Mike Simpson RSS Articles

Mammogram Screening

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

As you may know, the 16-member U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently released new recommendations on mammograms. Their recommendations included raising the age to begin routine screening mammography from age 40 to age 50, moving from annual screening mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years to biennial screening, and no longer recommends screening mammography in women aged 75 and older.

I am extremely concerned that these recommendations and new guidelines are designed more to control health spending than to improve the health of patients. I believe that all Americans should have access to the best possible health care and that improving access to early screening and detection will save money in the long run by preventing illnesses and catching them early when they are easiest to treat as well as improving patient outcomes and saving lives. I am concerned that this ruling is just the first example of the types of government rationing that Americans can expect to see if the Democrats’ health reform bill is passed and the government takes control of an individual’s healthcare decisions. I believe that decisions as personal as a person’s health should be between patients and their doctors, NOT between patients and the government.

Unemployment: We Need Real Solutions

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

“I was glad to see some “encouraging” news coming from the White House this week regarding the Democrat American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the so-called stimulus. According to the recovery.gov website, Idaho’s eighth congressional district has received $618,253, and 29.2 jobs have been created. This would be great news for the eighth district, if only it existed. Memo to President Obama: Idaho has two congressional districts. While this blunder was a result of human error, it provides a telling look at what happens when large government bureaucracies try to justify themselves. If a business put out this type of misinformation, it would be called fraud.

“While this is an amusing anecdote, the dramatic failure of this legislation is far from a joke. Jobs continue to be lost in record numbers, and unemployment has jumped to 10.2%, a 26-year high. Still, Democrats refuse to admit their stimulus plan has failed, and even claim outrageously that it has been a success. Well, the numbers don’t lie, and the American people aren’t buying it. Three million jobs have been lost since February when the ARRA passed. The State of Idaho continues to suffer, moving from 8.8% to 8.9% unemployment in October as 1,100 Idahoans lost their jobs. A record 67,300 workers are now without jobs in the State.

“If the Administration’s “transparency” website is so flawed, should we believe any of the numbers coming out of the White House? When Vice President Biden announces that 1 million jobs have been saved or created by the $787 billion ARRA, is anyone listening? Now House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced that the Democrats have plans to pass a third stimulus in December. Does anyone think that she can get it right this time?

“While Americans struggle to pay bills and keep food on the table, the Obama Administration and the Democrats in Congress continue to spend as if there were not record debts already on the books. While American jobs disintegrate they are working to ensure Khalid Sheikh Mohammed does not have his constitutional rights violated, and they continue to push a trillion-dollar plus health care government take-over and a cap-and-trade bill that will only further hamstring our economy. Meanwhile, President Obama has announced that he will host a White House “jobs summit” accompanied by a cross-country campaign-style tour to talk about the economy. This gives me little hope.

“There are several Republican plans to restore jobs that I strongly support. H.R. 2021, the Savings Recovery Act, would take common-sense measures to help Americans rebuild their devastated savings by raising contribution and catch-up limits for retirement accounts and suspending minimum withdrawals from IRAs and 401Ks. I also support efforts to reduce onerous taxes on small businesses and individuals like H.R. 301, which would make the 2001 and 2003 tax relief permanent. We also must take steps to reduce duplicity and waste in the federal government with legislation like H.R. 393, the Federal Sunset Act, which would require a review of every federal agency to reorganize or abolish unnecessary bureaucracies. Unfortunately, Democratic leadership is unlikely to allow any of these bills to see the light of day, but prefers instead to lock out Republican ideas then label us the “party of no.”

“The Democrats claim ARRA generated one million jobs and was a success, but even if you believe their estimate, each job was “created” at $787,000 a pop. Oh, and the taxpayer picked up the bill. Like many Americans, I’ve grown weary of this approach. We cannot afford to continue running up the bills on our national credit card. Let’s focus on real reform that will help our economy grow again.”

Simpson Supports Clean Transportation Energy Alternatives

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Simpson is a cosponsor of H.R. 1835, the New Alterative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions, or NAT GAS, Act of 2009. H.R. 1835 focuses on increasing the availability of natural gas-fueled vehicles in the United States.

“I have always been a strong proponent of using clean alternative fuels, including natural gas, as a part of any comprehensive plan to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil,” Simpson said. “H.R. 1835 gives us the tools to move our transportation system away from the dangerous dependence on foreign oil and onto cleaner, domestically-produced energy sources.”

Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) technology is readily available in other areas of the world, and NGVs are manufactured by all domestic auto manufacturers for sale overseas. Natural gas is the only viable clean alternative energy source for heavy trucks. Yet the U.S. market for these vehicles is extremely limited.

H.R. 1835 includes a number of tax incentives focused on encouraging the production and purchase of natural gas-fueled vehicles and provides grants for the development of light and heavy-duty natural gas vehicles and engines.

“The U.S. has an abundant supply of natural gas,” said Simpson. “While we currently import nearly 70% of our oil, most of which is used for transportation, 98% of our natural gas comes from domestic sources. I strongly believe that H.R. 1835 is an important step in achieving energy independence for our nation.”

H.R. 1835 was originally introduced by Representative Dan Boren (D-OK) and has 116 cosponsors.

Simpson Votes Against Pelosi’s Health Care Takeover

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 3962 that, if signed into law, will be the first step to government takeover of healthcare. Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson joined his colleagues in an attempt to defeat the bill, however, it passed with a final vote of 220-215.

“Pelosi is touting that she just passed legislation to make health care more affordable, but nothing could be further from the truth,” said Simpson. “The frightening reality for the American taxpayer and anyone who will need health care in the future is that she is hiding the true costs of this legislation and doing so in ways that will be disastrous to our nation’s long-term fiscal health.”

In addition to the TRILLION dollar cost of H.R. 3962, the bill also contains the following provisions:
• Includes a “surtax” on individuals making over a certain income, more than half of which are actually small businesses. Moreover, this tax will continue to entrap more and more middle class Americans every year as their incomes go up because, like the Alternative Minimum Tax, it is not indexed for inflation.
• Drastically expands Medicaid, from 100% to 150% of federal poverty level. Starting in 2014, it will cost states, including Idaho, $34 billion to comply with another unfunded federal mandate--something state budgets simply cannot afford during these difficult economic times..
• Those individuals who choose not to purchase health insurance will have to pay a penalty. Americans will no longer get to choose whether or not they will purchase health insurance in the future because government will have already made that decision.
• People who already have health insurance through their employers will be at risk of losing it. H.R. 3962 will implement expensive new mandates on all employer-provided health insurance that businesses must either comply or be faced with new taxes and penalties. For many employers, it will make more business sense to eliminate jobs or drop employees’ health insurance and pay the penalties rather than comply with Uncle Sam’s new rules.

“During a time of record budget deficits, we cannot afford to create another trillion plus dollar entitlement program, like this bill does. However, we all agree that our current health system needs reform,” said Simpson. “I will be the first to admit that it is irresponsible to just say no to the current health legislation without offering commonsense alternatives that will actually bring down the cost of health care. For these reasons, I support measures to make health care more affordable and accessible without further drowning our nation in debt.

Simpson and 66 of his colleagues have cosponsored H.R. 1086, the HEALTH Act. This bill would create effective medical malpractice reform by putting an end to junk lawsuits by placing caps on noneconomic damages and limiting attorney fees. This bill would save as much as $120 billion in wasteful spending by stemming the practice of defensive medicine.

Simpson is also a cosponsor of H.R. 2607, the Small Business Healthcare Fairness Act, which would allow small businesses to band together through associations to buy health care coverage. Large corporations and even labor unions already leverage their size and buying power to secure lower premiums and rates when buying health insurance for their employees and members. This bill would give America’s small businesses the same advantages and make health care coverage for their employees more affordable.

In addition, Simpson supports reforms that would prohibit insurers from denying coverage to people because of pre-existing condition as well as reforms to make the purchase of health insurance for individuals tax-exempt like it is for employer-sponsored insurance. He also believes that we need to do more as a country to focus on prevention and early intervention. Simpson also supports prescription drug re-importation, which would control prescription drug costs by allowing Americans to buy FDA-approved prescription drugs from places such as Canada and Europe where drugs are sold for much less money.

“I am disappointed to see that once again, the Democrats have failed to listen to the American people and passed health reform that all Americans could support,” Simpson said.

Simpson Supports Extension of Homebuyer Tax Credit

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The U.S. House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed legislation extending the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Provision through April 30, 2010. The bill also creates a new tax credit for move-up buyers who have lived in their current residence for at least five years. The expanded tax credit was included as part of H.R. 3548, legislation that provides an extension of federal unemployment insurance benefits.

“The mortgage crisis is at the root of the economic challenges we are currently facing, and the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit has been one of the few efforts to address the mortgage crisis that has actually worked,” said Simpson. “To turn the housing market around, we need to get people into homes, and I am encouraged by the strong support I have seen for extending this credit, both in Congress and among Idahoans who have talked to me about it.”

The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit was originally created in 2008 as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act and was extended and expanded in early 2009. Without congressional action, the tax credit will expire at the end of the month. H.R. 3548 extends the credit again and creates a $6,500 tax credit for some first-time buyers, as well as makes a number of modifications to broaden the scope of the tax credit. Both categories of homebuyers have an additional 60 days to close on the home but must have a certified contract by April 30, 2010, and must be within income limits of $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for couples. The bill also states that homes over the purchase price of $800,000 do not qualify.

“I have long advocated for a responsible approach to the housing crisis, and I believe that providing tax incentives for responsible individuals to purchase new homes is a step in the right direction,” said Simpson. “Unlike a subprime mortgage or no down payment loan, a tax credit ensures that individuals are qualified for and can pay their mortgages and that they have a financial stake in their houses through a down payment.”

Simpson is a cosponsor of H.R. 1245, the Homebuyer Tax Credit, which expands the existing credit to home purchases across the board. He is also a cosponsor of H.R. 1903, the Responsible Homeowners Act, which aims to keep families in their homes by lowering costs for all homeowners. H.R. 1903 includes a similar $15,000 tax credit for home purchases.

The tax credit provision was added to H.R. 3548 by the Senate, where it passed without opposition. The amended legislation passed the House with a final vote of 403-12 and will now be sent to the President for his signature.

REAL Health Care Reform - Options Better Than Pelosi’s Bill

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

“Speaker Pelosi is pushing ahead on a health care bill that will implement a government takeover of our health care system and put Americans’ current health coverage at risk. This bill does not reform our current health system, but instead creates another massive, unfunded entitlement program at a time when our country can least afford it.

“We all agree that our current health system needs reform. I will be the first to admit that it is irresponsible to just say no to the current health legislation without offering a good alternative. I believe there are a number of measures all of us could support that will bring down health care costs for consumers and the American taxpayer while improving access to health care.

“First, we must pass broad, effective medical malpractice reform. The Pelosi health bill claims to include incentives for states to implement “liability” reform, but in reality, states are only eligible if their laws do not limit attorneys’ fees or impose caps on damages. These limits mean that this provision would protect trial lawyers’ paychecks at the expense of patients and their doctors. I am a cosponsor of legislation that would implement meaningful liability reform. HR 1086, the HEALTH Act, would end junk lawsuits by placing caps on noneconomic damages and limiting attorney fees. This bill would save as much as $120 billion in wasteful spending by stemming the practice of defensive medicine.

“I also support HR 2607, the Small Business Healthcare Fairness Act, which would allow small businesses to band together through associations to buy health care coverage. Large corporations and even labor unions already leverage their size and buying power to secure lower premiums and rates when buying health insurance for their employees and members. This bill would give America’s small businesses the same advantages and make health care coverage for their employees more affordable.

“I believe we should allow cross-state purchasing of health insurance. Under the current system, the insurance market operates like 50 individual fiefdoms with each state in charge of insurance regulation and individuals limited to buying health insurance from local insurance providers. Allowing purchasing of insurance across state lines would increase competition in the insurance market as individuals would have more affordable health insurance options and end the monopolies that exist in many states.

“In addition, I support reforms that would prohibit insurers from denying coverage to people because of pre-existing conditions. I also believe that we need to do more as a country to focus on prevention and early intervention. I a strong supporter of prescription drug re-importation as well. I am a cosponsor of HR 1298, the Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2009, which would allow Americans to buy FDA-approved prescription drugs from places such as Canada and Europe. It is time that we take measures to control spiraling prescription drug costs, and this measure would prevent drug companies from charging Americans more than the rest of the world pays.

“These are just a few of examples of reforms we could implement that would bring down the cost of health care for all Americans. The Republicans in the House have a plan that would make health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans without adding trillions to the deficit and putting our nation’s long-term fiscal health at risk.

“Americans need and deserve REAL health reform. Now is the time to stand up and demand it.”

Health Bill Costs Just Don’t Add Up

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

“Speaker Pelosi and her team are gleefully proclaiming that their health care reform bill is budget neutral and cost under the arbitrary $900 billion limit that President Obama had set for health reform. So exuberant are they in announcing their supposed success at crafting “affordable” legislation that they are rushing the bill to the floor while implying that the American people support their efforts.

“Nothing could be further from the truth.

“The frightening reality for the American taxpayer and anyone who will need health care in the future is that she is hiding the true costs of these bills and doing so in ways that will be disastrous to our nation’s long-term fiscal health.

“The first big myth is that this bill is deficit neutral and will not raise long-term government spending because it pays for itself. This is nonsense and the Democrats know it. Instead, they use fancy budget gimmicks to mask billions of dollars in additional costs. Already, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released a statement saying that the Pelosi health care bill will cost $1.2 trillion and not the $890 billion figure that Democrats were touting. Furthermore, CBO notes that many of these types of cost-saving measures, such as cutting Medicare reimbursements for providers, rarely occur. For example, Medicare reimbursements cuts for physicians have been on the books since 2002, but not once has Congress allowed those cuts to happen. The reason for this is clear -- if Congress did allow proposed cuts to providers such as hospitals, doctors, nursing homes and hospice care to occur, CBO notes that it would put Medicare recipients' access to care in grave danger.

“But the Pelosi health care bill does not reform the formula that controls Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors. Instead, Democrats have introduced a separate bill costing over $200 billion—on top of the TRILLION plus bill already introduced--so they don’t have to include the cost of fixing this outdated formula in their already overpriced bill.

“That is not the only way in which they are hiding the real impact of their health care reform efforts. There are too many outrageous provisions to list them all, but here are a few examples:

We knew Democrats would raise taxes to pay for their plans, so the fact that this bill includes a “surtax” on individuals making over a certain income is no surprise. What they don’t admit is that this is really surtax on small businesses, which make up the majority of high-income filers. Furthermore, this tax will continue to entrap more and more middle class Americans every year as their incomes go up because, like the Alternative Minimum Tax, it is not indexed for inflation.
The Democrats claim that this bill will greatly expand coverage to people who currently don’t have health insurance. What they don’t tell you is that most of these people will be covered through a dramatic expansion of Medicaid, from 100% to 150% of federal poverty level. Starting in 2014, it will cost states, including Idaho, $34 billion to comply with another unfunded federal mandate--something state budgets simply cannot afford.
Under the Pelosi plan, if you choose not to purchase health insurance, you will have to pay a penalty. And if you choose not to pay the penalty, the government can arrest you. You will no longer get to choose whether or not you will purchase health insurance in the future because government will have already decided for you.
For those of you who already have health insurance through your employer, this bill will put that coverage at risk. The Pelosi plan will implement expensive new mandates on all employer-provided health insurance, including yours, which businesses either must follow or face with new taxes and penalties. For many employers, it will make more business sense to eliminate jobs or drop employees’ health insurance and pay the penalties than comply with Uncle Sam’s new rules.

“There isn’t space in this small column to illustrate all of the ways in which the Pelosi health plan falls short of their rhetoric. But the few examples I am able to provide above should give anyone pause before you fall victim to their outrageous claim that their TRILLION plus bill will save you and the American people money.

“I don’t believe it and I hope you won’t either.”

If you would like to read all 1,990 pages of Pelosi’s bill, click here.

Simpson Cosponsors Legislation to Provide Estate Tax Relief

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson is a cosponsor of H.R. 3905, the Estate Tax Relief Act of 2009. The legislation increases the estate tax exemption to $5 million per person and reduces the top rate to 35% in equal increments over ten years.

More than 98% of America’s two million farms and ranches are owned by family partnerships and family corporations. These family businesses produce about 86% of the U.S. agriculture products, and the estate tax threatens their livelihood.

“The estate tax hits farm families especially hard, and I have consistently supported efforts to permanently repeal or reduce the impact of this burdensome, unfair tax,” said Simpson. “Throughout their lives, people pay sales tax, property tax, and income tax on their assets. Paying Uncle Sam again should not be part of the grieving process.”

The death tax accounts for less than one percent of the federal budget, but almost one-third of business owners are forced to sell their businesses or liquidate a portion of their assets to pay death taxes. Far from benefiting only the richest citizens, the repeal of the death tax assists people such as farmers, ranchers, small business owners, and grandparents who have worked their whole lives to pass something on to their children and grandchildren.

Congressman Simpson is also a cosponsor of H.R. 3524, the Family Farm Preservation and Conservation Estate Tax Act, which provides estate tax exclusion for farms and ranches as long as family farmland use continues.

H.R. 3905 is a bipartisan bill that enjoys sponsorship by Representatives Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Kevin Brady (R-TX), Artur Davis (D-AL), Devin Nunes (R-CA)

Nancy's plan for national health care

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Nancy Pelosi just introduced her new health reform bill, HR 3629, claiming that it is budget neutral and will allow Americans to get affordable access to health care. This argument is absurd and factually wrong. This bill will do nothing to make your health insurance cheaper. In fact it will accomplish the exact opposite. By increasing the number of government mandates, imposing new government regulations on insurance companies, and penalizing businesses and individuals who choose not to buy health insurance, your out-of-pocket costs will go up. And so will your taxes—because eventually we will have to pay for this new TRILLION dollar mandate if Speaker Pelosi gets her way.

Idaho Locations Named as Potential Home of F-35’s

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Congressmen Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick have notified commanders at Mountain Home Air Force Base and the Idaho Air National Guard they have both qualified as top five locations, in their respective categories, under consideration for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The two locations are not competing against each other as Mountain Home Air Force Base is under consideration for the operation of up to three squadrons of the F-35, while the Boise Air Terminal is being considered for training and support missions through the Idaho Air National Guard.

“It is great news that the Air Force has chosen both the Boise Air National Guard and Mountain Home Air Force Base as candidate sites for the Joint Strike Fighter," said Simpson. "Idaho has excellent training facilities, top notch military personnel, and outstanding community support. I look forward to working with the Air Force as they continue with their assessments."

The Air Force considered 205 bases in this initial selection round on various factors including: airspace, flight training ranges, weather, support facilities, runways, taxi ramps, environmental concerns and cost. Military efficiencies, operational plans and building partnerships were also weighed.

The next step in the base selection process includes a formal environmental analysis, site surveys and public meetings. Senior Air Force officials will then evaluate that and other data before announcing their preferred locations in late spring of 2010 and a record of decision by early 2011.

Initial deployment of the F-35 begins in 2013, with 250-300 aircraft projected for delivery by 2017. Sites not selected in the initial deployment will continue to be evaluated as potential homes for the 1,763 total aircraft slated for purchase by 2035.