Idaho Lawmakers Big Players in “Fiscal Cliff” Debates
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo and U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson could play key roles in crafting legislation concerning the nation's deficit and debt as the so-called fiscal cliff approaches. The Idaho Statesman reports the two Republican lawmakers from Idaho say they want to see a deal reached. Crapo is a member of the bipartisan "Gang of Six" that pushed for a bargain last year. He's also moving up to the No. 2 Republican on the Finance Committee involved in writing tax provisions. Simpson is an Appropriations subcommittee chairman and would be working on budget cuts. The fiscal cliff is an economy-rattling combination of expiring Bush- and Obama-era tax cuts and major across-the-board spending cuts to the Pentagon and domestic programs set to kick in Jan. 1.