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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Idaho Senators Oppose Budget Deal

Idaho's Republican U.S. senators both voted against a bipartisan budget deal that now goes to President Obama for his signature. Sens. Mike Crapo and James Risch on Tuesday opposed the plan that passed 67-33. Like Crapo and Risch, all those against the measure were from the Senate's minority GOP side. The deal marked a modest congressional accomplishment at the end of a year punctuated by a partial government shutdown, a near-default by the U.S. Treasury and congressional gridlock on issues ranging from immigration to gun control. In all, only one Idaho lawmaker, U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, supported the agreement forged during talks led by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. Rep. Raul Labrador, a GOP lawmaker from Idaho's 1st District, also voted against the bill last week/Associated Press.

Question: Did the U.S. senators from Idaho oppose this modest budget deal on principle or out of fear from the Tea Party?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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