Idaho GOP Sen. Risch holds up spending bill over Andrus wilderness

jim-risch

Republican Idaho U.S. Senator Jim Risch slowed passage of Congress’ huge spending bill because the measure renamed a wilderness area in the Gem State after the late Governor Cecil Andrus, a Democrat. Language renaming some 91,000 acres of Central Idaho wilderness the Cecil D. Andrus-White Clouds Wilderness appears on page 786 of the 2,200-page spending bill Congress completed early Friday.

Idaho GOP Representative Mike Simpson added the provision to honor Andrus, who also served as Interior Secretary under President Jimmy Carter. Andrus died last August.

But aides and lawmakers from both parties said that for hours Thursday, objections by Risch helped delay its passage. Risch was the Idaho Senate majority leader in the 1980s during Andrus’ term as governor.

Thursday’s battle played out behind the scenes, with no debate on the Senate floor.

Eventually, the Senate approved language preventing the renaming of the area after Andrus. But the change required approval by the House, which had already left Washington for a recess.

The 2nd-ranking Senate leader John Cornyn of Texas said the House rejected Risch’s effort.  (AP, Idaho Statesman)

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