Press Releases

This is going to be a tax increase. It's not included anywhere. It's not talked about anywhere. But there is no way the states can deal with this except with massive tax increases or massive cuts in education.

This legislation essentially provides a full tool belt to the U.S. Forest Service and Interior Department to address the western pine beetle problem. It is bipartisan. The beetle is neither democrat nor republican and as such, legislators from all across the Western states are supportive of this measure.

Only in Washington, D.C. can you borrow money, not spend it, and call it a savings.

Providing Idahoans with convenient and reliable service on a variety of federal issues is my top priority.

The American people, including myself, want to see success and want to see us out of Afghanistan.

My committee work in the Senate, my meetings with many people connected to the issue and my visit to Afghanistan earlier this year have convinced me we need to focus on clear, definable objectives there, not just troop numbers.

When I was in forestry school, I visited numerous timber stands throughout Idaho. Visiting those stands today and seeing the devastation that has been caused by the bark beetle is very sad. We are one lightning or match strike away from a catastrophic fire, particularly in the central part of Idaho where we have large stands of lodge-pole pines.

There is no question our health care system needs reform, but moving forward on a bill that increases the cost of insurance premiums, raises taxes and cuts Medicare benefits to meet an arbitrary deadline is wrong. Our health care system impacts the life of every American and any changes to it need to be carefully considered with consequences known, not rushed through so the President can check off another box on his list of campaign promises.

To suggest that our economy would be better off if those here illegally were given the same access to jobs as the millions of Americans now unemployed is ridiculous and insensitive. The White House and Congress should be working to get people back to work, not on policies that reward those who break the law.

As I read this bill, it is apparent that it will raise the cost of health insurance, raise the cost of health care, raise taxes and reduce Medicare benefits. I cannot support it.