The anti-tax group that bankrolled one-term Congressman Bill Sali’s 2006 campaign says Idaho’s 8-term GOP Rep. Simpson is among nine “Republicans in Name Only” it aims to unseat in 2014 primaries.
Club for Growth spent $1.1 million on behalf of former Idaho GOP Rep. Bill Sali in the 2006 primary and general elections, about half of all the money spent on his behalf. Sali won that race, but lost to Democrat Walt Minnick in 2008. Current Rep. Raul Labrador defeated Minnick in 2010.
Simpson had a challenge from the right in both 2008 and 2010 from tea party favorite Chick Heileson. Simpson won with 58 percent in a four-way race in 2010. In a head-to-head with Heileson in 2012, Simpson won 70 percent to 30 percent.
In a news release, Club for Growth announced a new website targeting the nine Republicans, with Simpson listed first.
The group promises to target more “liberal” Republicans in the 2014 election cycle.
“Big government liberals inhabit the Democratic Party, but they are far too common within the Republican Party as well,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “The Republicans helped pass billions of dollars in tax increases and they have repeatedly voted against efforts by fiscal conservatives to limit government. PrimaryMyCongressman.com will serve as a tool to hold opponents of economic freedom and limited government accountable for their actions.”
Simpson’s spokeswoman, Nikki Watts, said Club for Growth misrepresents Simpson’s conservative record, which includes an 85 percent lifetime voting record from the oldest conservative rating group in the country, the American Conservative Union. In 2012, Simpson scored 80 percent on ACU’s list of 25 votes, while Labrador scored 96 percent.
National Journal, a non-partisan publisher which has compiled voting records for decades, said Simpson ranked 201st-most conservative in the 435-member House in 2012, based on 120 votes on economic, social and foreign policy. Labrador was 189th. In 2011, Simpson was ranked No. 137, Labrador No. 174.
“Congressman Simpson’s 2012 score puts him right in the middle of a group of solid Republicans including Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy,” Watts said in a statement. “The Club for Growth’s scorecard, however, is arbitrary and looks at a very narrow group of votes among the hundreds of votes cast each year. Therefore, we don’t believe it presents an accurate view of Congressman Simpson’s voting record or, for that matter, anyone else’s voting record. In fact, the American Conservative Union named Congressman Simpson one of its 2012 “ACU Conservatives” based on a broader look at his voting record and the NRA recently gave him an A+ rating.”
The Club for Growth news release follows:
Club for Growth Action Launches PrimaryMyCongressman.Com
Club for Growth President Chris Chocola: “PrimaryMyCongressman.com will serve as a tool to hold opponents of economic freedom and limited government accountable for their actions.”
Washington, DC – Today, Club for Growth Action launched a new website, www.PrimaryMyCongressman.com. The purpose of the website is to raise awareness of Republicans In Name Only (RINOs) who are currently serving in safe Republican seats. In many of the Congressional districts highlighted, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney received over 60% of the votes for President in 2012, but the incumbent Congressman has a lifetime rating of less than 70% on the Club for Growth’s Congressional Scorecard, which measures the commitment of lawmakers to limiting government and free markets.
The website will offer Club members and the general public the opportunity to recommend primary opponents to the incumbents highlighted by Club for Growth Action, as well as to recommend primary challengers for any Republican member of Congress.
Club for Growth Action will rotate liberal Republicans through the website to highlight their failed records on limiting government. To start, the following Republican members are highlighted:
· Rep. Mike Simpson (ID-02) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 58%; Romney % of Vote: 64%
· Rep. Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 56%; Romney % of Vote: 53%
· Rep. Rick Crawford (AR-01) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 56%; Romney % of Vote: 61%
· Rep. Frank Lucas (OK-03) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 68%; Romney % of Vote: 74%
· Rep. Steve Palazzo (MS-04) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 69%; Romney % of Vote: 68%
· Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 69%; Romney % of Vote: 63%
· Rep. Larry Bucshon (IN-08) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 68%; Romney % of Vote: 58%
· Rep. Renee Ellmers (NC-02) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 66%; Romney % of Vote: 57%
· Rep. Aaron Schock (IL-18) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 61%; Romney % of Vote: 61%
“Big government liberals inhabit the Democratic Party, but they are far too common within the Republican Party as well,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “The Republicans helped pass billions of dollars in tax increases and they have repeatedly voted against efforts by fiscal conservatives to limit government. PrimaryMyCongressman.com will serve as a tool to hold opponents of economic freedom and limited government accountable for their actions.”
He must be doing something right if he is being targeted by the extremist supporters of Bill Sali.
Suppose they will recruit Sen. Bart Davis to run for congress. He would be great at filibustering and is full of pomp.
Great to see GOPers implode on there 11th commandment and eat their own. Contemporary Conservatism is clearly a vindictive movement that can only be classified as political terrorists who seek power over governance.
Well, if Simpson can’t pass the purity test, he has no one to blame but himself! Goodbye Mr. Simpson!
The fringe right is a it again. Yeah, I’m talking about the fringe that wants to impose their beliefs on he majority.
Don’t know why Ms. Watts didn’t grow a pair and say, “Yes, he’s a moderate Republican, and if you guys want to blow another million dollars trying to elect a wingnut in Idaho, be my guest.”
Simpson, a moderate? Several election cycles or so, he simply defined moderation as an extremist that had to move the Center further Rightward.
YEAH, RIGHT…and volumtary limb amputations will be the biggest drain on Medicare in the next ten years!
Club for Growth is another reason the GOP is becoming irrelevant in terms of winning a national election and relevant in losing the House.
Mr. Simpson is right-wing, just not far rght-wing
One only has to look at his voting record to realize that Simpsons is clearly currying favor with the top of the party, and has not represented the needs of Idaho very well.
NDAA (aka the we don’t need no stinkin warrants or probable cause) act
Dec. 20, 2012 HR 4310 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 Conference Report Adopted – House
(315 – 107) Yea
Good bight right against unreasonable search & seizure, right to a trial, and many others.
FISA (the secret courts that allow prosecution of people when the normal rule of law process is to cumbersome and public).
Sept. 12, 2012 HR 5949 FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 Bill Passed – House
(301 – 118) Yea
The Dept. of “Assumed Guilty until forced to admit that you may be innocent” Homeland Security
June 7, 2012 HR 5855 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for 2013 Bill Passed – House
(234 – 182) Yea
The “we can lock you up in a dark hole forever with no charge or trial” provision in the NDAA
May 18, 2012 H Amdt 1127 Repeals Indefinite Military Detention Provisions Amendment Rejected – House
(182 – 238) Nay
Perpetual war funding for allies in the military contractor industry
May 17, 2012 H Amdt 1103 Limits Funding for War in Afghanistan to the Withdrawal of U.S. Forces Amendment Rejected – House
(113 – 303) Nay
It is inconvenient to admit that inflation exists, so lets try to ignore it
Feb. 3, 2012 HR 3578 Amends Budget Baseline Bill Passed – House
(235 – 177) Yea
Abdicated his duty to provide a check & balance against Obama’s plan to circumvent Congress and unilaterally raise the debt limit with out congressional approval
Jan. 18, 2012 H J Res 98 Disapproval of President’s Authority to Raise the Debt Limit Joint Resolution Passed – House
(239 – 176) Did Not Vote
Continue to steal money from the SS trust fund by under funding it
Dec. 20, 2011 HR 3630 Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension Nonconcurrence Vote Passed – House
(229 – 193) Yea
Raise the debt limit:
Aug. 1, 2011 S 365 Budget Control Act of 2011 Bill Passed – House
(269 – 161) Yea
July 29, 2011 S 627 Increasing the Debt Ceiling (Boehner Bill) Bill Passed – House
(218 – 210) Yea
Yes he has voted “correctly” for preserving federal checks and balances a few times, but honestly, the above are pretty terrible votes if you at all care about fiscal restraint or civil liberties.