Labrador angry as delegation splits

Idaho’s all-GOP congressional delegation split down the middle late last week as the House and Senate overwhelmingly passed a continuing resolution to fund the government – avoiding a government shutdown by just two days. Sen. Mike Crapo and Rep. Mike Simpson voted in favor of the measure; Rep. Raul Labrador and Sen. Jim Risch voted against it.

Their reasons? Crapo had worked to get a significant veterans funding measure included in it, along with provisions regarding wildfires and the Idaho National Laboratory. Simpson lauded the full-year military appropriation the bill included, including reforms and improvements for the Veterans Administration.

Risch said he just doesn’t like the overall spending levels and votes against all such bills. And Labrador issued a blistering statement, saying he’s “angry” and blasting his own party’s leadership.

“I’m angry because we weren’t permitted to do our work,” Labrador wrote/ Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here.