As the end of the 2010 tax year gets nearer, we are rapidly approaching a traffic jam of expiring tax provisions, uncertainty about the AMT, and a sluggish economy.  Congress has a lot of work to do in the coming months, as I believe that the hard work of balancing our budget will require us to do the hard work of fundamental tax reform.  In the meantime, however, Congress must act swiftly to prevent the huge tax increases looming over American families from crashing down on them on January first. 

Although no clear path forward on the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts was agreed to during today’s the meeting between the President and congressional leaders, I am pleased that the President has shown an interest in moving ahead on the conversation.  It is clear to congressional leaders in both parties and to the President that allowing a huge tax increase to hit American taxpayers is not the best way to stimulate our economy or encourage small businesses to grow.

Sadly, today’s vote to extend unemployment insurance through February 2011 was nothing more than political posturing on the part of the outgoing Democrat majority.  The bill is unpaid for and would have added $12 billion directly to the national debt while vast reserves of stimulus money still sits unused.  By bringing the bill under a rule that prohibits debate or amendments and requires a 2/3 vote for passage, the Democrats knew it would not pass. 

Because of these heavy handed techniques, almost every Republican opposed the bill, as did several Democrats, and it failed easily.  If Democrats would have followed regular order by allowing amendments, Republicans could have offered a proposal to pay for the bill with unused stimulus funds. Had that happened, it likely would have passed, but Democrats would rather see the bill fail than allow that to happen. They felt it was more important to leave intact their massive unspent stimulus reserve and instead tack the cost of the unemployment insurance extension onto the already calamitous national debt.

This debate once again demonstrates two fundamental realities.  The first is that congressional Democrats are incapable of prioritizing federal spending in an effort to reduce the debt.  The second is that congressional Republicans have learned the lessons of their own fiscal failures and are ready to make the tough decisions required to get the nation back on track.

I strongly support extending benefits to those who are out of work – in fact, I am a cosponsor of H.R. 5647, the Responsible COBRA, Unemployment, and Poverty Extension Act, legislation that would extend unemployment benefits without adding a penny to the national deficit.

I sincerely hope congressional Democrats come forward with a proposal like H.R. 5647 to extend unemployment insurance benefits without adding to the debt. Unfortunately, it looks like they still have not received the message that voters across the country sent them a few weeks ago.

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson is urging the Environmental Protection Agency to refrain from increasing the regulatory burden on rural and agricultural communities.  Simpson recently joined colleagues in expressing concern to EPA Administrator Jackson about efforts to increase regulation of dust, which would have an enormous impact on farms and other resource-based industries in the West.

The EPA recently published its latest proposal for regulating particulate matter under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, including dust that is kicked up by livestock or results from corn being combined.  The new proposed standard would be approximately twice as stringent as the current standard and would result in the designation of many more rural areas as non-attainment areas.

“I am frustrated that folks at the EPA continue to feel as though they need to regulate something simply because they can measure it,” said Simpson.  “Rural western communities are already struggling to meet the existing air quality standards, and now the EPA wants to implement a standard that is twice as stringent, even though the science supports the current standard.  As usual, the EPA has failed to recognize the real-world impacts of their regulations.”

Together with many of his western colleagues, Simpson expressed deep concern about the impact of the proposed standards on communities in the arid west, where dust is naturally-occurring event.  The letter reads, “Considering the Administration’s claim that it is focusing on revitalizing rural America and rural economic development, a proposal such as this would have a significant negative impact on those very goals…We are hopeful that common sense will prevail and the EPA will refrain from causing extreme hardship to farmers, livestock producers, and other resource-based industries throughout rural America.”

Simpson is the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees funding for the EPA.

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson issued the following statement following his vote against H.R. 3081, the Appropriations Continuing Resolution, which will fund the government from the start of the fiscal year, Oct. 1, 2010 thru Dec. 3, 2010.  The House of Representatives passed the resolution late last night with a final vote of 228-194.

“I cannot support any piece of legislation that locks in place for the next fiscal year the unsustainable spending levels of the past fiscal year,” said Simpson, a member of the House Budget Committee. “Virtually everyone in America knows that Congress has to cut spending, and the Continuing Resolution would have been a great place to start. Unfortunately, Democrats have missed yet again an opportunity to cut the federal budget and instead are content to continue down the path of even more spending and borrowing.”

Simpson is a member of both the House Budget Committee and the House Appropriations Committee, and he is the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment.

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today joined his colleagues in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson opposing efforts to ban the use of lead in fishing products.  The letter, signed by 77 Members of Congress, accompanies a letter from leading hunting, fishing, and conservation organizations pointing out that there is no scientific basis to warrant a ban on traditional fishing equipment.

“There is simply no data to support a ban on traditional fishing tackle and no reason for the EPA to restrict people’s ability to take advantage of the great fishing opportunities in Idaho and elsewhere in the country,” said Simpson.  “At a time when more Americans are taking advantage of the recreational activities that are close to home, we should be encouraging them to reconnect with the outdoors, not making it more cost prohibitive.” 

The letter points out that there are 60 million recreational anglers in America, contributing $125 billion to the economy each year.  Simpson is Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees funding for the EPA.

Yesterday, I opposed the health care reconciliation bill that came before the House Budget Committee.  Last night’s late-night markup was the very first step in the health care reconciliation process, which will allow Senate Democrats to pass the bill with only 51 votes, rather than 60. Unfortunately, it was not a forum for any minority views to be included, but rather it was just one more ceremonial step that needed to be taken before Speaker Pelosi could ram the health care bill through Congress. 

The bill that the Committee marked-up was really a “Trojan horse” that provided nothing more than a vehicle to pass the health care bill.  After passing out of the Budget Committee, it will be completely replaced with the bill that is currently being written in the privacy of the Speaker’s office.  No one will know what is in this bill until shortly before a vote.

I also woke up this morning to a piece of news that surprised me, and probably every Member of Congress, including many of my Democratic colleagues.  It now appears that Speaker Pelosi plans to pass the wildly unpopular Senate bill (including the “Cornhusker Kickback,” “Louisiana Purchase” and “Gator-aid”) through the House with a rarely used obscure rule that will prevent Members from having to actually vote on it.  Her strategy is to help Democrats stay off the record in their support of this bill, but still have the process move forward. 

Quite frankly, I am disappointed, but not surprised by these actions.  I don’t believe that the American people want their Congress to work in deceiving, secretive ways.  They want and deserve an open and transparent process.

“The election of Scott Brown, a republican in a state that is among the most liberal states in the nation, demonstrates that the American people are rejecting the extreme agenda being pushed by this Administration and the Democrat Leaders in Congress,” said Congressman Simpson. “This election proves that Americans want bipartisanship. They want a government that works together to solve problems not one that creates them.”

As you may know, the 16-member U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently released new recommendations on mammograms.  Their recommendations included raising the age to begin routine screening mammography from age 40 to age 50, moving from annual screening mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years to biennial screening, and no longer recommends screening mammography in women aged 75 and older.

I am extremely concerned that these recommendations and new guidelines are designed more to control health spending than to improve the health of patients.   I believe that all Americans should have access to the best possible health care and that improving access to early screening and detection will save money in the long run by preventing illnesses and catching them early when they are easiest to treat as well as improving patient outcomes and saving lives.  I am concerned that this ruling is just the first example of the types of government rationing that Americans can expect to see if the Democrats’ health reform bill is passed and the government takes control of an individual’s healthcare decisions.  I believe that decisions as personal as a person’s health should be between patients and their doctors, NOT between patients and the government.