Idaho's Simpson warns if deficit reform fails: 'There's going to be hell to pay'

A day after making a big splash on Capitol Hill for leading a bipartisan group of 100 House members urging the deficit Supercommittee to "go big," Idaho GOP Rep. Mike Simpson said he's fully aware of the political consequences of supporting a plan that includes revenue increases along with spending cuts.

"Every member that signed this letter puts their political future at risk," Simpson told me Thursday morning.

Simpson is making multiple appearances on TV as result of his signature gathering. He appeared with his Democratic partner in the effort, Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., on "Fox and Friends," Thursday morning. Wednesday night, he was on CNN with Erin Burnett. He also is scheduled to appear on MSNBC and Bloomberg TV, and again on Fox.

Thirty-seven of the 40 GOP signatories have signed a pledge by anti-tax activist Grover Norquist to oppose any tax increases, Simpson among them.

But Simpson noted Thursday that he signed the pledge just once, when he first ran for Congress in 1998. Since then, he's declined.

"What I came to discover is if you sign a no-tax pledge then you've allowed someone else to define what a tax increase is, or not," Simpson said. "I don't think lowering rates and expanding the base to bring in more revenue is necessarily a tax increase."


The Supercommittee must report by Thanksgiving and Congress must vote by Christmas. If their recommendation fails to pass, across-the-board cuts will be implemented.

Whether the committee goes small, in $1.2 trillion range, or big, with $4 trillion to $6 trillion in savings and revenue, Simpson said the vote will be difficult.

"Don't make me take a tough vote that doesn't help solve this problem," Simpson said. "The $1.2 trillion just doesn't do that. All that does is kick the can down the road and we're out of road."

Key to "going big" will be "making the public aware of the dire consequences of not doing anything or just kicking the can down the road. I think we've got one chance to fix this. If we don't get it right there's going to be hell to pay -- not politically, economically."

Simpson said reaction has been positive so far, though his offices have not been flooded with feedback. At a speech in Idaho Falls last week, Simpson said his views were warmly received. He also praised Idaho GOP Sen. Mike Crapo, a member of the bipartisan "Gang of Six" for his longtime leadership on a deficit plan that would include both cuts and tax reform.

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Simpson has been a leading

Simpson has been a leading conservative in the regressive American movement’s fundamental war on our hardworking society. Don’t be fooled by Simpson current action this is an act of desperation and self-preservation.

This is not the time for government to be cutting back and making the recession worse and people lose their purchasing power.

Simpson is a career regressive politician……………………who has spent his time in congress supporting the best interests of the rich and privileged attacking our way of life with a political party whose goal is to stop successful modern government and forward thinking solutions with archaic regressive forces pulling us backward.

Listen carefully, Simpson continues to talk boldly about of not helping the poor or unemployed or anyone who’s fallen on bad times, saying that it only encourages laziness.

Simpsons budget cut planning promotes an America were the rich are strong and rewarded with government that is weak and controlled by them, while the poor will be punished with higher taxes and low unsustainable wages and a suppressed ability to vote and participate in the determination of American governance.

Simpson is trying to claim he is not a part of the current activist extremism of the Republican Party that incited intolerance with radical right activists who opposed the affordable health care.

Apparently Simpson now cannot rationally represent the radical anti-government Republican Party views during an election……he now requires the votes of moderate republicans, independents and democrats for self-preservation as a career politician.

Go get em Simpson....

How come the Occupiers are not at the Oakland Collesium? The Raiders made alot of money last year and this year too....

darn capitalists....

The public is very aware

You are on the wrong track Mr. Simpson.


The public is quite aware,and knows the score. They want you to do the right thing and raise taxes on those who can afford it; the ones who have not only not been hurt, but who have actually benefited from the policies of the last ten years. Use that money to create jobs.

We need to get more money into the people who make this economy run...the consumers. Cutting taxes won't help people who don't have jobs.

Look Mike, He11 can get it's butt in line with the others.


Everybody wants to hue the knurled