Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, Chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee supports National Ground Water Awareness Week.    If you own a household water well, you depend on groundwater. If you don’t have a water well, you still depend on groundwater in many ways. Either way, here are some things you should know about groundwater during National Ground Water Awareness Week,… Read more »

Simpson questioned the agency’s decision to reduce the EPA’s budget on the backs of states, which are already struggling to balance their own budgets, as state grants have been reduced by 22% while EPA operations and research budgets are reduced by only 2%-4%. “This is not the blueprint for reduced federal spending and debt reduction that the American people and congressional Republicans are demanding,” said Simpson. “In stark contrast, we cut more spending out of the SRFs in the House-passed full year continuing resolution than has been proposed in your entire 2012 budget. The demand for 2012 is simple: cut more and regulate less.” Read more »

“The entire health care bill needs to be repealed, but while we wait for the U.S. Supreme Court to bring the case forward and rule on its constitutionality, this requirement must be repealed immediately,” said Simpson. “The Democrat health care bill contains expensive and burdensome regulations on small businesses that they cannot afford. We should repeal this excessive reporting provision immediately and continue to work on full repeal so we may focus on promoting measures that would encourage small businesses to grow and create jobs.” Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson announces the addition of a congressional fellow, a new hire, and several promotions within his Washington, D.C., staff. Dr. Peter D. Friedman is on sabbatical from the University of Massachusetts and is currently serving as a Congressional Fellow in Simpson’s office. Friedman is the Chairman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of… Read more »

“Oversight is not one of the most exciting things that Congress does, but it is one of the most important,” said Simpson. “At a time of record budget deficits, we have a responsibility to carefully scrutinize how every taxpayer dollar is spent. Hearings like the one held today provide subcommittee members with the information we need to write a subcommittee budget for fiscal year 2012 that reduces government spending and forces agencies to become more efficient.” Read more »

“This continuing resolution is the largest spending reduction in our nation’s history,” said Simpson. “These cuts and the open process under which they were considered represent a turning point for our nation, as Congress begins to respond to the concerns of the American people about the size of government and the growing national deficit. Cutting spending by over $100 billion is a huge step in the right direction, but it is only the first step, and Republicans are committed to doing what it takes to reduce federal spending, balance our budget, and get our economy growing again.” Read more »

"The Democrats’ health care bill is wrong for our country,” said Simpson. “With 26 challenges to the law in various state courts, including Idaho, and the recent ruling in Florida finding the law unconstitutional, it doesn’t make sense to continue funding its implementation - especially considering the Supreme Court should ultimately strike it down. I have also supported full repeal and defunding the bill so that we can then begin passing smaller bills that enjoy bipartisan support and focus on bringing down costs for American healthcare consumers.” Read more »

“Most farmers and ranchers I talk to are scared to death about the possibility that the Environmental Protection Agency would be able to regulate their irrigation ditches, drainage ponds, and even groundwater, and I understand why,” said Simpson. “In the West, water is critical to our way of life. Allowing the federal government to claim jurisdiction over state waters would have a devastating impact on rural communities throughout our state and the food supply throughout our nation. For that reason and others, I have moved to insert language in the House Continuing Resolution that will prevent any attempt by the EPA to claim additional jurisdiction over state waters and increase its already excessive authority over Western farmers, families, and businesses.” Read more »

“I fully support efforts to take gray wolves off the endangered species list throughout the country, and it has been an honor to work with Congressman Rehberg on both H.R. 509 and H.R. 510,” said Simpson. “Until that bill can be taken up by the House, I believe we need to take advantage of the opportunity that the CR provides to overturn Judge Molloy’s decision. Not only does this provide an immediate solution to the wolf management problem in the western United States, where wolf populations have grown robust and where effective plans are in place for managing these populations, but it gives us the chance to continue working for a broader solution like the one Congressman Rehberg has proposed.” Read more »

Responding to claims that Obama’s budget included serious cuts and amounted to a “tough love” budget, Congressman Simpson said, “What the American people are saying is, ‘Get your fiscal house in order.’ I don’t see this budget getting our fiscal house in order. We are going to have $400 billion savings in [Obama’s] budget over ten years. You say the overall size of the budget this year is $3.73 trillion. But you only offer $40 billion in savings per year? That is around one percent in savings. That is not tough love. It is continuing the current path we are on, with no future balanced budget ever. The American people are rejecting it.” Read more »