Senate passes spending cuts bill 81-19, both Idaho senators vote ‘no’

The U.S. Senate has voted 81-19 in favor of H.R. 1493, the spending cuts bill that passed the House earlier today, sending the bill to President Obama. Among those 19 “no” votes: Both of Idaho’s senators. Lindsay Nothern, press secretary for Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said, “He didn’t think the cuts went far enough.” Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, has expressed a similar view.

The bill is identical to the one that passed the House - so it includes Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson’s rider lifting endangered species protections from wolves.