Wednesday, November 8, 2006

Simpson looks to hold off Hansen

Congressional upset unlikely in District 2


By STEVE BENSON
Express Staff Writer

Republican Congressman Mike Simpson was battling for a fifth term to represent Idaho's 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday.

His challenger, Democrat Jim Hansen, was fighting to change the shape of politics in Congress.

As of press time Tuesday, results in the race were not available.

The 2nd Congressional District covers eastern Idaho and includes Blaine County.

Hansen, an Idaho native, ran a unique campaign to restore "trust and accountability" to Congress, which he referred to as the "broken branch of our government."

Hansen believes money has tainted politics as House representatives are "focused on raising money from, and earmarking public funds for, the private interests that fund their campaigns."

To prove that he could not be bought, Hansen refused to accept any campaign donations exceeding $100.

"I have dedicated my campaign to meeting people, listening to Idahoans, instead of just buying expensive TV ads," Hansen said last week.

Throughout his campaign, Hansen said he visited every Idaho city with a population greater than 1,000 people.

But the incumbent Simpson has an impressive political resume spanning more than 25 years.

Born in Burley and raised in Blackfoot, Simpson is the creator of the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA), which is currently awaiting a full Senate hearing before Congress adjourns later this month or in early December.

Dubbed "new wilderness," CIEDRA would designate 319,900 acres of wilderness in the Boulder-White Cloud mountains in exchange for a series of economic concessions and public land giveaways.

"CIEDRA was never intended to be only a wilderness bill," Simpson said last week. "It is legislation that solves complex problems with local solutions."

Hansen supports wilderness but opposed the concessions in CIEDRA.

"The measure contains public land transfers with no meaningful economic development and no funds to pay for the compromise," Hansen said last week. "Public land transfers are justified only when the public receives more in return, not less."




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