U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson - 2nd District of Idaho


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Recently in Washington Brace Yourself for Obamacare By Congressman Mike Simpson – June 30, 2013 “Recently the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) presented an updated cost estimate of Obamacare, and like many updated estimates before it, this one paints the long term impact of the law in a much less favorable light then was originally promised by its supporters. “While we already know that the long-term cost of the bill will add enormously to the national debt, two recent findings in particular are troubling. “We are now learning that more workers will lose their existing employer insurance coverage than originally thought and more people will remain uninsured, even under the dramatic coverage and cost expansion the law creates. “In 2010, the CBO estimated that about 3 million people would lose their employment-based coverage, but updated estimates find that it will be 7 million. While a number of factors come into play here, one key reason for the change is that there has been “increased employer responsiveness to alternative options.” In other words, employers are discovering that they would rather pay a $2,000 fine to the government instead of subsidizing their employee’s plans, which would cost them about $10,000 for a family policy. If this trend continues, the overall cost of the bill will swell exponentially when it is implemented. “We have long known that millions of people would remain uninsured under Obamacare, but the total estimated number continues to increase. Currently there are about 48 million Americans uninsured. In 2010 the CBO estimated that under Obamacare that number would decrease to about 20 million uninsured by 2016, but new projections show that number will be closer to 30 million. This 50% increase can be attributed partially to the Supreme Court ruling that states could not be forced to expand their Medicaid programs. Regardless, things are not heading in the right direction. “In addition, the government agency implementing many portions of Obamacare -- including the controversial individual health insurance mandate tax -- is the IRS, an agency that has not lately been praised for its impartiality or transparency. That is why I have cosponsored H.R. 2009, which would prevent the IRS from implementing or enforcing Obamacare. “As my initial fears about Obamacare are playing out, I am continuing to support efforts to delay, alter, or repeal provisions of the law. Unfortunately, unless the Senate acts on one of these bills, Obamacare will come fully into effect next year. President Obama is unlikely to accept any changes to what he considers his signature accomplishment. That being said, as this law is implemented, its problems will become clear to opponents and supporters alike. Until then, I will continue to register my disapproval and work to return health care decisions back into the hands of patients, families, and doctors.” Simpson Supports Increasing Domestic Energy Production House passes bill to expand offshore energy production, create jobs, and reduce dependence on foreign oil Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson voted for legislation to increase domestic energy production and bring our country closer to energy independence. H.R. 2231, the Offshore Energy and Jobs Act, would expand offshore energy production, create over a million new American jobs and lower energy prices. The House passed H.R. 2231 by a vote of 235-186. “A growing and thriving economy requires a stable and affordable energy supply, and this bill gets us closer to that goal,” said Simpson. “New technologies will enable us to do oil and gas exploration and production in a way that leaves a very small footprint, and it would be a mistake not to develop these resources in a responsible manner. Failing to do so would not only threaten our nation's own security by increasing our already too-heavy dependence on a volatile, foreign-based energy supply, but it would push the responsibility of producing that oil to countries with far less stringent environmental regulations.” The Offshore Energy and Jobs Act would require the Department of Interior (DOI) to move forward with new offshore energy production on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, generating $1.5 billion in new revenue over ten years. The bill also codifies a number of the reforms to offshore energy regulation undertaken by DOI in the wake of the Deep Water Horizon accident in 2010. Simpson chairs the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees DOI's budget. H.R. 2231 is now under consideration by the U.S. Senate. Floor Schedule MONDAY, JULY 8TH On Monday, the House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules: 1) H.R. 1341 - Financial Competitive Act of 2013 (Sponsored by Rep. Stephen Fincher / Financial Services Committee) 2) H.R. 1564 - Audit Integrity and Job Protection Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Robert Hurt / Financial Services Committee) 3) H.R. 1171 - FOR VETS Act of 2013 (Sponsored by Rep. Dan Benishek / Oversight and Government Reform Committee) TUESDAY, JULY 9TH, AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK On Tuesday and Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m. On Friday, no votes are expected. H.R. 2609 - Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen / Appropriations Committee) H.R. 761 - National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013, Rules Committee Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Mark Amodei / Natural Resources Committee) In the News Idaho’s Simpson vows to use chairmanship to fight Obama power plant regs Idaho Statesman, Dan Popkey, June 27, 2013 Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, said Thursday he will employ his power as chairman of the subcommittee that writes budgets for environmental spending to fight what he calls President Obama’s “contempt for congressional processes” on efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions. On Tuesday, Obama said he would use the executive powers of the presidency to order reductions in carbon dioxide released by U.S. power plants. Simpson reminded the president that his House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment will write the fiscal 2014 budget for the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Interior and U.S. Forest Service. “Whether through provisions in the underlying bill or through amendments, I expect that when my bill reaches the House floor we’ll have a robust debate on the President’s contempt for the congressional processes envisioned by our Founders and on the overreach of his upcoming actions on greenhouse gases,” Simpson said in a news release. “I am very much looking forward to that debate.” Earlier, Simpson has used his chairmanship of one of 12 Appropriations Subcommittees to influence policy and gain concessions from the administration. Subcommittee chairman have a long history of muscling presidents of both parties; the posts are so powerful chairmen are called “cardinals” after the red-capped clerics in the Catholic Church. But Simpson is likely to be checked by his Senate counterpart, Democratic Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island. Conflicting provisions in spending bills between the two houses must be reconciled in House-Senate negotiations.	Contact Mike Issues Other News MEDIA CENTER Simpson Vows Action to Limit Reach of Obama Regs If you are having trouble reading this message, try viewing the web version
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