Senator James Risch News

No, no, no, don't tug on that. You never know what it might be attached to. 276 days since ... . Navigation Sisyphus Syndicate Submitted by Sisyphus on Fri, 10/23/2009 - 5:18pm. The junior senator from Idaho is the thirteenth richest in Congress, enjoys some fine federal benefits, including health care insurance, AND collects his medicare benefits.

U.S. Senator Jim Risch issued the following statement after the Senate Finance Committee approved its health care bill:

“Tuesday's vote is, unfortunately, another step toward government-run health care at the expense of America’s families. Instead of responsible reform, the proposal raises taxes, increases the cost of insurance premiums for all Americans and employers, imposes a larger Medicaid burden on states and cuts Medicare benefits by half of a trillion dollars. As expansive and socialistic as it is, it still fails to accomplish the original goal of providing insurance coverage to every American. Health care needs reform, but this is not the right way to do it. Fortunately, this is only one in a series of efforts at reform and there is a long road ahead before final passage. How the final bill will look, no one yet knows.”

Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Jim Risch reiterated his continuing support of a resolution requiring greater transparency in all legislative matters brought before the Senate.

The resolution, authored by Senator Jim Bunning (R-Ky.), calls for all legislation to have a final budget scoring from the Congressional Budget Office and to be made available to the public at least 72 hours before it can be brought for consideration in a Senate committee or on the Senate Floor.

“Already this year we have found surprise after surprise in legislation, like the stimulus bill, when it was rushed through without seeing the light of day. A three-day window to examine legislation and consider its cost is reasonable, responsible and provides the oversight we desperately need,” said Risch. “The president and the American people have said they want greater transparency and this resolution provides it.”

A recent poll showed 83 percent of voters support posting legislation online in its final form before Congress votes on it— something Risch has done on his website with each of the health care proposals being considered in the House and the Senate.

The Bunning resolution goes further by requiring all legislation be made available on the Internet in searchable form and further stipulates that weekends and holidays are to be excluded from the 72-hour window unless the Senate is in session on that day. Additionally, the rule could only be suspended by a two-thirds majority vote of the Senate.

“That really is not too much to ask,” Risch said. “It’s just improved transparency.”

WASHINGTON // As American concerns rise over Iran's nuclear ambitions, the UAE yesterday was once again held up as a model for countries seeking to develop nuclear energy.

On Sept. 8 U.S. District Court of Montana judge Donald Molloy agreed with plaintiffs Defenders of Wildlife that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service likely violated the Endangered Species Act in delisting wolves in Idaho and Montana, but denied a preliminary injunction against Idaho 's wolf hunt.

Idaho's freshman U.S. Sen. Jim Risch is among the richest members of Congress, according to a new analysis by the Washington, D.C., publication Roll Call.

Seventy-one U.S. senators signed an AIPAC-backed letter to President Obama supporting his effort to encourage Arab states to normalize relations with Israel.

By NITYA VENKATARAMAN Aug. 6, 2009 The Senate voted to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court today, making her the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice and just the third woman to sit on the court.

" President Barack Obama should press Arab leaders for "dramatic gestures" on behalf of Middle East peace, an overwhelming majority of U.S. senators said in a letter made public on Monday.

By NITYA VENKATARAMAN Aug. 6, 2009 The Senate voted to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court today, making her the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice and just the third woman to sit on the court.

By NITYA VENKATARAMAN Aug. 6, 2009 The Senate voted to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court today, making her the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice and just the third woman to sit on the court.

Seventy-one senators have signed an AIPAC-backed letter to US President Barack Obama supporting his effort to encourage Arab states to normalize relations with Israel.

Time is running out for Jon Jarvis to be confirmed as the next director of the National Park Service before the Senate recesses for August.

Washington, DC - Senator Jim Risch spoke from the floor of the U.S. Senate this morning in opposition to the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

The Senate enters its final day of debate over Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor today and is poised to make history with a mid-afternoon vote on her confirmation.

President Barack Obama is investing a good measure of his political capital in the Middle East without receiving, so far, much support from the United States Congress.

President Barack Obama is investing a good measure of his political capital in the Middle East without receiving, so far, much support from the United States Congress.

A letter urging Saudi King Abdullah to "assert a strong leadership role" in the Middle East is gathering signatures in the U.S. House of Representatives.

TV Today's 6: Idaho's News Risch Named To Small Business Committee WASHINGTON, DC-Idaho Senator Jim Risch accepted a post on the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship today.

Tar Wars isn't just about teaching kids not to smoke. It's about teaching them to stay away from all forms of tobacco.