Press Releases

In the last year, we have seen stimulus packages costing nearly $1 trillion, multi-billion-dollar bailouts, buyouts of private companies and trillion-dollar deficits. Federal agency budgets that were not approved last year received generous increases early this year. Those same budgets for next year are, once again, slated for large increases. The new administration has not even been on the job one year and we are already raising the debt limit for a second time, and this extension is only expected to buy another two months. It is time the federal government learns from the states and balances its budget instead

America needs and deserves real health care reform, but this bill is not it. This law spends $2.5 trillion; raises insurance premiums; increases the cost of health care and, more importantly, robs almost half of a trillion dollars from Medicare, further endangering the entire medical system. To pass this bill, the Democratic leadership literally bought Democrat votes using our money. Sixty-one percent of Americans, and an ever higher percentage of Idahoans, do not want this.

“I congratulate each of these nominees on their selection to compete for entrance to one of our military academies. We had outstanding young men and women from throughout the state who are willing to become leaders and defenders of our great nation. The educational opportunities and leadership training the academies provide will benefit those who are selected for their entire lives. I wish them well as they take the next step in gaining admittance to one of our military academies. Congratulations!”

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Jim Risch has hired Chris Socha as his new legislative director. Socha most recently served as senior policy advisor to U.S. Senator Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and will support Risch’s legislative priorities-particularly those related to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources and Foreign Relations committees. He replaces Corey McDaniel who has […]

We always like to see the impetus of plans like this come from the state as opposed to the banks of the Potomac. In Idaho we did it with 9.3 million acres of roadless areas. That process worked by carefully listening to concerns and finding ways to incorporate different visions into the final product. I am optimistic the same spirit exists for this legislation.

The President's announcement to commit one billion dollars so other countries can manage their forests is offensive. First, America does not have an ‘extra billion dollars.' We would need to borrow it from the Chinese. Second, the President cannot make an appropriation commitment, only the Congress can appropriate. Third, our public forests here at home are in desperate need of restorative work and maintenance. That work includes watershed maintenance, fuel-load reductions and the eradication of a beetle infestation that plagues much of the West. We simply cannot send money to other countries so they can manage their forests when we

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.