The 112th Congress has been labeled the “worst Congress ever” by the Economist magazine and others. Its Gallup Poll rating of 13 percent is the poorest in Gallup history. Standard & Poor’s cited Congress’ recklessness regarding the debt ceiling as the reason for downgrading U.S. debt.

Where is Idaho U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador while all this is taking place? He had the opportunity to create at least one new job in Idaho by hiring locally for his communications director. Instead, he hires Herman Cain’s communications director, Ellen Carmichael, from Louisiana.

Herman Cain is being funded by the notorious Koch brothers from Kansas, who are in the dirty energy business and who have formed various front groups such as Americans for Prosperity to funnel money into campaigns.

Rep. Labrador co-sponsored a bill, along with Rep. Mike Pompeo from Kansas, which eliminates all energy credits. This means credits for plug-in electric vehicles, electricity produced from renewable resources such as wind, solar, biomass, and a host of others would not receive tax credits.

I wonder who from Kansas benefits from the Labrador-Pompeo bill. The adage “follow the money” makes sense. Go to www.OpenSecrets.org to see which PACs and contributors are spending their money on your representative.

Wayne Christofferson

Coeur d’Alene