News Releases
Senate Votes to Save Sugar Program
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate today closely defeated an amendment that would have cut the sugar program in the new farm bill. As co-chairman of the Senate Sweetener Caucus, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo spoke on the Senate floor about the importance of the sugar provisions to both sugar producers and consumers of sugar products. Idaho sugar producers bring in more than $1 billion in revenue annually to the state through the program that receives no taxpayer funding. Crapo stressed the sugar p… Continue Reading
June 11, 2012
Senators Introduce Amendment to Help Farmers, Main Street
Washington, D.C. - Today, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns filed an amendment to fulfill Congressional intent by providing an explicit exemption from margin requirements for non-financial end-users that qualify for the clearing exemption. The amendment is identical to H.R. 2682, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 370 to 24. Since the Dodd-Frank conference took place, there has been a debate over whether non-financial end-users are exempt f… Continue Reading
June 07, 2012
Crapo Announces Staff Changes in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is announcing two staff changes in his Washington, D.C., office. Peter Stegner is Crapo's new Legislative Assistant for environment, natural resources and other issues related to Crapo's membership on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Stegner brings with him a wealth of experience, having previously served as Regional Director and Staff Assistant at the North-Central Regional Office in Lewiston for more than three years, and most rec… Continue Reading
June 06, 2012
Senators Congratulate Sloan Award Recipients
Washington, D.C. - Achieving greater flexibility in the workplace is one of the key challenges facing organizations in the twenty-first century, and today Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl congratulated the 2011 winners of the Sloan Award for rising to the challenge. The Alfred P. Sloan Award for Excellence in Workplace Effectiveness and Flexibility recognizes companies that have successfully used flexibility to enhance both business results and employee goals. The senat… Continue Reading
June 01, 2012
The Hill: Six pillars of wisdom? Senators need quick support for cuts, taxes
By Michael O'Brien Even if the Gang of Six, a bipartisan group of senators, can agree on how to cut the federal deficit, their plan will land with a deathly thud on Capitol Hill unless lawmakers in both parties quickly support it. For weeks Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and fellow Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) have worked to fashion a plan based on recommendations from… Continue Reading
June 01, 2012
National Journal Daily: Mike Crapo, Up and Coming GOP Fiscal Leader
By Stacy Kaper He's not flashy or self-promoting but Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, looks to be an up-and-coming leader on fiscal issues in Republican ranks. The third-term senator and deputy whip was tapped by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., last year to serve on President Obama's deficit-reduction commission, which he took some heat for supporting, and he is now trying to salvage the bipartisan "Gang of Six" process to work out a deficit reduction plan. Although those talks hi… Continue Reading
June 01, 2012
Idaho Statesman: Crapo, other Senate Republicans, talk about the deficit with Obama in the White House
By Erika Bolstead WASHINGTON - Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, who's been involved in negotiations to reduce the deficit with the bipartisan "Group of Six" senators, called a meeting of Senate Republicans and the president a "good, candid and substantive discussion." Crapo and most of the Republicans in the Senate on Thursday attended the White House meeting, which Crapo said focused on "specific solutions" that could be "helpful to solving debt crisis." &qu… Continue Reading
June 01, 2012
Idaho Falls Post-Register: CHEERS to Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho
Idaho Falls-- Cheers to Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho. One wouldn't have blamed Crapo had he followed the lead of Sen. Tom Coburn, the Oklahoma Republican who abandoned the bipartisan "Gang of Six" attempting to foster realistic solutions to the nation's soaring deficit. But Crapo hung in, even when a report broke that the Gang's other Republican, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, was thinking about following Coburn out the door. The "Gang of Six" is now the "Gang of … Continue Reading
June 01, 2012
Lewiston Tribune: CHEERS to U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho
CHEERS ... to U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho. Having garnered accolades for joining the "Gang of Six," Crapo merits equal heaps of praise for sticking with the "Gang of Five." The gang - former members of the budget reduction panel chaired by former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo., and former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Eskine Bowles - had been privately forging a consensus to reduce the federal budget deficit by $4 trillion during the next decade. Democratic Sens. Dic… Continue Reading
May 31, 2012
Idaho Delegation to Host Office Hours in Gooding on Thursday, June 7
Gooding, ID - Field representatives from the offices of Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Congressman Mike Simpson will host Traveling District Office meetings on June 7 at the Gooding Senior Center from 11:30 to 1:00 PM, followed by office hours at Gooding City Hall from 1:30 to 3:30 PM. Congressional field representatives will be on hand to answer questions from individuals with specific problems with federal agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, Veterans' Affairs and the Social … Continue Reading
May 31, 2012
Crapo Staff Holds Bilingual Office Hours in Homedale June 8th
Homedale - To better assist Idahoans with questions and issues concerning federal agencies and policies, staff from Idaho Senator Mike Crapo's office will travel to Homedale Friday, June 8, 2012. Brian Raybon, Special Assistant to Senator Crapo, who is also fluent in Spanish, will be available at Homedale City Hall to assist Idahoans with any questions or problems related to federal agencies or with problems regarding federal programs. Crapo Remote Office Hours schedule: … Continue Reading
May 31, 2012
Senators Urge EPA to Heed Supreme Court Decision
Washington, DC-U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to explain how its enforcement office will handle Clean Water Act cases given the Supreme Court's recent ruling in Sackett v. EPA. The request comes after the director of EPA's water enforcement said in a recent speech that the court's decision will have little effect on the agency and that, "internally, it's same old, same old." "It is very troubling that an EPA official with water… Continue Reading
May 29, 2012
Idaho Reporter: Crapo is still working with 'Gang of Five' on ending debt
By Brad Iverson-Long The "Gang of Six" may now be a "Gang of Five," but Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo and four other U.S. senators of differing political stripes say they're still working out a plan for how to reduce the federal government's debt. Crapo and the other senators, who are keeping the specifics of their talks secret, spoke in Washington, D.C., this week at a fiscal summit discussing solutions to America's budget problems. The "Gang of Six" senators started talking after a deficit reductio… Continue Reading
May 25, 2012
Crapo Welcomes Summer Interns to D.C. Office
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo welcomes students to his office each semester to serve internships in both Washington, D.C., and in his regional offices in Idaho. The D.C. internship program provides students the opportunity to learn about Congress and the political process firsthand, while gaining valuable work experience and exploring possible career options. Some of the activities interns assist with include working with staff members on legislative matters, assisting with cons… Continue Reading
May 24, 2012
Senators Urge Better Access to Mexican Potato Market
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch have joined a number of their colleagues in an effort to increase sales of U.S. potatoes to Mexico. The Mexican market for potatoes from Idaho and other U.S. states is estimated to be worth about $30 million. Mexico signed an accord in 2003, agreeing to lower import restrictions on potatoes from Idaho and other U.S. states. Since the agreement was signed, however, the Mexican government has not fulfilled its commitment, citing concer… Continue Reading
May 16, 2012
Crapo Calls for Senate to Pass a Budget
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate has not passed a budget in three years, and even worse, according to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, is facing budget proposals from the President that could raise taxes by $2 trillion over the next decade, along with more than $1.2 trillion in spending increases, at a time when the nation is facing an almost $16 trillion national debt. Crapo, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, told colleagues during a speech on the Senate floor that a bipartisan agreement is … Continue Reading
May 15, 2012
Crapo to Host iTownhall Meeting on May 23
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will host a statewide telephone iTownhall meeting on Wednesday, May 23, to listen to comments and concerns and answer questions from Idahoans. A wide range of topics is expected to be discussed, but the focus of the iTownhall will be the budget deficit and economy. "It has been more than three years since the United States Senate has submitted a budget-a record since Congress adopted budget process reforms in 1974," said Crapo. "The nation's dire … Continue Reading
May 15, 2012
Crapo Staff Holds Bilingual Office Hours in Wilder May 22
Wilder - To better assist Idahoans with questions and issues concerning federal agencies and policies, staff from Idaho Senator Mike Crapo's office will travel to Wilder Tuesday, May 22 nd. Brian Raybon, special assistant to Senator Crapo, who is also fluent in Spanish, will be available at Wilder City Hall to assist Idahoans with any questions or problems related to federal agencies or with problems regarding federal programs. Crapo Remote Office Hours schedule: T… Continue Reading
May 14, 2012
Crapo Office Travels to Cascade
Cascade - To better assist Idahoans with questions and issues concerning federal agencies and policies, representatives from Idaho Senator Mike Crapo's office are increasing a rotation of remote office hours on behalf of the Senator across the state. Crapo's Regional Director Bryan Ricker will travel to Valley County early next month to meet directly with Idahoans on behalf of the Senator. The remote hours availability is scheduled for the Valley County Courthouse: Crapo Remote Off… Continue Reading
May 11, 2012
Crapo, Risch Push for County Payments
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch have sent a letter to the Senate conferees of the transportation conference committee, urging them to keep the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and county payment programs in the final version of the legislation. The letter, which was signed by Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and 24 other senators, stresses the critical need the program fills for counties with large tracts of federal lands and that inaction may result in layoffs to teachers, r… Continue Reading
