Why Simpson’s off the list

Idaho 2nd District Rep. Mike Simpson told the AP’s John Miller in a telephone interview from D.C. today that he concluded it’d be better for Idaho if he stayed in the House, rather than a possible move to the Senate to replace Larry Craig. “Frankly, Butch and I had talked last week in general terms,” Simpson told Miller. “We really came to the conclusion, I don’t think it’s best for Idaho for me to be leaving the House right now. In a state like Idaho, having just two senators and two members of Congress, having a seat at the appropriations table is vitally important.”

Simpson also told the AP reporter, “It would be foolish to just name somebody to just serve out the next year. … You want to name somebody who is going to run again and build up seniority to get into some of these key positions.”