“I’m deeply concerned that this legislation would give the federal government such a broad reach that it would significantly restrict farmers’ and ranchers’ ability to make decisions about their own property and threaten Idaho’s control over state water rights,” said Simpson. “The Clean Water Restoration Act is a big government land grab, pure and simple, and it is being forced on the agriculture community by people who don’t know the first thing about crops or cows.” Read more »

“The bottom line is that H.R. 4154 would impose higher taxes on Idaho’s farmers, ranchers, and small businesses. In the best of times I can’t support increasing taxes on Idaho families, but at a time when unemployment is in the double digits, imposing a greater tax burden on our nation’s job creators is utterly irresponsible,” said Simpson. Read more »

“First and foremost, we must support our troops,” said Simpson. “I am grateful that President Obama has finally made a decision about the Afghanistan troop surge. It appears remarkably similar to former President Bush’s decision to implement the troop surge in Iraq; a strategy that has ultimately brought us closer to victory and allowing our troops to return home." Read more »

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. Read more »

“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.” Read more »

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. Read more »

“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.” Read more »

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. Read more »

The frightening reality for the American taxpayer and anyone who will need health care in the future is that Nancy Pelosi 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. Read more »

“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.” Read more »