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Michael K. Simpson

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Michael K. Simpson
Michael K. Simpson.jpg
U.S. House, Idaho, District 2
Incumbent
In office
January 3, 1999-Present
Term ends
January 3, 2015
Years in position 14
PartyRepublican
PredecessorMike Crapo (R)
Leadership
38th Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives
1992-1998
Compensation
Base salary$174,000/year
Elections and appointments
Last electionNovember 6, 2012
First elected1998
Next electionNovember 4, 2014
Campaign $$4,748,406
Term limitsN/A
Prior offices
Blackfoot City Council
1980-1984
Idaho House of Representatives, District 31B
1984-1998
Education
Bachelor'sUtah State University
M.D.Washington University School of Dental Medicine
Personal
BirthdaySeptember 8, 1950
Place of birthBurley, Idaho
ProfessionDentist
Net worth$1,960,562
ReligionThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)
Websites
Office website
Campaign website
Michael K. Simpson campaign logo

Contents

Michael Keith "Mike" Simpson (b. September 8, 1950) is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Simpson was elected by voters from Idaho's 2nd congressional district.

Simpson ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House, representing Idaho's 2nd District.[1] In the May 15, 2012 primary election, Simpson defeated fellow Republican M.C. Heileson. In the November 6, 2012 general election Simpson defeated Democratic challenger Nicole LeFavour.[2]

Biography

Simpson was born in Burley, Idaho and raised in Blackfoot. He graduated from Utah State University and earned his DDS from Washington University School of Dental Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. After graduation, he joined his father and uncle at the Simpson Family Dental Practice in Blackfoot, Idaho.[3]

Career

Committee assignments

U.S. House

2013-2014

Simpson serves on the following committees:[4]

  • Committee on Appropriations
    • Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
    • Subcommittee on Interior, Environment Chair
    • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education

2011-2012

Issues

Wilderness plan

In federal Boulder-Whiteclouds wilderness area in south central Idaho, Congressmen developed a federal wilderness plan called the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA). The plan had the backing of all four Idaho members of Congress in June 2010, when it had a hearing in the U.S. Senate.

Gov. Butch Otter sent a letter to the congressional delegation opposing parts of the plan. Bill Dart of the Idaho Recreation Council presented at the Senate hearing, saying motorized and non-motorized recreation groups will lose access to some areas if CIEDRA becomes law.

Since the hearing, Sen. Jim Risch has said that he would oppose the plan as it is currently written. At the Idaho Republicans state convention in Idaho Falls in June 2010, the convention moved to write Otter a letter thanking him for his opposition the act.

In mid-July 2010, Simpson posted a guest opinion on his website, in which he said that the plan is still necessary. Simpson called his plan to create 332,775 acres of federally-protected wilderness areas a plan crafted by Idahoans to prevent a takeover of the area by the U.S. government.

“If we leave things as they are, we give federal agencies free rein to cut off existing access or change land use policies at any time,” Simpson said. “There is a real risk that the Obama Administration could unilaterally designate this area as a national monument, giving Idahoans no input into how the land on which they live and recreate is managed.”

“Extremists on both sides of this issue may refuse to find middle ground, but for most Idahoans, this solution is one we can’t do without,” Simpson said in his opinion.[6]

Federal match for Medicaid extension, 2010

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $26 billion plan that will give money to states help pay for Medicaid and school districts' teachers salaries. The plan will save Idaho $68 million of a fund used for anti-drug programs.

Rep. Walter Minnick supported the measure, while Republican Michael K. Simpson joined members of his party in opposing it.

This spending plan extends the federal match for Medicaid for six more months, amounting to $16.1 billion. It provides $10 billion to school districts. Supporters say this will save 161,000 teachers' jobs. The federal government is cutting food stamps starting in 2014 and removing a foreign tax credit often used by businesses that ship jobs overseas, as well as other reductions, to pay for the new plan.

Idaho budgeted for not getting the Medicaid money.

“When one broke unit of government borrows foreign money to bail out another broke unit of government, the inevitable loser is the taxpayer,” said Simpson said in a prepared statement.

“Other states have simply put off the tough decisions hoping and praying that the federal government will step in and solve their fiscal problems for them,” Simpson said. “What the House did today rewards poorly managed states, like California, and encourages their continued fiscal mismanagement while punishing the taxpayers of states, like Idaho, that have acted responsibly. It is not right and I cannot support it.”[7]

Presidential preference

2012

See also: Endorsements by state officials of presidential candidates in the 2012 election

Michael K. Simpson endorsed Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election. [8]

Targeted by Club for Growth Action

In February 2013, the Club for Growth Action, a fiscally conservative Super PAC, launched a website called "www.PrimaryMyCongressman.com." According to the Club for Growth Action, "the purpose of the website is to raise awareness of Republicans In Name Only (RINOs) who are currently serving in safe Republican seats....The website will offer Club members and the general public the opportunity to recommend primary opponents to the incumbents highlighted by Club for Growth Action, as well as to recommend primary challengers for any Republican member of Congress. Club for Growth Action will rotate liberal Republicans through the website to highlight their failed records on limiting government." Simpson was one of the first nine incumbent Republicans to be targeted by the site, which gave him a lifetime Club for Growth rating of 58%.[9][10]

Specific votes

Fiscal Cliff

Voted "Yes" Simpson voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was one of 85 Republicans that voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257/167 vote on January 1, 2013.[11]

Elections

2012

See also: Idaho's 2nd congressional district elections, 2012

Simpson ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House, representing Idaho's 2nd District. He won the nomination on the Republican ticket, defeating M.C. Heileson. Jack Wayne Chappell and Nicole LeFavour ran as Democrats, with LeFavour moving on to the general election. The primary elections were held on May 15, 2012.[12]

U.S. House, Idaho, District 2 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Nicole LeFavour 34.8% 110,847
     Republican Green check mark.jpgMike Simpson Incumbent 65.1% 207,412
     Write-in (Democratic) Jack Wayne Chappell (Write-in) 0.1% 235
Total Votes 318,494
Source: Idaho Secretary of State "November 6, 2012 General Election Results"


Endorsements

Simpson was endorsed by the National Rifle Association (NRA).[13]


Full history


Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Simpson is available dating back to 2000. Based on available campaign finance records, Simpson raised a total of $4,748,406 during that time period. This information was last updated on April 5, 2013.[21]

Michael K. Simpson's Campaign Contribution History
Year Office Result Contributions
2012 U.S. House (Idaho, District 2) Won $1,200,025
2010 U.S. House (Idaho, District 2) Won $792,074
2008 U.S. House (Idaho, District 2) Won $707,482
2006 U.S. House (Idaho, District 2) Won $539,784
2004 U.S. House (Idaho, District 2) Won $556,129
2002 U.S. House (Idaho, District 2) Won $342,933
2000 U.S. House (Idaho, District 2) Won $609,979
Grand Total Raised $4,748,406

2012

Breakdown of the source of Simpson's campaign funds before the 2012 election.

Simpson won re-election to the U.S. House in 2012. During that election cycle, Simpson's campaign committee raised a total of $1,200,025 and spent $1,192,871.[22]

2010

Breakdown of the source of Simpson's campaign funds before the 2010 election.

Simpson won re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010. During that re-election cycle, Simpson's campaign committee raised a total of $792,074 and spent $854,316 .[23]

Analysis

Lifetime voting record

See also: Lifetime voting records of United States Senators and Representatives

According to the website GovTrack, Simpson missed 293 of 9,871 roll call votes from Jan 1999 to Mar 2013. This amounts to 3.0%, which is worse than the median of 2.2% among current congressional representatives as of March 2013.[24]

Congressional staff salaries

See also: Staff salaries of United States Senators and Representatives

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Simpson paid his congressional staff a total of $1,142,539 in 2011. He ranks 8th on the list of the highest paid Republican Representative Staff Salaries and he ranks 38th overall of the lowest paid Representative Staff Salaries in 2011. Overall, Idaho ranks 25th in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[25]

Net worth

See also: Net Worth of United States Senators and Representatives

2011

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Simpson's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $1,575,565 and $2,345,559. That averages to $1,960,562, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican Representatives in 2011 of $7,859,232. His average net worth increased by 1.86% from 2010.[26]

2010

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Simpson's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $1,515,342 and $2,334,334. That averages to $1,924,838, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican Representatives in 2010 of $7,561,133.[27]

National Journal vote ratings

See also: National Journal vote ratings

2012

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of congress voted in the previous year. Simpson ranked 201st in the conservative rankings in 2012.[28]

2011

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of congress voted in the previous year. Simpson ranked 137th in the conservative rankings.[29]

Political Positions

Percentage voting with party

The website Open Congress tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of the chamber caucus. According to the website, Michael K. Simpson voted with the Republican Party 92 of the time, which ranked 138 among the 242 House Republican members in November 2011.[30]

Personal

Simpson has been married to his wife Kathy for 39 years and they live in Idaho Falls, Idaho. [31]

Recent news

This section displays the most recent stories in a Google news search for the term Michael + Simpson + Idaho + House

All stories may not be relevant to this page due to the nature of the search engine.

Michael Simpson News Feed


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External links


References

  1. ↑ Idaho Secretary of State "Candidate List" Accessed March 2, 2012
  2. ↑ Politico "2012 Election Map, Idaho"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Mike Simpson for Congress-Idaho's Congressman "About Mike" Accessed October 28, 2011
  4. ↑ CQ.com, "House Committee Rosters for the 113th Congress"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson-2nd District of Idaho "Committees" Accessed October 28, 2011
  6. ↑ "Simpson says central Idaho wilderness plan still necessary," Idaho Reporter, July 19, 2010
  7. ↑ "," Idaho Reporter, August 11, 2010
  8. ↑ The Hill, "2012 GOP Lawmaker Endorsements for President," retrieved November 23, 2011
  9. ↑ Idaho Statesman, "Club for Growth targets Idaho Rep. Simpson for defeat in 2014," February 27, 2013
  10. ↑ The New York Times, "Club for Growth Leads Conservative Charge, Sometimes at Republicans," March 13, 2013
  11. ↑ U.S. House "Roll Call Vote on the Fiscal Cliff" Accessed January 4, 2013.
  12. ↑ Idaho Secretary of State "2012 Primary Results"
  13. ↑ NRA PVF "Idaho Endorsements" Accessed May 1, 2012
  14. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010"
  15. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008"
  16. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006"
  17. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2004"
  18. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002"
  19. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2000"
  20. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1998"
  21. ↑ Open Secrets "Michael K. Simpson" Accessed April 5, 2013
  22. ↑ Open Secrets "Michael Simpson 2012 Election Cycle," Accessed February 20, 2013
  23. ↑ Open Secrets "Michael K. Simpson 2010 Election Cycle," Accessed October 28, 2011
  24. ↑ GovTrack, "Michael Simpson," Accessed April 1, 2013
  25. ↑ LegiStorm "Michael Simpson"
  26. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Simpson (R-Idaho), 2011"
  27. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Simpson, (R-Idaho), 2010"
  28. ↑ National Journal, "2012 Congressional Vote Ratings," February 27, 2013
  29. ↑ National Journal, "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: House," February 23, 2012
  30. ↑ Open Congress "Voting With Party"
  31. ↑ U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson-2nd District of Idaho "Biography" Accessed October 28, 2011
Political offices
Preceded by
Mike Crapo (R) 		U.S. House of Representatives - Idaho District 2
1999–present 		Succeeded by
-
v • d • e
Idaho's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Jim Risch (R) • Mike Crapo (R)
CongressLogo.png
Representatives
Michael K. Simpson (R) • Raul R. Labrador (R)
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