The MountainGoat Report

Standing On Principle

This is what standing on principle looks like.  Not surprisingly it doesn't come from anyone in the Idaho congressional delegation, Republican nor Democrat, but it comes from the delegation of our neighbor to the south.

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) on the proposed building of an Islamic center near Ground Zero:

"Let’s be honest about it, in the First Amendment, religious freedom, religious expression, that really express matters to the Constitution. So, if the Muslims own that property, that private property, and they want to build a mosque there, they should have the right to do so. ... [T]here's a huge, I think, lack of support throughout the country for Islam to build that mosque there, but that should not make a difference if they decide to do it. I'd be the first to stand up for their rights."

The Republicans of the Idaho delegation, Senators Crapo and Risch and Representative Simpson, are opposed to the center while attempting to acknowledge the rights of private property owners.  The lone Democrat's position is a little squishy; Congressman Walt Minnick hasn't come out for or against the center but believes that it's an issue to be "decided by the people of New York City."

In a time when anti-Muslim fervor is escalating, it's a little strange to see these members of the Idaho GOP -- who "believe the United States Constitution is the greatest and most inspired document ever devised by Man" -- ignoring the Constitution's First Amendment provisions protecting the free exercise of religion.

However, Minnick's position is beyond strange.  See, the tricky thing about rights is that they're not up for a vote; the majority doesn't get to decide who gets rights and who doesn't, who gets to build a religious center, and where, and who doesn't.  The right to build the Cordoba House Muslim community center isn't up for a vote by any majority, no matter how angry or vocal.

Either the "Constitution is the greatest and most inspired document ever" or it's not, but regardless, each member of congress took an oath of office swearing to "protect and defend" it, no matter how unpopular it may be to do so.  The entire Idaho delegation could take a lesson from Utah's senior senator on exactly what that means.

Obscene, Absurd Or Just Plain Cruel

There's something obscene about money in politics.  Or maybe it's absurd.  Or perhaps both.  Whatever you call it, it can definitely be cruel.

Yesterday, Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick's campaign wrapped up a week of gloating over the amount of money they've tallied for the quarter by sending out this tweet:

RT @FECTweets: ID 01: Raul Labrador (R) raises $102k, has $69k on hand. Rep. Walt Minnick has $1.14m in the bank.

It was definitely "an exciting week for Walt," as he notes on his campaign website, posting receipts of over $410,000 for the April through June reporting period, "his best this cycle by far," reported CQ Politics.

It was also exciting, but in a whole 'nother way, for the estimated 800 to 1,200 additional out of work Idahoans whose unemployment benefits expired this week.  Wondering how you're going to keep a roof over your head and feed your family is a whole different sort of exciting than a politician's eye-popping fundraising numbers--and not the good sort of exciting.

More than 5,500 jobless Idahoans have exhausted their unemployment benefits since early June and the Idaho Department of Labor estimates that an additional 800 to 1,200 unemployed Idahoans per week will find themselves with few places to turn as their benefits expire as well.  It's estimated that 22,000 unemployed Idaho workers could see their benefits cut off over the next several months if the U.S. Senate doesn't pass legislation extending them.

The House of Representatives passed an unemployment extension before leaving for the Independence Day break, but the legislation stalled in the Senate with Republicans successfully blocking any attempt to vote on the extension, saying it would add to the deficit.  The Idaho delegation was unanimous in their opposition--Senators Crapo and Risch voting against cloture and Reps. Simpson and Minnick voting against the House bill.  Senate Democrats expect to have enough votes to overcome the GOP filibuster next week.

Fascinating that after years of unfunded tax cuts benefiting the rich and deficit spending on two wars, Republicans are dusting off their "fiscal restraint" suits just in time to snatch the safety net out from under the poor and working class.  But they aren't the only ones doing the snatching.

Just one week after voting against extending the safety net for struggling families, Walt Minnick leaked word of his "impressive" fundraising quarter--$410,000 raised for the quarter and $1.14 million cash on hand.  Something tells me that that money didn't come from families struggling to make ends meet on an unemployment check.  But with each receiving an average of $229 per week--and that money being pumped back into the Idaho economy to the tune of $7 million a week--$410,000 could have kept almost 1,800 Idaho families afloat for another week; for $1.14 million, nearly 5,000.

There's something particularly cruel about tallying up your largess while telling others they aren't worth the $229 a week investment.  It could also be obscene.  Or absurd.

Crapo 'Ski Fest'

Got an extra $2,500 laying around?  That and an RSVP will get you into a "Ski Fest" weekend in Sun Valley with Idaho Republican Senator Mike Crapo.

What do you get for your cash (or check, same-day bankable)?  You get all the cocktails and schmoozing you can squeeze into three days, plus dinner—sleigh ride included—but book your room and skiing (for the "ski fest") separately, please.  Hey, what'd you expect?  Senators don't come cheap these days....

The Crapo-style "Ski Fest" kicks off tonight and unless you RSVP'd by Jan 5, you're probably outta luck.  Space is limited after all, silly.  But you can still check out the stunningly festive invite.

Minnick's Hollow Core; Votes Against PayGo

Five days ago, Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick chastised President Obama for his "disturbing" budget proposal, advocating for more strict deficit reduction measures while encouraging reinstating statutory pay-as-you-go rules.  In fact Minnick's press release described himself as a "vocal proponent of PAYGO," a spending control measure adopted in the 1990s which helped lead to budget surpluses.

Today Congressman Minnick had a chance to vote on a statutory pay-as-you-go rule and, inexplicably, he voted against it.

On a 233 to 187 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to reimpose statutory pay-as-you-go rules without a single Republican voting in favor and Minnick joining just 14 Democrats opposed.  The PayGo act passed the Senate last week as an amendment to a bill raising the debt ceiling to roughly $14.3 trillion and in today's vote, the House considered the PayGo portion of the bill separately.

PayGo had the support of most fiscally conservative Democrats—The Hill reported that Blue Dog Democrats broke out in applause when the measure passed—making this an incredibly curious vote for Minnick.

“You hear a lot from the other side about how this Congress is spending money excessively, but they offer no real solutions to get us back on a pathway to fiscal responsibility," said Rep. Baron Hill (D-Ind.), a senior Blue Dog. "This is the proven method to get us back on that path."

Minnick isn't alone, though.  While railing against the President's budget proposal as fiscally irresponsible, the entire Idaho Congressional Delegation—Senators Crapo and Risch last week and today Reps. Simpson and Minnick—has now gone on record in opposition to adopting rules that would help keep spending under control.

Since taking office in January 2009, Minnick has attempted to posture himself as a fiscal conservative, frequently labeling fiscal accountability his "core issue."  Apparently that core is rather hollow.

Idaho Senators' Budget Bluff

"Idaho senators blast Obama budget," writes Idaho Statesman editorial page editor Kevin Richert in his blog this evening.  Republican Senators Crapo and Risch released statements following President Obama's budget proposal which, as Richert suggests, weren't "very complementary."

Senator Crapo:

This budget proposes the opposite of what we need to revive the economy. ... This proposal contains a record budget deficit of $1.56 trillion. It calls for $3.8 trillion in spending.

Senator Risch:

Now, the president wants to move forward with business as usual — more taxes, more spending and more borrowing. ... Our national debt is already more than $40,000 for every man, woman and child. Increasing that obligation by an additional 10 percent is not the kind of leadership Idaho and America need.

Both Crapo and Risch "blast" the President's budget, yet last week voted against reimposing statutory pay-as-you-go rules in the Senate.  PayGo is a spending control measure requiring, essentially, that for each new dollar spent, a dollar be cut elsewhere.  It helped lead to budget surpluses in the '90s.

Perhaps the senators would like a big ol' steaming pile of duplicity with their outrage.

Let Them Eat Cake

Advice for Governor Otter and the Idaho Legislature from Idaho Mountain Express:

They need to talk about the elephants in the room, including the de facto zero sales tax on sales of goods on the Internet and taxes on gasoline that haven't been increased since 1996.

The first is grossly unfair to bricks-and-mortar retailers who must charge sales taxes on goods while Internet merchants gain the advantage of being able to charge less.

The second is stupidly shortsighted.

State departments and commissions on the chopping block have quickly found ways to stave off their demise for now.

But nothing will save education and the services needed by Idaho's weakest citizens unless Otter and legislators take off the political blinders, roll up their sleeves and do what businesses and families do every day: Figure out palatable ways to bring more money through the door.

Won't happen.  Won't happen because stupidly shortsighted is apparently a sacred mantra for Idaho leaders.  As we speak, the governor and legislators are hoarding money on the off chance they'll need to tell the federal government to shove its health care reform.  And not to shove health care reform for them.  They've already got theirs.  They want to tell the federal government to shove health care reform on behalf of every other Idaho citizen.

What they don't like—what they are stockpiling our money to fight—is a mandate that everyone buy insurance, never mind that they are already enforcing their own insurance mandates on Idahoans.  (Apparently they don't like the feds creepin' on their corner.)

In very simple terms the problem is this:  if you don't require that everyone buy insurance but you do require that companies insure everyone with preexisting conditions and not drop anyone when they get sick, the price of health insurance will go through the roof.  Companies simply will not take on the cost of paying millions of claims for the less healthy without increasing premiums, co-pays or deductibles for everyone.  There has to be a larger pool of generally healthy people in the mix.

And that is why those who understood it were demanding that a public option be included in any health care reform package.  If you are going to require that everyone buy a policy, you have to give them a choice.  A choice that includes something besides the crappy policies currently offered by the insurance company monopoly.  A choice of buying into a not-for-profit pool if it meets their needs.

It would be like having a freeway system alongside a toll road system. One built and maintained by the government and one built and maintained by private companies.  Those who like the private route and find that it gets them where they want to go, can take that road.  For those who don't, there is an alternative route.

A requirement that everyone take the toll road would be insane, yet that is exactly what a mandate without a public option does.  On the other hand, if the toll road is going to be the only route available, without a mandate very few will be able to afford even getting on the road.  But yet, it was the public "freeway system" that was demonized as "socialism" by those trying to scare people and score political points.

Stupidly shortsighted.

Idaho, those are your "leaders"—your Congressional Delegation, your Governor and your Legislature—advocating a toll road-only option for you, because they obviously know best.  And on your behalf, hoarding money so they can tell the federal government where to shove your health care reform.

Nothing ever tasted so bitter.

Idaho Senators Gone Fishing

Instead of wrangling with angry constituents over health care reform in a stuffy townhall forum, Idaho Republican Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch have gone fishing—literally—for campaign contributions at joint fundraising events costing donors up to $2,500 a ticket.

While you and I and countless other Idahoans might be worrying about how we're going to pay for health care or, God forbid, struggling to pay medical bills without going bankrupt and are looking for Congress to provide some hope that relief is on the way, our senators' only concern seems to be where they might find their next handout, apparently unconcerned whether or not Idahoans actually get any relief.

As reported in the Idaho Statesman recently, the raucous health care townhalls occurring all over the country have strangely bypassed the Gem State.  "The state's congressmen haven't given folks many chances to shout about Democratic reform plans - but they all agree with the shouters anyway," the subtitle of Erika Bolstad's report reads.  She goes on to say that Senators Crapo and Risch hadn't planned any townhall forums to discuss health care during the August recess, although Crapo's staff is now scrambling to squeeze one into his schedule and Risch is contemplating hosting one by telephone.

Although acknowledging that the current health care system is unsustainable and that constituents are "clamoring" for information on reform plans, neither senator offers anything in the way of solutions, merely suggesting that current proposals are unacceptable, too expensive and potentially too intrusive.

So what important events are keeping our senators from listening to constituents' health care concerns?  That would be Crapo's "Hook 'N Bullet" and Risch's "Rocky Mountain Oyster Feed and Steak BBQ" fundraisers in the Ketchum/Sun Valley area.

From Sunlight Foundation's The Party Blog: 

Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Jim Risch (R-ID) have more in common than a love for their home state. The Idahoan Senators, who have been friends since serving in the state legislature together, both love trapshooting, flyfishing, and even sharing donors.  The longtime friends will be hosting fundraisers in Sun valley and Picabo on August 18th complete with shuttles and coordinated schedules.

Crapo’s “Hook ‘N Bullet” event kicks off at 5:30pm (pricetag: $2,500) with a reception in Ketchum where donors can sign up for horseback riding and fly fishing. Once guests have finished their orientation the party will move to the Dollar Mountain Lodge where they can partake in Risch’s second annual “Rocky Mountain Oyster Feed and Steak BBQ” (pricetag: $250-$1000).

Shuttles will be leaving Ketchum throughout the next day to whisk guests off for fly fishing on the Big Wood River, horseback riding and trap shooting at Silver Springs Ranch, and finally, the Hook ‘n Bullet Western Barbeque at 7:00pm.

According to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, Idaho ranks 33 out of 50 states in the physical health category and over the first six months of 2009, the number of uninsured in Idaho is up from 17.8% in 2008 to 18.8%.  That doesn't even count those who have insurance but can't afford expensive deductibles or co-pays.

You'd think our senators would be a little more concerned with that instead of wondering how they'll manage to shuttle donors between the oyster feed and the Big Wood River without getting those large checks wet.  Maybe when they've finished "shucking oysters" with the well-heeled, the senators could read these:

• Why I Support the Public Option
• Government is not a business

The Second House Bailout Vote

Today the U.S. House of Representatives debated and voted for the second time in a week on what is being called, depending on perspective, either the bailout or rescue bill, although officially the title of this portion of the bill is the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.  The legislation passed 263-171 to applause in the chambers as the acting speaker gaveled the vote closed with 172 Democrats and 91 Republicans voting in favor.  As expected Idaho Representatives Simpson and Sali once again split their votes, Simpson voting for and Sali against the bill.

The original bill was defeated in the House on Monday on a 228-205 vote (Reps. Simpson in favor and Sali against) sending the stock market into a dive, the Dow losing nearly 778 points at the market's close.  Wednesday the Senate passed a revised version of the bill 74-25 with Idaho Senators Craig voting in favor and Crapo against, which added what is being called "sweeteners," including tax cuts, an increase in federal deposit insurance and other measures, to make the bill more appealing to House Republicans.  Apparently that was enough.

Crapo's Idaho

According to Senator Mike Crapo's website, Idaho's motto "Esto Perpetua" means "The wide open West."  At least that's what  the Idaho Statesman's Kevin Richert discovered when he visited the Senator's site and voted in the online poll there. 

A Crapo spokesperson has since explained the error as a technical glitch.  Richert tells the whole story in his blog.