Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Congressman Mike Simpson are asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to recognize Greek yogurt under their MyPlate nutrition guidelines.  In a letter to Secretary Vilsack, they point out that Greek yogurt has twice the protein and more calcium than regular yogurt, and is low in fat. Besides recognizing Greek yogurt in MyPlate… Read more »

 Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson tonight voted in support of H.R. 8 – the American Taxpayer Relief Act. Among its provisions, H.R. 8 cuts taxes for nearly all taxpayers. The measure also permanently fixes the Alternative Minimum Tax and provides a $10 million per couple exemption from the estate tax. “While I remain a strong proponent of a more comprehensive approach… Read more »

 Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson is pleased to announce the hiring of a new Regional Director for his Idaho Falls office, Ethan Huffman. Laurel Sayer, the former director, now resides in Boise and continues to be Congressman Simpson’s Natural Resources Director for the state. “Ethan’s experience and abilities will be a great asset to me and the people I represent in Eastern Idaho,”… Read more »

Congressman Simpson and many members of the Congressional Go Big Coalition today met with Senator Alan Simpson, Erskine Bowles, and state and local leaders who are encouraging Congress to fix the debt. Read more »

Washington, D.C. – Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today joined colleagues in requesting a meeting with Majority Leader Eric Cantor to discuss the importance of allowing a five-year Farm Bill to be brought to the House floor so members can have a vote. Without congressional action, the 2008 Farm Bill and its authorized programs will expire at the end of this month. Simpson continues to… Read more »

Idaho Congressman votes against continuing resolution that delays federal budget decisions for six months Read more »

 Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today announced that the Blaine County Fire Chiefs have been awarded a four year $1.7 million grant. The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant will help recruit and retain volunteer firefighters for Blaine County.  “Fire departments, like many businesses and institutions, have been hit hard during these tough economic… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today voted for H.R. 8, the Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2012. This legislation would extend through December, 2013, the low-tax policies originally enacted in 2001 as part of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act. “I cannot support raising taxes on Americans while we struggle to emerge from a recession,” said… Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson supported legislation today that will help reduce the uncertainty plaguing our economy as a result of the Obama Administration’s excessive regulatory rule writing.  H.R. 4078, the Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act passed the House with a final vote of 245-172. “I have been stunned by the volume of regulations promulgated by the… Read more »

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4157, the Preserving America’s Family Farms Act.  Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson is a cosponsor of the bill, which prevents the Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary from reissuing a proposed rule that would limit farmers’ and ranchers’ ability to hire youth to work in agriculture. “This DOL proposal was a misguided idea that threatened… Read more »