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== 2008 Election ==
== 2008 Election ==
Simpson was reelected to a sixth term in 2008, defeating Democrat Michael Kowieski. Kowieski ran a close race, but was criticized for his mud-slinging tactics and insistence on "blogger's rights", a campaign platform that many pols said didn't resonate with the population of rural Wyoming.<ref>[http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/results/ENR/statewide_total.html 2008 results]</ref> The final result was 204,465 for Simpson and 83,340 for Holmes, giving Simpson 71% of the vote.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/individual/#mapHID/H/02</ref>
Simpson was reelected to a sixth term in 2008, defeating Democrat Michael Kowieski. Kowieski ran a close race, but was criticized for his mud-slinging tactics and insistence on "blogger's rights", a campaign platform that many pols said didn't resonate with the population of rural Idaho.<ref>[http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/results/ENR/statewide_total.html 2008 results]</ref> The final result was 204,465 for Simpson and 83,340 for Holmes, giving Simpson 71% of the vote.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/individual/#mapHID/H/02</ref>
During the 2008 Presidential primaries, Simpson was an early supporter of former Massachusetts Governor [[Mitt Romney]] and a member of his Congressional Whip Team<ref>http://2008romney.blogspot.com/2007/02/whip-team-for-mitt-romney.html</ref>.
During the 2008 Presidential primaries, Simpson was an early supporter of former Massachusetts Governor [[Mitt Romney]] and a member of his Congressional Whip Team<ref>http://2008romney.blogspot.com/2007/02/whip-team-for-mitt-romney.html</ref>.

Revision as of 18:54, 20 November 2008

This article is about politician Michael Simpson. For other people with this name, see Michael Simpson (disambiguation).
Mike Simpson
D.M.D.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Idaho's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 1999
Preceded byMike Crapo
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKathy Simpson
ResidenceIdaho Falls
ProfessionDentist

Michael Keith "Mike" Simpson, D.M.D. (born September 8, 1950 in Burley, Idaho), has been a Republican United States Representative from Idaho since 1999. Simpson represents Idaho's 2nd congressional district.

Simpson was educated at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, and the defunct Washington University School of Dental Medicine [1] in St. Louis, Missouri. Simpson practiced dentistry in Blackfoot, Idaho, before entering the U.S. House. While Simpson is a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), he does not use the honorific "Dr." while serving in Congress, preferring to be referred to as Congressman or Mr. Simpson.

Simpson was elected to the Blackfoot City Council in 1980. In 1984 he was elected to the first of seven terms in the Idaho State House of Representatives. Simpson served as Speaker of the Idaho State House of Representatives from 1993 until his election to the U.S. Congress.

Career in the United States House of Representatives

Simpson entered the 1998 campaign for the U.S. House seat vacated by Mike Crapo, who was running for United States Senate. He defeated former Democratic Congressman Richard H. Stallings in the general election. Simpson did not face serious opposition in 2002 and 2004. In 2006 Simpson defeated former Democratic state representative Jim D. Hansen, son of former Republican Congressman Orval H. Hansen, to win reelection.

Simpson's hallmark legislation in the House of Representatives has been the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA)[2] and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judgeship and Reorganization Act[3]. Simpson has been credited as having a key role in the election of John Boehner (R-OH) to the position of House Majority Leader in the 109th United States Congress.[4]

While the Republican Party held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, Simpson often served as the Speaker Pro Tempore of the House, particularly during debates concerning controversial legislation, due to his command of House procedure. Simpson is known to have broken several sounding boards with the gavel while calling the House to order. This inspired Simpson to have a number of sounding boards produced in Idaho, which he then presented to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL) as a joke.

Political Views and Influence in the House of Representatives

Simpson is a conservative member of the Republican Party. His voting record indicates strong support for pro-life initiatives and an aversion to gun control. Simpson also supports an agenda of low taxes and pro-business policies. However, he is known to be pragmatic on many issues. For example, he was one of a handful of Republicans to vote in favor of the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Simpson has been a supporter of the National Endowment of the Arts and the National Endowment of the Humanities, voting each year against amendments on the House floor to strip them of funding. Furthermore, he has been vocal in his opposition to President George W. Bush's position on "earmarks", or congressionally directed spending. While this position has put him at odds with certain factions within the Republican Party, Simpson maintains that is unwise for the Legislative Branch to relinquish its constitutional control of the budget to the President and the federal bureaucracy[5].

Following the death of Congressman Charlie Norwood (R-GA), a fellow dentist, Simpson has become a leading advocate of the American Dental Association ("ADA") in Congress. Simpson is also known as an outspoken proponent of nuclear power, extolling its virtues as an environmentally friendly source of energy with no carbon output . (See http://www.house.gov/simpson/issues-energy.shtml).

During the sex scandal involving Senator Larry Craig (R-ID), Simpson was openly considered for an appointment to the U.S. Senate in the event that Senator Craig resigned. Simpson however, asked Governor C.L. "Butch Otter" to remove his name from consideration, claiming that the Idaho Congressional Delegation would be in a better position if he were to remain in the House and retain his seniority on the House Appropriations Committee.

2008 Election

Simpson was reelected to a sixth term in 2008, defeating Democrat Michael Kowieski. Kowieski ran a close race, but was criticized for his mud-slinging tactics and insistence on "blogger's rights", a campaign platform that many pols said didn't resonate with the population of rural Idaho.[6] The final result was 204,465 for Simpson and 83,340 for Holmes, giving Simpson 71% of the vote.[7]

During the 2008 Presidential primaries, Simpson was an early supporter of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and a member of his Congressional Whip Team[8].

Committee assignments

  • Appropriations Committee
    • Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
    • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
  • Budget Committee

Caucuses

  • House Potato Caucus - Co-Chair
  • House Sugar Caucus - Co-Chair
  • Oral Health Caucus - Co-Chair
  • Congressional TRIO Caucus - Co-Chair
  • Western Caucus
  • Nuclear Cleanup Caucus
  • House Bio-fuels Caucus
  • Congressional Sportsmen Caucus
  • Mining Caucus
  • Immigration Reform Caucus
  • Congressional Arts Congress
  • Renewable Energy Caucus
  • Congressional Native American Caucus
  • House Rural Health Coalition
  • Caucus to Fight and Control Meth
  • 2nd Amendment Caucus
  • Congressional Taiwan Caucus

Personal life

Simpson is an avid painter, specializing in water colors. An annual campaign fund raiser is held at which his prints are sold.

Notes and references

  1. ^ The Washington University School of Dental Medicine, 1866-1991 http://beckerexhibits.wustl.edu/dental/history/index.html
  2. ^ http://www.house.gov/simpson/central_idaho.seeking.shtml
  3. ^ http://www.maplight.org/map/us/bill/11026/default/history
  4. ^ http://www.idahostatesman.com/207/story/14316.html
  5. ^ See http://www.house.gov/simpson/earnest_earmarks.shtml
  6. ^ 2008 results
  7. ^ http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/individual/#mapHID/H/02
  8. ^ http://2008romney.blogspot.com/2007/02/whip-team-for-mitt-romney.html


U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Idaho's 2nd congressional district
1999–Present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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