"We have serious and growing concerns about the process and composition of any potential CR… At a time of extreme spending and political fatigue, it is simply unacceptable to use a must-pass CR as a legislative vehicle for more wasteful federal spending or completing an array of unfinished political business before the election,” the Republican Members wrote. Read more »

Idaho Congressmen Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick today sent a letter to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar asking that the Department of Interior work to immediately address to issues of critical importance in Idaho. Simpson and Minnick asked for cooperation from the Department to find solutions on the issues of wolf management in Idaho and potential changes to recreational activities on Lake Lowell in Canyon County - in both cases they express their willingness to fix these problems through legislation if necessary. Read more »

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, today praised the House passage of the Fiscal Year 2011 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill. “This bill provides critical funding for our nation’s veterans, and I am pleased to see that the House has approved this legislation in a timely manner,” said Simpson. “Our veterans have made tremendo... Read more »

Simpson began his questioning by stating, “I honestly don’t believe that anybody within the Department of Energy or here (in the Committee) believes that a good decision was made by shutting down Yucca Mountain.” He would later add after the hearing, “The simple truth is a campaign promise made between Senator Reid (NV) and President Obama is what now dictates this county’s long-term nuclear waste storage policy. Without a doubt, this Administration has chosen politics over science, and it has already cost billions of taxpayer dollars. Sadly, we do not yet know, and cannot estimate, the amount of taxpayer dollars that will be wasted because of this decision.” Read more »

It’s no surprise that disputes over land use in central Idaho have gone unresolved for decades. This is a complex issue, involving those who depend on this land for their livelihoods and those who know the value of preserving it for future generations. The reality is that complex issues don’t always have simple solutions, and such is the case with CIEDRA. Read more »

“Frankly, I find it absolutely ridiculous that, in its zeal to respond to the crisis in the Gulf, the EPA has decided that milk is an environmental hazard,” said Simpson. “Our dairy industry has faced devastating losses in recent years, and having to comply with these unnecessary regulations would make it that much harder for Idaho dairy producers to weather the terrible economic storm they are in.” Read more »

“In the West, we know that if you don’t graze on public lands, you don’t graze at all,” said Simpson. “Creating a federal buyout program is a huge step toward ending grazing on public lands, which would have a devastating impact on local economies throughout the West and would have unintended consequences on the environment. Now is not the time to ignite another War on the West.” Read more »

Most areas affected by CIEDRA are existing federal lands that are currently designated as wilderness study areas. As such, the federal government already manages them as if they were wilderness, which means that land use in this area is significantly restricted right now. Because the federal government has complete discretion over this land today, federal agencies could further restrict access, or even designate the area as a national monument without any local input. Read more »

Congressman Mike Simpson has signed an amicus curiae, or “friend of the court” brief, in support of the State of Arizona, which has been sued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The suit challenges the state’s strict new immigration law, SB 1070, which helps law enforcement more effectively implement federal immigration laws. “The federal government should focus on coming up with real solutio... Read more »

Right now most of this area is being managed by the federal government as though it is wilderness. If we do nothing, the federal government could at any time increase restrictions through management plans, court decisions, or presidential monument designations. Read more »