What You Are Writing About

Top concerns from Idahoans for week ending January 23, 2009

Lead In Children's Products

Government Bailouts for Private Industries

Animal Cruelty

Broadband Technology In Economic Stimulus

Holder Nomination For U.S. Attorney General

Each year, I hear from thousands of Idahoans who write, e-mail, fax and call my offices to let me know how they feel about issues facing our country today. On average, I receive approximately 1,000 letters and e-mails a week. In recent years, an increasing number of that correspondence has come via electronic means. Even with such a volume of correspondence, I try to respond to each Idahoan as promptly as possible. In an effort to be even more responsive and to fully utilize the technology available through the Internet, this web page features the top five issues of concern from Idahoans and my response on each from the previous week. You may also wish to review information in the Issues Section or details from my Legislative Record, which lists bills I have sponsored and co-sponsored.

 

Lead In Children's Products

The Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act mandates that children’s products with more than 600 parts per million (ppm) of lead cannot be sold after February 10, 2009, and that level will be reduced to 300 ppm on August 14, 2009.  This law is retroactive and applies to all items currently in inventory, and requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children’s products made after February 10 meet these safety standards, though certification requirements do not apply to sellers of used children’s products. 

Some small business owners have voiced concerns about what these requirements will mean for their bottom lines, particularly with regard to the costly certification requirements and the prohibitions on selling anything in inventory that exceeds the lead limit. 

I am committed to protecting the health and safety of Americans and support efforts to enhance the safety of consumer products on store shelves.  At the same time, it is important that we target our efforts toward the most effective ends and work with all involved to minimize any unintended impacts of these enhanced measures.  Please rest assured that I will continue to work vigorously to ensure consumer safety without compromising the well-being of American small businesses.    

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Government Bailouts for Private Industries

We are beginning to see extremely serious repercussions throughout every aspect of our economy as a result of the credit crisis.  According to a recent New York Times article, as the financial crisis has spread, the government’s commitments have grown and it has assumed different roles acting as an insurer, investor or lender.  So far, the government has spent almost $1.4 trillion, although it has guaranteed almost $8 trillion in investments, deposits, and loans.    

I voted against the Economic Recovery Act, which authorized the Treasury Department to spend up to $700 billion to purchase troubled assets from financial institutions, because the taxpayer was not adequately protected and it failed to establish clear guidelines for how these taxpayer dollars would stabilize our markets and provide lending to our economy.  According to the Government Accountability Office, the Treasury Department has failed to address a number of critical issues while implementing the $700 billion financial rescue plan, including how to ensure that its efforts are successful.

The report, which was required by the legislation authorizing the rescue plan, also stated that the Department of Treasury has yet to figure out how to make sure financial firms receiving billions of dollars of federal funds comply with limits on executive compensation and dividend payments.  As a member of the Senate Banking Committee, I have been pushing aggressively for enhanced oversight of these unprecedented government interventions to make sure the taxpayer is being protected, and I will continue to do so. 

Please rest assured that protecting the taxpayer will continue to be my top priority, and I will play an active role in the effort to stop irresponsible taxpayer buyouts of troubled businesses.  

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Animal Cruelty

As a pet owner, I share concerns expressed by many Idahoans and support the ethical and humane treatment of animals.  In addition to the many state and local laws regarding the humane treatment of animals, federal law regulates the care and treatment of animals.  The Animal Welfare Act (AWA), passed in 1966, is enforced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and protects animals from inhumane treatment and neglect.  The AWA requires that regulated individuals and businesses provide animals with care and treatment according to standards established by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). 

Effective enforcement of the AWA is critical to the health and welfare of animals used in research; therefore, APHIS performs regular inspections of regulated institutions.  Over the past several years, APHIS has utilized a new strategy to improve enforcement of AWA.  Its philosophy is to work with those individuals who show an interest in improving the conditions for their animals and get tough on those that continue to show disregard for the law and the well-being of animals.  This strategy focuses on making the welfare of animals the top priority in all enforcement activities.

Regarding animal cruelty laws enacted by individual states, I have no jurisdiction over this matter as a United States Senator.  You may wish to convey your thoughtful comments to your representatives in the Idaho State Legislature, who may be reached at:

Idaho State Legislature

State Capitol Building

P.O. Box 83720

Boise, ID 83720

www.legislature.idaho.gov

I strongly support the humane treatment of all animals and responsible pet ownership.  However, decisions regarding any form of wildlife management should be made with the fullest possible public input, a process best achieved at the state and local levels.  I am committed to promoting such collaborative decision-making on animal regulations and support the proper enforcement of current animal welfare laws.

It is essential for me to be informed of the concerns of all Idahoans.  I appreciate your willingness to share your thoughts with me.  Rest assured, I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure Idaho’s views are represented at the national level.

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Broadband Technology in Economic Stimulus

I have heard from many Idahoans regarding President Barack Obama’s proposed economic stimulus package.  I, too, recognize the importance of broadband technology and the many benefits it brings to our society.  I also agree that it is important that rural communities have access to broadband.  In today’s world, business, government, and our personal lives rely heavily upon broadband technology.  The benefits have been made possible by pioneering businesses that have taken bold steps in developing new technologies and services. 

The President recently proposed stimulus legislation that would combine direct aid to states and localities with tax relief for consumers and businesses, among other things.  This legislation is projected to cost a minimum of $750 billion over two years.  President Obama’s Administration is currently working with congressional leaders and committees in hopes of producing a final package, and proposals to provide financial assistance for the deployment of broadband to rural areas are under discussion. 

Nevertheless, I have several concerns with the overall plan in its current form.  For example, the package is threatening to become an avalanche of special funding, much of which is unrelated to stimulating our economy as a whole.  For example, recent testimony at a Senate Budget Committee hearing stated that the most recent stimulus package - which provided personal checks to taxpayers - did not stimulate the levels of consumer spending that had been anticipated.  In other words, government rebates do not stimulate large increases in consumer spending. 

On January 7, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its budget outlook for Fiscal Years 2009-2019.  With a sobering prediction that this year’s deficit will total $1.2 trillion (without factoring the cost of any new stimulus bill), the report cites what many already know or suspect:  the slowdown in economic activity and policy responses to challenges in the housing and financial markets have significantly affected the federal budget.  Solutions to this staggering problem are not simple or short-term.  According to the CBO, declines in federal receipts from individual and corporate income taxes will continue, largely due to major losses in asset values.  And, any stimulus package will only add to the already skyrocketing deficit.  The new deficit numbers indicate that we are faced with the proposition of borrowing an additional $1 trillion to spend now on a stimulus bill.  We cannot spend our way to prosperity, and so it is time to stop digging by continuing to borrow money from future generations, and shifting it around from one person or group to another.  Doing so does not lead to long-term investment, growth and economic stabilization.

      

As a member of both the Senate Finance and Senate Budget Committees, I will be reviewing the upcoming economic stimulus package in coming weeks and the federal budget when it is released later this winter.  It is imperative that we focus on creating jobs, cutting spending, and lowering the burdens on individuals, families and businesses in order to stimulate real, sustained, long-term growth, as opposed to short-term, ineffective measures that will simply add to the deficit without providing real relief to Idaho’s taxpayers and families. 

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Holder Nomination for U.S. Attorney General

As the Administration of President Obama takes shape, the confirmations of his Cabinet and other senior officials will take place in Congress.  On January 15, 2009, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on nomination of Eric Holder to be the Attorney General of the United States ination on January 15.  More testimony will be heard in the coming weeks, and the Committee will have a final vote on his nomination shortly thereafter.

Some have questioned Mr. Holder’s views on several issues, including gun control.  Let me reassure you that I do not support gun control, and that I will closely monitor Mr. Holder’s responses to questions on this topic to ensure that he will respect the constitutional right for law-abiding individuals to keep and bear arms. 

I share your commitment to ensuring that the American people are served by experienced and qualified public officials.  Public confidence in the work of our federal government is best ensured by officials who represent the interests of the people and are responsive to concerns raised by interested parties.

As your United States Senator, I have the responsibility to carefully review nominations for federal positions made by the President.  I appreciate your willingness to share your insight about the upcoming nominations with me.  Please be assured that I understand the importance of this responsibility and will continue to review nominations in a way that reflects the interests and needs of Idahoans and the American people.

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