Idaho Carries More Clout - Position Important To Entire West

Idaho Republican Mike Simpson is now one of the leading voices in the U.S. House on issues effecting the environment, national forests and public lands. With the change in power this week, Rep. Simpson takes over as chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment. Simpson says the subcommittee plays a critical role in Idaho, a state where nearly two-thirds of the land is owned by the federal government and managed by agencies like the National Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. Simpson says those agencies must be good neighbors and promises to make sure they act effectively and efficiently for Idahoans. He says a top priority will be curtailing the growing budget of the Environmental Protection Agency under the Obama administration. AP

This Subcommittee can do more to thwart Obama's environmental agenda  in the short run than any other entity in Congress. By controlling appropriations they can direct or restrict BLM or any other agency under their jurisdiction.

As an example they could insert language in the appropriations bill such as:

None of these monies shall be spent to inventory or designate Wild Lands as defined in Secretarial Order 3310

Language of that type would halt the program in its tracks.

Now let's see if the Republicans really want to overturn this snub at Congressional authority and attack on multiple use of federal lands.

Do they really want to remove the green shackles on the West or not?

Otherwise, their press releases and oversight hearings will just be political theater.

THE WESTERNER will be watching