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Simpson Opposes Lame Duck Vote on Cap-and-Tax
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson is working to prevent Congress from taking up contentious cap-and-trade legislation during a possible lame duck session.  In response to widely circulated reports that congressional Democrats hope to take up significant legislation after the November election, Simpson joined 22 other Members in sending a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, urging them not to vote on controversial climate change legislation before the end of the year.

“We already know that the cap-and-trade bills passed by the House and under consideration by the Senate would be devastating to our economy.  Rushing to get one of these proposals signed into law before the next Congress begins would only make a bad idea worse,” said Simpson.  “I don’t believe a ‘nothing to lose’ mindset is a good starting point for passing such far-reaching legislation.”

Simpson strongly opposed the cap-and-trade bill passed by the House of Representatives in 2009.  H.R. 2454, the so-called American Clean Energy and Security Act, would impose a new national energy tax and higher energy costs on American families and job creators.  There is widespread concern that implementing a cap-and-trade program would lead to greater job losses and further destabilize our economy.

The letter reads, “The timing of enacting cap-and-trade legislation in the foreseeable future is ill advised in the light of our ongoing economic problems.  As unemployment persists at around 10 percent, it makes little sense to artificially increase utility and energy prices and force greater economic hardship directly on American families.  Furthermore, the increase in energy costs will be distributed across numerous other sectors of the economy, which will kill jobs, stifle our economic growth, and hamper international competitiveness.”

Simpson is the top Republican on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees funding for the Environmental Protection Agency, which would have authority to implement a cap-and-trade program.

In the News

Politicians partner on wolves
Carol Ryan Dumas, www.CapitalPress.com, October 14, 2010

Members of Idaho's congressional delegation are working to return management of gray wolves back to the states.

Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, is seeking comment on a draft proposal by Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., that would delist the gray wolf in Idaho and Montana and return sole jurisdiction to the those states.

Rep. Walt Minnick, D-Idaho, is considering Rehberg's proposal as well as other proposals, Minnick spokesman Dean Ferguson said.

"His goal is to support legislation that can pass Congress and get wolves back under Idaho management as soon as possible," he said.

Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, earlier introduced a similar bill, S.3825, that would also delist wolves in Oregon, Washington and Utah. The senators also cosponsored additional legislation, S.3919, that would completely remove ESA protection for gray wolves.

The Idaho Cattle Association is encouraged that elected leaders are pursuing legislative mitigation of the issue, said Wyatt Prescott, ICA executive vice president.

"The ICA believes that a legislative fix such as the Crapo-Risch bill would be a great solution," he said.

"We support anything that will allow our Department of Fish and Game or the state of Idaho to handle the increasing problem," said Stan Boyd, executive director of Idaho Wool Growers Association.

"We need to find a solution that will pass Congress and stand up in court," Simpson said in a press release issued Oct. 5.

With recovery accomplished and ample numbers roaming the Rockies, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delisted wolves in Idaho and Montana in April 2009. The species remained listed in Wyoming because the state refused to manage them with a federally approved plan.
Environmentalist sued, and on Aug. 5 U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy, of Missoula, Mont., returned the wolves to federal protection, ruling the entire population had to be managed as a whole.

That's going to be tough, said John Thompson, Idaho Farm Bureau director of communications. While the Farm Bureau would support any bill that would delist wolves, he's skeptical any bill would get any traction, he said.

"Judge Molloy's ruling, however much we disagree with it, it's pretty well backed, pretty well thought out, based on ESA. It's sensible from that aspect," he said.

You can't put in state boundaries and expect wolves to follow them, he added.

"Wyoming, for all their reasons, isn't going to play ball. That's put us in a bad situation. There'll be more livestock depredations and depletion of our wild deer and elk," he said.

The Idaho Cattle Association is encouraged that elected leaders are pursuing legislative mitigation of the issue, said Wyatt Prescott, ICA executive vice president.

"The ICA believes that a legislative fix such as the Crapo-Risch bill would be a great solution," he said.

"We support anything that will allow our Department of Fish and Game or the state of Idaho to handle the increasing problem," said Stan Boyd, executive director of Idaho Wool Growers Association.

Idaho followed the law, which stated wolves had to be recovered to 10 breeding pairs in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, Boyd said.

"We now have 2,000 wolves. They're killing everything, and they're still listed. That's what you get for following the law," he added. "I hope Congress will act, but I'm not holding my breath."