Newly important congressman also proposes to “reform” Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid-
Simpson has long been thought of as Idaho’s “moderate” Republican, but now that he has moved into a position of real power his agenda is clear — boost welfare ranching, defund protection of the environment and public lands, gut programs to help the poor and sick, reform (steal) your many years of Social Security savings and take away Medicare and replace it with vouchers (coupons) to pay a little bit of your medical care.
Perhaps he doesn’t understand that the money you have paid into Social Security is your right. Maybe he doesn’t care. It is part of the national debt, but it is the part we owe to ourselves, not to China nor to billionaire right wingers. It turns out that land barons and the super rich are his real concern.
Maybe some folks might show up at his next town meeting.
The details are in the story below. Rep. Mike Simpson proposes deep cuts to federal agencies; takes on congressional leadership role. Twin Falls [Idaho] Times News.
Comments
What would the West be without senators named Simpson ?
Someone should remind him that the US is spending 10 billion per month in Afghanistan.
It’s all for show anyway – sort of a photo op. Our nation has been spending zillions in the Middle East for decades now — all to protect oil fields. I was apart of it while serving in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for three months in 1983.
Idaho politicians always promote government spending when it comes to the Mountain Home Airbase and what they see as the economic benefit to Mountain Home and surrounding communities.. They seem to forget that the little towns all over Idaho that have Forest Service or BLM offices get an economic shot in the arm as well. Those federal employees that our Senators and Representative like to complain about, buy homes, automobiles and groceries and pay sales and property taxes just like everyone else.
Cutting those agencies will hurt more Idahoans than it will help.
Larry Thorngren,
We have a draft of the Interior Appropriations bill. Simpson seems to be using national legislation of settle some scores locally on behalf of maybe a couple hundred livestock people.
He is a real piece of work.. . . go along with Republicans and try to steal people’s life savings for retirement, raise folks’ medical insurance expenses by thousands a year by supporting Ryan’s “vouchercare” and lavish his attention on a few fat asses.
When the teabaggers living on food stamps in these rural communities find out they don’t know where their next meal is coming from, they might not be amused, although it is hard to know if they will ever figure out who was responsible.
“When the teabaggers living on food stamps in these rural communities find out they don’t know where their next meal is coming from, they might not be amused, although it is hard to know if they will ever figure out who was responsible.”
This amused me greatly.
Ironic that he would propose cutting the EPA even as the Yellowstone River is running with thousands of gallons of oil. Great idea! [yep, that’s sarcasm]
++Those federal employees that our Senators and Representative like to complain about, buy homes, automobiles and groceries and pay sales and property taxes just like everyone else.++
One could speculate that those federal FS and BLM jobs are probably some of the better paying (including healthcare and pension benefits) and most STABLE of any in some of the small communities. So, the ripple effect through the economy would hit the local dentists/doctors, houses would go up for sale in a depressed market, and more folks would hit the unemployment line, while the federal lands enforcement, planning, engineering and administrative functions cease; EPA doesn’t usually have local folks and most come out of Regional offices in the big cities, like Seattle, SLC and Denver.
Yeah, Simpson and clan have really thought this through.
“With the BLM, Simpson said there will be language in the bill to help resolve grazing disputes that end up in court.”
Anybody know exactly what this means? Is this an attempt to limit the BLM’s exposure to lawsuits from groups like WWP?
“I have a right to know where my tax dollars are going,” …. then why do we have to go to court to figure out the names ranchers who get subsidies to graze on public lands? the blm guards that data like it was a national secret. someone should tell congress simpson that transparency works both ways …. if he wants to see how much the my lawyers are getting, then i want to see how much his ranchers are getting.
Ralph, interesting that you say he has long been thought of as moderate. I think this stems from his high-profile Boulder-White Clouds Wilderness bill. If that is considered a moderate bill, there should be no illusion that he is and has always been very conservative on every other issue.