Since January of 2009, taxpayers have spent more than $168,000 so Idaho’s two U.S. congressmen can conduct telephone town halls and send out mass mailings. Of that, 1st District Congressman Walt Minnick spent $150,308 and 2nd District Congressman Mike Simpson spent $18,337 on their “franking” privileges.
congress
Taking a stand against mandatory health insurance
March 21, 2010 | posted by Wayne Hoffman inIt took me about an hour to fill out my Census form. Not because I'm stupid and the 10 questions stumped me. I marked how many people live in at my address, because that is what the Constitution designed the Census to answer. I refused to answer the question of whether I own my home, because it's really none of the federal government's business. And then I paused for a long time. I was really torn about telling the federal government my race.
How about 'no legislation without representation?'
July 27, 2009 | posted by Colin Slaughter inLegislation Without Representation: Are We Being Counted Out?
1,073 pages.
That’s how long President Obama’s economic stimulus plan ended up being when it was passed in February. This $787 billion document increased the federal government’s power more substantially than any in recent memory. A spending plan of this magnitude must have had a lot of time go into it to make sure it was constitutionally sound and that it would work, right? I mean, 1,073 pages is a lot of material. Anything could be in there.
Surprising truth about minimum wage: It hurts workers, taxpayers
July 27, 2009 | posted by Wayne Hoffman inEarning $6.55 an hour doesn't sound like much, but
for more than 50 people employed by the state of Idaho, a steady job
adds robustness to life spent in a state institution for the
developmentally disabled. That work experience is being jeopardized
because of Congress' decision to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an
hour.
Congress horses around, spends money
July 24, 2009 | posted by Chuck Malloy inBy Chuck Malloy
Remember those wonderful days when the federal government would spend $500 on toilet seats and $700 on hammers?
Well, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives has dramatically increased the ante by approving legislation to provide $700 million for wild horses. Yes, you read it correctly -- $700 million for wild horses. It's an amendment to the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burros Act and the idea is to improve the management and long-term health of wild free-roaming horses and burros. The highlights include:
