Your North Idaho Congressional update
Rep. Russ Fulcher
Fulcher voiced his disagreement Wednesday over a letter Oregon Gov. Kate Brown wrote in favor of Washington state removing four hydroelectric dams along the lower Snake River.
The Feb. 15 letter, addressed to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, championed Inslee’s consideration of the removal of four dams — the Lower Granite, Little Goose, Lower Monumental and Ice Harbor dams — adding that “removing the earthen portions of the four lower Snake River dams is the most certain and robust solution to Snake River salmon and steelhead recovery.”
Fulcher said in his Feb. 19 statement that Brown’s letter was indicative of an Oregon administration hell-bent on activism through the courts.
“Since litigation began on the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS), the State of Oregon has repeatedly sued the federal government,” Fulcher wrote. “Governor Brown’s recent letter makes it apparent that she has already decided to continue litigation before we see the release of the FCRPS’s new Environmental Impact Statement.”
He then added that Idaho’s stakeholders in the Snake River shouldn’t be overlooked. “As I have previously said, economic indicators and constituent feedback have strongly indicated that dam-breaching would not be a viable option for stakeholders in Idaho’s 1st District. It is imperative that alternative solutions receive thorough review.”
Sen. Mike Crapo
After two months of lobbying, Crapo’s bill designed to lower prescription drug costs got a big booster shot Tuesday when the U.S. Chamber of Commerce officially endorsed Senate Bill 3129.
The Lower Costs, More Cures Act Crapo authored would provide for a redesign of Medicare Part D benefits, essentially capping out-of-pocket at $3,100 and establishing the ability for certain patients to pay in monthly installments. Specifically, the bill targets rising insulin prices, capping a patient’s responsibility for the life-saving drug and its supplies at $50.
The bill also looks to modernize payments for drugs delivered in doctors’ offices under Medicare Part B, promote information regarding lower-cost alternatives, and incentivize competition and innovation by allowing drug plan sponsors to offer at least four Part D plans per region, among other goals.
“America is the leader in biopharmaceutical innovation, bringing life-saving therapies to patients and discovering cures for the future,” Crapo said in a statement. “However, these drugs are only effective if patients can afford them.”
“The Chamber believes this legislation can garner bipartisan support that would allow Congress and President [Donald] Trump to deliver meaningful cost relief to seniors and American consumers on an important issue,” U.S. Chamber of Commerce executive vice president Neil Bradley said in a statement,
“The Lower Costs, More Cures Act builds on the market-based principles of Medicare Part D to leverage competition, flexibility and transparency to bring affordable drugs to patients,” Crapo said. “For the first time, Part D patients will have a maximum out-of-pocket cap to protect them from high costs.”