E-Newsletter: Congressman Simpson E-Newsletter Week of April 28, 2014

Statement

Simpson Urges for Certainty in PILT Payments
Pushes federal government to meet obligations to states and counties

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson has joined other Western Members of Congress in urging House leadership to fully fund the federal government's obligations to counties with a high percentage of federal land. They recently sent a letter to leadership pushing for full funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. PILT compensates local governments for the loss of income due to the presence of federal land in their state or county, since the federal government does not pay property taxes. Full funding for PILT payments was extended in the Farm Bill but expires at the end of the current fiscal year.

"For almost 40 years, PILT payments have provided compensation to local governments to offset the loss of tax revenues that result from the presence of federal lands within their jurisdictions," the letter states. "PILT payments are distributed to 49 different states and nearly 2,000 counties throughout the nation."

It continues, "In fiscal year 2013, the national average for PILT payments was 66 cents per acre. This figure pales in comparison to the amount of revenues that would be generated for states and local governments if economic development and value-based taxation was allowed to occur on these lands. The federal government has an obligation to reimburse local governments for large quantities of federal lands found within their jurisdiction."

The letter was signed by 51 Members of Congress. Simpson, who is vice-chairman on the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, has long supported permanent full funding of PILT.

House Republicans Pass Budget Resolution that Addresses National Debt
Simpson joins colleagues in plan to cut spending and reform mandatory spending programs

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson joined Chairman Paul Ryan in passing the Fiscal Year(FY) 2015 House Budget Resolution. This is the fourth straight year the House Republicans have passed a budget since taking the majority. The House budget is the only proposal that lays out a path to a balanced budget in ten years and ultimately eliminates the national debt by fundamentally reforming mandatory spending programs, expanding opportunities for economic growth, and curtailing spending. H.Con.Res. 96 passed 219-205.

The resolution, H.Con.Res. 96, would cut spending by $5.1 trillion over the next ten years while mandating an overall spending cap in line with the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 at $1.014 trillion for FY 2015.

"The national debt, currently at more than $17.5 trillion, is the biggest threat to our country and the biggest damper on the economy. This plan would put us on a path to solve it," said Simpson, who is chairman of the Energy and Water Subcommittee on Appropriations. "It also shows the American people that House Republicans are going to take on the biggest challenges facing our country and offer our solutions."

President Obama's budget, released last month, spends more than last winter's Bipartisan Budget Resolution allowed, breaking the cap put in place by Republicans and Democrats. In addition, it never balances the budget. The Senate Democrats have already indicated they do not plan to take up a budget resolution this year.

"I hope the opponents of this budget, particularly the Senate Democrats, would offer up their own - something they have done only once in the last five years," added Simpson.

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