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 »

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… Read more »

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… Read more »

“Although Republicans and Democrats unfortunately find little to agree on these days, we all agree that small businesses play an absolutely crucial role in our economy,” said Simpson. “They enhance innovation, enrich communities, provide jobs, and will lead the way out of this recession.” Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, has secured funding to help Idaho communities meet Clean Water Act standards and for efforts to recover sage-grouse as part of the final Fiscal Year 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill. Read more »

“The livestock industry is being hammered by the downturn in our national economy,” said Simpson. “Frozen credit markets have left farmers and ranchers without the credit they need to run their day-to-day operations, and many have been forced to sell their land or declare bankruptcy. Now is not the time to pile the regulatory burden onto these operations, forcing even more of them to fail.” Read more »