Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today opposed H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009.  This bill does away with the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program, which has been providing subsidized loans to students for more than 40 years and has over 2,000 lenders participating. Instead, it shifts all student loans to the taxpayer financed, government-run Direct… Read more »

“Like many of my constituents, I am deeply concerned that the Administration has, in its first eight months in office, appointed over thirty czars to positions of immense authority on key public policies,” said Simpson. Read more »

“There can no longer be any doubt that ACORN is a partisan, political organization engaged in specific and willful acts to defraud the United States Government and circumvent the law,” said Simpson. “It is appalling that taxpayer dollars are being funneled through ACORN, and the legislation I am supporting would put an immediate stop to this injustice.” Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson released the following statement concerning Idaho’s wolf hunt today, after meeting with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Sam Hamilton.   “The judge’s decision to uphold Idaho’s wolf hunt was welcome news.  In a conversation with Fish and Wildlife Service Director Sam Hamilton this morning, I again expressed my support for the decision to delist the… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson cosponsored H. Res. 721 that calls on the House of Representatives to make completed health reform legislation available to members and the public for one month before it is brought up for a floor vote. The legislation was introduced by Congressman Jerry Lewis, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee. “We know when Congress rushes legislation,… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson released the following response to President Obama’s speech concerning his health care plan. “I agree with President Obama, our healthcare system needs to be reformed. However, the President and the Democratic Leadership have still not fully grasped the crystal clear message the American people sent Washington over August. They don’t want a government-run… Read more »

Idaho Congressmen Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick today applauded a decision by the United States Department of Agriculture to provide additional assistance to dairy producers in the wake of terrible economic conditions in the industry. Simpson and Minnick had written to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack earlier in the week asking for this assistance. Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, today announced the inclusion of funding for two research projects headquartered in Pocatello as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill. The bill passed the House today by a vote of 400-30. Among its many provisions, the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill includes $2 million in… Read more »

“After about a week of examining H.R. 3200, the Democrats’ health care bill, I am only more convinced that it is not the solution to our health care crisis.  The proposal puts a huge burden on Idaho’s small businesses, passing along the enormous costs of the program to our chief job creators even as unemployment approaches double digits.  For months Democrats sang the praises of their… Read more »

“When Congressional Democrats bring their healthcare reform legislation to the House floor, I will be voting NO and I want to take a few moments to explain why.  Everyone agrees that our healthcare system needs to be reformed.  Healthcare in America is too expensive and too many Idaho families are worried about losing or have already lost their health coverage.  Businesses, small and… Read more »