloved 
people of California with great passion, integrity, and distinction. On 
August 17th, California lost its most influential advocate for 
healthcare policy when Steve passed away after a brief and courageous 
battle against cancer. As his family and friends gather to pay tribute 
and remember Steve's countless achievements and contributions to the 
people of California, I ask all my colleagues to join me in saluting 
one of the Capitol's most well-respected figures, and my dear friend, 
Steve Thompson.
  Steve started his forty-year Capitol career in 1964 as an Assistant 
Economist for the Department of Water Resources. In 1966, Steve moved 
to the Legislative Analyst's Office and, a year later, to the Assembly 
Health Committee. In 1971, Steve took a job as Principal Consultant to 
then Assemblyman Willie Brown's Ways and Means Committee. At Ways and 
Means, Thompson was part of what is now considered an all-star team of 
staffers that included John Mockler, now a leader on education, Phil 
Isenberg, who eventually became the Mayor of Sacramento and served in 
the Legislature for fourteen years, Ray Sullivan, who became a fiscal 
policy leader, and Bob Connelly, who became the Assembly's Chief 
Administrative Officer. Steve's numerous gifts were apparent to his 
cohorts from early on in his career. ``In politics, you have to have 
passion, knowledge and perspective to succeed and Steve had all 
three,'' said John Mockler, a friend since 1965.
  During this early part of his legislative career, Steve drafted 
California's first bill on autism and helped create the Lanterman-
Petris-Short Act, California's landmark reform on mental health 
services. Steve also played a big role in shaping legislation in the 
1960s that created the system for caring for severely developmentally 
disabled people in smaller regional centers rather than in large state 
hospitals. Steve left the Legislature in 1974 and founded a public 
policy research firm. Seven years later, Steve returned to the Capitol 
as the Chief of Staff for the Speaker of the Assembly, Willie Brown. 
Willie Brown often referred to Steve as being ``central'' to his 
operation. In 1986, Steve took over as director of the Assembly Office 
of Research.
  Throughout the Capitol, Steve was affectionately known as ``the 
Health SMIC,'' short for ``smartest man in California'' on health care 
related issues. In 1992, Steve's mastery of health care related issues 
landed him the post of government affairs director and chief lobbyist 
for the California Medical Association. Steve used his influence to 
fight for the issue that he cared about the most: improving healthcare 
coverage for the medically uninsured. Just last year, Steve was the 
driving force behind legislation that requires employers to provide 
health care benefits to workers. Steve's passion to improve health care 
was so great that he was still testifying before legislative committees 
a week before his death.

[[Page E1550]]

  While the loss of Steve Thompson to the state of California and the 
health care community is great, it is also of great personal loss to 
me. Steve and I attended grammar school together and were life long 
friends. I will always cherish my memories of Steve, he was a ``good 
troublemaker'' as one of our friends put it. Doris and I will dearly 
miss his friendship.
  Steve is survived by his wife, Nancy; his sister, Dagmar, and his 
four children, Peter, Schuyler, Hallie, and Scott.
  Mr. Speaker, as Steve Thompson's family members and friends gather to 
honor his legacy and many contributions, I am honored to pay tribute to 
one of my closest friends. His successes are unparalleled. I ask all my 
colleagues to join with me in paying my respect and acknowledging the 
deeds and life of an extraordinary man.

                          ____________________