Simpson: Fiscal discipline, reform important

Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) discussed the need for fiscal discipline and the importance of reform at a recent Ripon Society breakfast discussion.

“There’s been a disconnect between the budget resolution that passes and what it actually means in appropriations bills,” Simpson said. “It’s easy to go out and be the most conservative guy in the world and say let’s cut another $100 billion out of the budget resolution without knowing what that means in individual appropriations bills. But for three years in a row and for the first time since the end of World War II, our committee has actually reduced spending.

“There are areas in the budget that got increased, and there are areas within the budget that got eliminated – and that makes it kind of tough. But we’re finally making the connection – the Members are – between the impact of the budget resolution that we pass and what that means in actual appropriations that we’re going to have to vote for. They’re difficult budgets – but we all know the financial situation of the country. We’ve got to do it.”

Simpson, currently serving his eighth term in the House for Idaho’s Second Congressional District, serves on the House Appropriations Committee and is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Interior and Environment. Simpsons also serves on the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee and the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee.

The committees on which Simpson serves have jurisdiction over funding for numerous programs that are critical to Idaho, including the Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Smithsonian Institute.