For the week of August 29 - September 4, 2001

Congressional 
delegation busy 
during recess

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

Idaho’s Republican congressional delegation is making use of the annual August recess from Washington to reach out to constituents in Southern Idaho.

Sen. Mike Crapo. Express photo by David N. Seelig

Delegation members swarmed Blaine County and Southern Idaho last week, and are scheduled to continue visiting constituents and doing business in the area this week.

Sen. Larry Craig made stops last week in Ketchum, Idaho Falls, Salmon, Rigby, Fairfield and Challis. Sen. Mike Crapo visited constituents in Paul, Twin Falls, Kimberly, Ketchum and Idaho Falls.

The Senators’ missions spanned everything from discussions on reintroduced gray wolves, sugar beets and healthcare to public relations stints.

Craig, who last Wednesday spent the morning touring St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center, will continue his marathon tour of Southern Idaho on Friday in Ketchum for a brown bag lunch meeting from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Ketchum.

Rep. Mike Simpson. Express photo by David N. Seelig

Rep. Mike Simpson also logged time in the Wood River Valley last week, and was joined by Crapo in meeting with the Wood River Jewish Community to discuss U.S. Foreign policy related to Isreal and the rash of violence that is sweeping the Middle East.

Crapo and Simpson also participated in the Danny Thompson Memorial golf tournament at Elkhorn Resort and Sun Valley on Friday.

Rep. Butch Otter attended a Ketchum Rotary Club meeting on Aug. 21, but otherwise has been hosting town hall meetings in his home district.

Craig’s Idaho press secretary, Mike Tracy, said it is common for the congressional delegation to use August recess to get in touch with constituents and to conduct other business on their home turf.

"The members really have a chance to travel the state," Tracy said. "It (the recess) is used, primarily, in state."

The politicians also made use of the time to help raise campaign funds. Crapo said he was hosting a campaign fundraising event in the valley last week, called the Crapo Hook and Bullet, which is a hunting and fishing competition.

Craig, a member of the Rural Healthcare Caucus, toured St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center for over an hour on Wednesday with medical center CEO Jon Moses, nursing director Theresa Bush and the media.

Craig and Moses discussed the future of healthcare in general and of healthcare in Idaho. Both agreed economic concerns, changes in Medicare and improving technology are leading to smaller hospitals and more outpatient care.

"We used to brag about how many beds we have," Moses said. "We don’t do that anymore. We brag about how few we have."

Craig said the "old model of healthcare" is changing but changing slowly because its fed by federal tax dollars.

Where does he see Idaho’s healthcare system going in the next one to five years?

"Rural hospitals will struggle," he said. He believes trauma centers with helicopter pads will replace them.

"What I struggle with is trying to maintain a level of healthcare while economies change," he said.

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