Walt votes against stimulus bill

Walt Minnick issued the following statement regarding his vote today on the American Recovery and Investment Act:

“Today I voted against the largest spending bill in U.S. history. The measure began with a tight focus on job creation and infrastructure improvements, but ballooned into a ‘something for everything’ spending proposal. With this bill, our deficit will grow to nearly two trillion dollars, and every penny we borrow will come from foreign leaders who will rapidly gain too much leverage over our economic welfare and decisions. However, we do need to invest and spend on worthwhile programs. That’s why we should craft legislation dealing with health and welfare, energy and education, permit public input and evaluate proposals thoroughly so that we spend every nickel in the most cost-effective way.”

Walt keeps promise on opposing TARP bailouts

Washington, D.C.– Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick today fulfilled a promise to his constituents and opposed federal spending to bail out failing auto manufacturers.

Minnick today joined 166 other Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives who voted against authorizing the expense of taxpayer dollars through the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Minnick said that although the bill has some admirable goals, such as keeping people in their homes and better oversight of TARP funds, a large portion of the money would be spent to bail out failing companies.

“These companies made bad business decisions, and now expect taxpayers to cover the losses rather than the companies doing the tough work of restructuring and adopting a new business model,” Minnick said. “Thousands of Idaho business owners aren’t expecting a bailout, but they do expect Congress to be wise with our tax dollars. That’s why I voted no.”

Minnick did support several amendments which ultimately were incorporated into the bill. One amendment would prohibit companies receiving TARP funds from outsourcing their call centers to foreign companies. Another would provide quarterly reports – posted online – on TARP spending. But even with those amendments, the final bill still could not win Minnick’s support.

“I applaud and support measures to free up the credit markets, to provide real financial relief to Main Street and to strengthen strict accountability and oversight within our financial systems,” Minnick said. “This bill ultimately wasn’t the answer to those needs, and instead authorized another huge federal bailout for the auto industry.”

Minnick has joined members of the House in making progress on increased fiscal responsibility in Congress. Last week Minnick and other Congressional colleagues co-sponsored a successful resolution requiring periodic hearings on government waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

House Resolution 40 requires that standing committees of the House hold at least three oversight hearings a year on the agencies under their jurisdiction. Additional hearings are required if an audit finds that the agency’s books are not in order or if an agency is listed as “high risk.”
“I was pleased to see so many other members of Congress pledge support for the kind of fiscal responsibility and accountability Idahoans want from Washington, D.C.,” Minnick said. “These hearings are a good step, but they are just the first step. We’ve got a long way to go, and I look forward to helping make sure our tax dollars are spent wisely.”

Minnick, Risch respond to roadless suit

Washington, D.C. – Idaho Senator Jim Risch and Congressman Walt Minnick responded to a lawsuit filed by environmental groups today, attempting to block the Idaho Roadless Rule developed by Risch when he served as Idaho’s Governor in 2006.

“I am very disappointed that these groups decided to go to court.  Our process began at the local level with input from a variety of wildland users.  We crafted higher levels of protection for some lands that truly deserved it, and allowed multiple use of other lands where it fit. We provided for a collaborative process so all voices could be heard.  To see these groups file because they didn’t get exactly what they wanted is a disservice to the collaborative process and a step backward in resolving conflict in public lands management,” said Risch.

“Over the last several years, Idaho has been at the forefront of the collaborative, local-focused approach to management of public lands. The west needs more of that, and fewer lawsuits,” Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick said. “Senator Risch’s carefully crafted roadless plan is yet another fine example of what can be done when leaders bring people to the table in an effort to fine common ground, and I hope today’s news does not hamper future collaboration between sportsmen, businesses, leaders such as Governor Otter, Senator Risch and the rest of our delegation, and the many other people who care about Idaho’s public lands.”

In 2006 then-Governor Risch created five management themes for the roadless areas based on local and statewide input.  Nearly 1.5 million acres of land received the “wild land recreation” designation, prohibiting roadbuilding, mining and timber harvest in those areas.  Approximately 1.8 million acres were designated as “primitive,” which allow some timber harvesting only for forest health or species habitat improvement.

Over 48,000 acres were set aside for historic or tribal significance and 5.3 million acres were classed as “backcountry/restoration” areas.  On these lands temporary roads could be built for improvement to species habitat or to reduce fuels in areas near at-risk communities.  The “general forest, rangeland and grassland” category had 406,000 acres and would allow for timber harvest and road building if the area met requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The U.S. Forest Service then began the rulemaking process, which included a 90-day comment period on the proposal.  Based on comments received the Forest Service modified the plan to prohibit commercial logging in some areas, a move supported by Risch and a variety of user groups.  In late 2008 the rule was published in the Federal Register.

“I believe our process can be a model for other states to follow,” Risch said.  “The “one size fits all” approach to management of our public lands that was tried under the 2001 rule doesn’t work.  What does work is individuals and interest groups rolling up their sleeves and working together to come up with the best plan possible.”

Walt calls for focused approach to stimulus

Washington, D.C. – Walt Minnick issued the following statement on the American Recovery and Reinvestment package, otherwise known as the stimulus bill. The first details of the package were released today.

“As a businessman, my companies got through tough financial times by seeking out every idea and listening to every voice,” Minnick said, “But that doesn’t mean we used every idea or spent money on every project. The stimulus proposal released today does provide us with a starting point for discussion, but I look forward to examining the details with a skeptical eye. If we must increase the deficit and spend to get our nation moving again, we should spend in a focused, strategic way on programs we know will create jobs and jump-start our economy. Otherwise Congress needs to go back to the drawing board.”

Simpson and Minnick help pass bipartisan S-CHIP bill

Washington, D.C. – Idaho Congressmen Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick today voted to pass a measure that will ease financial burdens on thousands of Idaho families. The State Children Health Insurance program was reauthorized today by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Children from hardworking, low- to middle-income Idaho families who do not qualify for Medicare would have access to health care under the S-CHIP bill.

“Our children need to be competitive in an international marketplace,” said Simpson. “They need to be prepared to conquer challenges such as new energy technologies, global climate change, pandemic diseases, and a vastly increasing world population. In order to conquer these challenges, they need a good education and they need good health. Now, more than ever, we need to make sure our nation’s most precious resource, our children, have the tools they need to succeed.”

“As a businessman, I found that my employees were always most productive and happiest when they knew their children were safe and healthy,” Minnick said. “The vote today means more Idaho families can get through these tough times safe in the knowledge that they won’t have to skip a visit to the pediatrician so they can put food on the table.”

The bill passed today also provides much-needed clarification that federal funds cannot be spent to provide care for illegal immigrants. Under current law, there are no citizenship verification requirements for S-CHIP. However, the measure passed today would require the same kind of verification used in the Medicare program.