10-2 IAN Funding

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson recently voted in favor of legislation that would extend government funding at post-sequestration levels through December 15th and defund the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare.  The legislation, known commonly as a Continuing Resolution (CR), passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 230-189 and will be sent to the Senate for consideration. Simpson spokesperson Nikki Watts: "This short-term continuing resolution allows the government to stay open and critical services to remain available to the American people while Congress works on a more balanced and permanent plan for ongoing funding. This CR holds funding to post-sequestration levels and blocks the implementation of Obamacare and included Simpson's language to ensure wildfire funding.."

Simpson also praised the CR's inclusion of funding he sought to provide $600 million to the Forest Service and $36 million to the Department of the Interior to restore wildfire suppression accounts that have been depleted during the devastating 2013 fire season.  "One of the biggest problems with fire borrowing is that it perpetuates the cycle of catastrophic wildfires in forests that are not being adequately managed. Restoring this funding will help ensure that fire fighters can continue to put out fires without jeopardizing the important work of hazardous fuels removal, resource restoration, and timber harvests that we need to do in order to return our forests to health.