Mike’s work on the House Appropriations Committee 

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I believe I have a responsibility to balance two very important goals – the need to limit the growth in the federal government and the need to provide vitally important funding to deserving priorities in the state of Idaho.  With that in mind, I have been a proponent of limiting the size of the federal government during the consideration of the federal budget.  The budget provides a rough outline for the Appropriations Committee and sets the limit for federal spending.  I remain concerned about the significant spending increases proposed by the Democrats during a period when the federal government remains too large and the federal budget remains in deficit – two things that must be corrected in the years ahead.

Once that overall spending level has been set, however, I believe it is my responsibility to fight as hard as I can for federal funding of those priorities most important to the people of Idaho.  I am proud that as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have been able to direct millions of dollars to schools, hospitals, roads, and other projects in Idaho over the past years.  Eliminating any one of those projects would not have reduced federal spending by one penny – the money would have instead gone to another project in a different state or to a federal bureaucracy to be spent at its discretion.  In the end, I can either seek these projects for Idaho or allow the funding to go to some other state. I would rather see that funding end up in Idaho – but I would prefer it be directed to projects that merit taxpayer investment. 

I want to be clear that the projects I have requested in the past represent only a portion of those submitted to me each year.  Rather, I conduct a thorough review process of every project that I request, and many of those submitted do not make the cut.  In fact, in Fiscal Year 2010 I asked for only 75 of the 280 projects that were submitted to me for consideration.  The projects that I do request are fiscally responsible, meet the guidelines of existing federal programs, demonstrate a reasonable need for federal funding, count on federal funding for just a small portion of their overall cost, and provide a clear benefit to Idaho and the nation.  In addition, I posted every project that I submitted to the House Committees in FY2010 to receive funding here on my website for you to take a look at and share with me your thoughts and concerns.

As we begin the FY2011 Appropriations process, the House Republican Conference has agreed to implement a moratorium on earmarks lasting through the end of the 111th Congress.  In accordance with these rules, I will not be requesting any earmarks through the end of this Congress.  During the moratorium, Republicans will be working together to see how the process could be improved.  I believe the most appropriate reform of the earmark system is not to ban them outright, but to expose them to the light of day and allow every American citizen a chance to see them and comment on them.  Any further reforms of the earmark process should increase transparency and openness, and I will be working with my colleagues in Congress to accomplish these goals.


Read Congressman Simpson’s press releases regarding the funding for programs important to Idaho for fiscal year 2011.

Simpson Praises Passage of the FY2011 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill

House Appropriations Subcommittee approves INL Infrastructure, Cleanup Funds
Idaho Congressman secures funding to promote funding for buildings, infrastructure at the Idaho National Laboratory and ongoing cleanup at the Idaho Cleanup Project



Additional Appropriations Information

Appropriations Primer