Lawmakers delay financial reports

Fri., June 15, 2007

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

BOISE – Idaho’s congressional leaders offered an incomplete picture of their financial wealth on Thursday, the day Congress released personal financial disclosure forms for all lawmakers.

Rep. Mike Simpson, a former dentist from Idaho Falls, and three-term Sen. Larry Craig filed complete forms.

The other two members of Idaho’s all-Republican delegation – Sen. Mike Crapo and freshman Rep. Bill Sali – requested extensions.

Under congressional rules, lawmakers asking for extra time have 60 days to submit the forms without any financial penalty.

Sali, a lawyer and former state lawmaker, requested an extra 30 days, saying he was unable to complete his filing “without reviewing certain documents which I apparently and inadvertently left at my home in Kuna,” according to a copy of his letter to congressional officials.

Crapo was granted a 60-day extension to file his financial data.

But barring any changes after Sali and Crapo file, Simpson should be considered the state’s wealthiest member of Congress.

Last year, Simpson reported assets and income slightly higher than Crapo, but both fell short of the net worth reported by then Rep. Butch Otter, now serving his first term as Idaho governor.

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