Craig Biggest Senate Penny Pincher Idaho Delegation Among Stingiest; Washington Lawmakers Top Spenders

Idaho senators rank first in frugality and Larry Craig is the stingiest spender of all, according to a new study on the cost of proposed legislation.

Craig, a conservative Republican, has supported legislation to cut federal spending $73 billion, the National Taxpayers Union Foundation announced Wednesday.

The non-partisan citizens group based in Washington, D.C., analyzes federal spending each year and estimates the net impact of every bill a member of Congress sponsors or co-sponsors.

The study names Craig the Senate’s top tightwad, a designation he also won last session, and one he considers an honor.

“It shows he’s adept as a budget-cutter and frugal as an appropriator,” a Craig spokesman said Wednesday. “He’s following through with what his constituents want.”

Indeed, Idaho voters have elected some of the biggest budget-cutters in Congress.

Idaho’s Sen. Dirk Kempthorne, places 12th on the anti-expenditure list, supporting net cuts of $25 billion. Together, Kempthorne and Craig have sponsored more spending reductions than any other Senate delegation.

Although not first in their chamber, Idaho’s House members also have signed on to a fair share of spending reductions.

Freshman Republican Helen Chenoweth has backed about $50 billion in cuts, placing 22nd out of 435 House members. Fellow Republican Michael Crapo is 117th on the list of proposed spending cutters.

But while Idaho lawmakers seek to reduce expenditures, some Washington lawmakers are trying to expand them, the study said.

Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Seattle, ranks first among all proposed spenders, supporting more than $633 billion in spending increases, said the national taxpayers group.

But McDermott said most of that comes from one source - a $510 billion plan to supply universal health-care coverage.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said McDermott’s press secretary Peter Rubin. “It’s easy to jump on the bandwagon of cut, cut, cut, but we’re trying to have a positive influence on people’s lives and give them some health-care security.”

Washington Sens. Slade Gorton and Patty Murray also placed in the upper half of spending supporters. Republican Gorton ranked ninth; Democrat Murray 32nd of 100 senators.

Murray’s office viewed the ranking as welcome news. But a Gorton spokeswoman refused to comment without reading the report.

Freshman Rep. George Nethercutt of Spokane scored above average for proposed spending cuts, placing 157th on the House list. But his support for $8 billion in cuts is lower than the amount backed by most GOP freshmen.

The national taxpayers survey is based on cost estimates for legislation introduced by July 1. It also includes estimates for bills that lawmakers agreed to co-sponsor as of Sept. 1.

, DataTimes