What You Should Know About Rep. Mike Simpson

Background

U.S. Congress

Michael K. Simpson was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998. He’s been there ever since, and was elected to his eight term on Nov. 6, 2012. Simpson represents Idaho’s 2nd district, which is the south-eastern portion of the Gem State.

Simpson was born in 1950 in Burley, Idaho and raised in Blackfoot, Idaho. Simpson graduated with a degree in Pre-Dentistry from Utah State University in 1972. He then went on to receive his DDS from the Washington University School of Dental Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri in 1977. After graduation, he joined his father and uncle at the Simpson Family Dental Practice in Blackfoot.

Simpson started his political career in 1980, when he was elected to the Blackfoot City Council. In 1984 he was elected to the Idaho Legislature where he served until 1998.

In Congress, Simpson serves on four committees including the House Appropriations Committee, Budget Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies, and the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies.

According to Project Vote Smart, Simpson has said he supports decreasing capital gains taxes, corporate taxes, alcohol taxes and income taxes. Simpson said he would support increased federal spending on military salaries, while he’d like to see a decrease on environmental, international aid, and welfare spending.

When asked whether he’d support government money used in an effort stimulate the economy, Simpson wrote this:

“I did not support any of the stimulus packages passed by Congress but could have supported a smaller stimulus bill focused on infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, and water infrastructure. These projects actually stimulate the economy, create real jobs, and leave a lasting benefit for taxpayers and communities. Republicans supported a stimulus package based on these types of projects, but Democrats instead focused only a small amount of stimulus dollars on infrastructure and instead spent the money on new programs and growing government.”

Simpson is an avid golfer and enjoys painting. He has been married to his wife Kathy for more than 40 years and they live in Idaho Falls.

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October 29, 2012

Congressman Mike Simpson And Challenger Nicole LeFavour Square Off In Boise

Republican Congressman Mike Simpson and Democratic state Senator Nicole LeFavour debated on Idaho Public Television Sunday night. LeFavour, an eight-year veteran of the Idaho Legislature is trying to unseat Mike Simpson, who has represented Idaho’s 2nd Congressional District since 1998. In case you missed it, here’s the hour-long debate: Source: Idaho Public Television

October 26, 2012

Idaho Congressional Debates Continue Sunday

Idaho Congressional debates continue this weekend in Boise. Seven-time incumbent Republican Mike Simpson and his challenger Democratic state Sen. Nicole LeFavour debate Sunday evening at the Statehouse. It will be broadcast live on Idaho Public Television, and rebroadcast on Boise State Public Radio next Tuesday. I’m on the panel of journalists asking questions of Simpson […]

October 23, 2012

Idaho Democrat Nicole LeFavour Works Toward A Congressional Upset

Burley, Idaho is farm country. About 10,000 people live in the eastern Idaho town, that for many is just a stop off I-84 to gas up. This is Republican Congressman Mike Simpson’s home turf. He was born in here. But now, Boise Democrat Nicole LeFavour is making one of the most serious runs at his […]

October 18, 2012

Making The Money Count In Idaho’s Congressional Races

A record amount of money is flowing into this year’s election in states across the country. Idaho, it seems, is not one of them. Idaho doesn’t have a high-stakes gubernatorial race on the ballot, or a critical senate seat up for grabs. But both of Idaho’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are on […]

April 4, 2012

A Glimpse Of Idaho Politicians On The Fundraising Circuit

This American Life delved into D.C. deal-making in its most recent episode, Take the Money and Run for Office. In it, former Idaho Rep. Walt Minnick details the never-ending task of fund raising. “I needed to raise $10,000 to 15,000 dollars a day,” Minnick says in the piece. “And you only do it by elbow […]

November 25, 2011

Essential StateImpact: Top Five Stories of the Week

Now that Black Friday is almost over and you’re letting all that turkey and stuffing digest, take a look back at the stories that got the most clicks and comments this week. Ten Idaho Lawmakers Sign Norquist’s Anti-Tax Pledge: One of the people being blamed for the supercommittee’s failure (often by Democrats, and on occasion […]

November 23, 2011

Ten Idaho Lawmakers Sign Norquist’s Anti-Tax Pledge

As you’ve probably heard by now, the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction’s negotiations failed this week. Dubbed the supercommittee, it was charged with finding at least $1.2 trillion in debt savings over the next decade. Now the political finger-pointing is well underway. One of the people being blamed for the supercommittee’s failure (often by […]

October 5, 2011

Idaho Dairymen Push for Reform

The Idaho Business Review is reporting the President of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association Mike Roth said without reforming the dairy industry it’s headed “for a serious wreck”. The Dairy Security Act of 2011 is being sponsored by Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho. Dairy is one of Idaho’s agricultural staples, the state […]