Press Releases
The passing of my good friend Steve Appleton has shocked and saddened our entire family. He was a talented and tireless worker who made Micron one of the biggest success stories of our time. He represented the best of our free market economy. Steve was an outstanding business leader and very generous to so many causes. He was always quick to make a personal call when significant events affected Micron or our mutual interests. Recently, we worked together closely on patent reform legislation. We also talked often about his love of flying and what was new in that part of
Washington, D.C. – Today, Idaho Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo joined a group of 34 Senators, led by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), in writing to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) to ask that he clarify “serious inconsistencies” in his past statements about the use of recess appointments. In January, President Obama circumvented the […]
Finding ways to reduce our dependence on foreign oil is a matter of national security and research projects like the one at Boise State are a key part of moving us toward that energy independence. I congratulate the students for their outstanding work in showing that sustainable fuels are viable for transportation and wish them well as they seek to break more records.
In the three years since I took office, the national debt has increased by almost $5 trillion and has now surpassed our GDP. Clearly, government spending is out of control. I cannot support any request to increase the federal government's spending authority without a plan in place to bring this rampant overspending under control.
Tonight's speech was different than President Obama's previous three versions with him now clearly switching to campaign mode. He talked about the exceptionalism of the American people and how they are the key to our country's greatness. I agree, and I also agree with many of the ideas he set forth in his speech. Unfortunately, his words tonight did not match the policies he has put forth over the past three years when we have seen record debt, unemployment and layers of new regulation. We do need to reform our tax structure, but we must work together to make it
Washington, DC – Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch today announced the selection of Elizabeth Hansen and Nathan Shumway as the Idaho student delegates to the 50th Anniversary United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) in Washington, D.C. Hansen and Shumway, both of Rexburg, were chosen to participate in a group of 104 student delegates […]
The decision by President Obama to deny the permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to Texas is flat wrong. Last year he said he would delay his decision until the end of 2012, even though his State Department had been studying the route for three years. He put politics before jobs and economic growth. This denial could very well allow the Chinese government to strike a deal and have the oil shipped to them instead of the U.S.
Management authority to control runoff from logging roads must remain with the states. For over 36 years the states have successfully managed this runoff through state laws and mitigation practices. To subject federal, state and private forest lands to the permitting requirements of the Clean Water Act will lock up these lands in endless litigation. I appreciate the work Rep. Simpson did in getting this in the appropriations bill.
Since I came to Washington, Congress has borrowed between $4 and $5 billion every day. This reckless spending must stop. A balanced budget amendment would require Congress to do what it has repeatedly tried and failed—to rein in rampant overspending. It is the only collar that will control Congress since it has no self control. I will continue to advocate for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution like almost every state already has.
The West has a long and established history of balancing water rights. Any new policy or directive impacting those rights needs to be carefully studied and understood before going on the books or it threatens that system. Any potential for a state to lose their rights to any water within their borders is something we all take very seriously.