09/06/06 Crapo sizes up Senate agenda

Senator Mike Crapo says the US Senate faces some tough votes this month because of a budget that's running huge deficits. Crapo says the plan is to significantly cut the federal budget deficit over the next two to three years. CRAPO "As a part of that I think that we're going to also have to look at process reforms on the budget like passing the line item veto and perhaps some other process reforms that have been proposed to help us get a better handle on spending." But with the election two months away what will happen to immigration reform? Crapo says probably nothing. CRAPO "I believe that we do need to have a comprehensive immigration bill but the employment piece of the bill should not be tied to citizenship. It should be tied instead to a worker visa program." And Crapo says Senate Republicans will do all they can to get Boise attorney Bill Myers and Pocatello judge Randy Smith confirmed to the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Democrats have stymied all efforts to get confirmation votes on both men. CRAPO "Frankly we don't know yet whether a threatened filibuster of Judge Smith will hold up and we don't know yet whether the already existing filibuster of Judge Myers will hold up for a second time." Look for the House and Senate to break in October for last minute campaigning. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott