News Release

Washington, D.C. – Just one week after the general election, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will host a tele-townhall meeting to discuss the pending fiscal cliff and related issues in the upcoming lame duck session and what Congress must do to avoid massive tax increases tied to sequestration legislation.  The teleforum will take place on Wednesday, November 14, at 7:00 PM Mountain Time/6:00 PM Pacific. 

Although Congress is currently not in session, Crapo has been working round the clock in Idaho and Washington, D.C., with senators from both sides of the aisle, to discuss possible solutions to address our burgeoning debt crisis and the fiscal cliff.  Absent action, major tax hikes and sequestration will go into effect in January, at the same time that many of the Obamacare tax hikes are also scheduled to hit the American people. 

“This fiscal crisis transcends party politics,” Crapo said.  “The majority of those in Congress recognize that going over this cliff will have one of the most damaging economic impacts our country has ever faced.  Without serious action, the United States will be pushed into a very serious recession, if not depression, affecting every business, household and individual in America.  And, these year-end fiscal cliff problems are only a small part of our larger fiscal threat.  Our national debt is more than $16 trillion.  Important programs like Social Security and Medicare are on track to be insolvent within a generation, absent structural reform.  And our tax code could not be more burdensome, complex, anti-growth and anti-competitive.  To grow our economy and reduce our deficit, we must enact a comprehensive plan that stops federal deficit spending and provides the necessary tax and entitlement program reform to put our nation on a more competitive fiscal path.  Many Idahoans have asked me what will happen after the election if the fiscal cliff is not addressed, and I encourage all who are interested to participate in this tele-townhall event to ask questions and share their own thoughts.”

To sign up for the iTownhall meeting, please visit Senator Crapo’s website, www.crapo.senate.gov, and click on the iTownhall icon.  You will be directed to send an e-mail request with your contact information.  In order to ensure your participation, you need to sign up before Monday, November 12.

To participate in the meeting, all you need is a telephone.  Participation is voluntary, and listeners are given an opportunity to ask the Senator about topics regarding federal policies or legislation.  Those who have signed up will receive an automated phone call just before the tele-townhall forum begins and will be instructed on how to participate.

Following the call, an audio file (MP3) of the full call will be posted on the website.