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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Labrador, Simpson haven’t spoken since dust-up last spring

Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador and Mike Simpson haven’t spoken to each other since the two openly clashed last spring, reports Bill Dentzer of the Idaho Statesman. Dentzer writes that the conflict between the two Idaho representatives showcases the split among Republicans in the House as they consider who should replace John Boehner as speaker; Dentzer’s full story is online here.

The spring clash, over Labrador’s vote against reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools program as part of a larger bill on Medicare payments, included Simpson saying a congressman would “have to look long and hard to find a reason to vote no” on the bill, and Labrador responding in an interview with Boise State Public Radio that “Mike Simpson has been part of the establishment in Washington D.C. for 12 years,” and “He loves to go out drinking and smoking with the Speaker [John Boehner]. He loves to have these relationships where it’s all about making false promises to his constituents and then going back there to Washington D.C. to compromise.” He then dubbed Simpson a liar.

Simpson’s response to that at the time, through a spokesman: “This isn't the first time Congressman Labrador has uttered this nonsense and I'm sure it won't be the last."

Dentzer’s story includes Labrador’s account of his and four other Freedom Caucus members' meeting with Boehner the day before the speaker announced his resignation, and both congressmen’s takes on the why’s and what-next’s.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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