Mike Simpson
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- This article is about politician Michael Simpson. For other people with this name, see Michael Simpson (disambiguation).
| Mike Simpson D.M.D. | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 6, 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Crapo |
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| Born | September 8, 1950 Burley, Idaho |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Kathy Simpson |
| Residence | Idaho Falls |
| Profession | Dentist |
| Religion | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
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 Washington University School of Dental Medicine 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.
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[edit] 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) and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judgeship and Reorganization Act.
During the time the Republican Party held a majority in the United States House of Representatives, Simpson commonly served as the Speaker Pro Tempore of the House and often presided over debates regarding controversial legislation, due to his command of House procedure. Simpson is rumored to have broken several sounding boards with the gavel while calling the House to order, leading him to have a number of sounding boards produced in Idaho, which he then jokingly presented to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL).
Simpson is a conservative member of the Republican Party, espousing a pro-life, anti-gun control, and anti-tax voting record. However, he is known to be pragmatic on many issues. For example, he was one of the few 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, warning that the Legislative Branch should not relinquish its constitutional powers to the Executive Branch and the federal bureaucracy. (See http://www.house.gov/simpson/earnest_earmarks.shtml).
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.
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. (See http://www.idahostatesman.com/207/story/14316.html).
During the 2008 Presidential election, Simpson was an early supporter of Governor Mitt Romney. Since Governor Romney discontinued his candidacy, Simpson has not endorsed another candidate.
[edit] 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
- Western Caucus
- Congressional TRIO Caucus - Co-Chair
- Nuclear Cleanup Caucus
- House Bio-fuels Caucus
- Congressional Sportsmen Caucus
- Mining Caucus
- Immigration Reform Caucus
- Oral Health Caucus - Co-Chair
- 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
[edit] Personal life
Simpson is an avid painter, specializing in water colors. An annual campaign fund raiser is held at which his prints are sold.
[edit] External links
- U.S. Representative Mike Simpson official House site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
- Citizens Against Government Waste: Mike Simpson Porker of the Month
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| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Mike Crapo |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Idaho's 2nd congressional district 1999–Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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