Mike Simpson

It does not solve the long-term problem that we need to fix, and if you do transfers this year, that will be a problem in trying to convince other people there is a fix-borrowing issue.

Do not do any transfers this year for wildfire fighting because what I always hear from people as I go up and talk to them they [the Forest Service] has to transfer funds, but they seem to handle it okay.

We just sold 30,000 acres in Idaho to a couple of Texans. That was a lot of fun.

If we turn them over to the State, we would be P.O.'d at the State.

Let me tell you why people live in Idaho. They live in Idaho because they love their public lands.

The States and Fish and Wildlife Service do some watercraft inspections.

I appreciate it, and thank you for your work and we look forward to working with you on this year's budget.

It seems like the Army Corps of Engineers and the administration's budget always gets marked down, knowing that Congress is going to plus it back up to where we think it is adequate.

I think the problem that Mr. Fortenberry talks about is because of economists, and the reason we have economists is to make astrology look respectable.

We certainly want to encourage local communities and private partnerships to be involved in this.

We will never address the backlog because it would have gone over the 20 years more than we are paying it down probably.

The backlog maintenance is a real problem.

I think part of that process is probably going to continue, but if we could say, 'here are the priorities that this Nation wants to finish' and then fund those...

I think, one, we need a strategy, and we are working on a capital investment strategy.

As a Great Lakes member, I would ask you to address serious and widely held concerns about Great Lakes' dredging needs.

I appreciate you being here today, and look forward to working with you on your budget, and making sure we can move this Agency forward.

I appreciate your willingness to work with the water users in the State of Idaho in trying to address this.

I appreciate your willingness to work with us, and that is really all I am asking, is a commitment that you will keep working with these individuals to address the concerns.

Ever since we started the adjudication process, the first day I got into politics, the first issue was adjudication.

As you can tell we have 4 members from California on this Committee, and consequently when California has a drought, we have a hearing.

If non-Federal partners are going to pay for it, do you do the technical expertise and the design, do they then own it?

But the budget constraints--this is paper stuff. It is money that we are spending somewhere right now.

Have you reviewed the results of the red teams and the recommendations on the MOX alternative and do you see any issues implementing that alternative?

Why such a steep reduction, and can DOE fulfill all of its commitments to clean up the River Corridor at this funding level?

Then we can make a determination about where it belongs, so we know what our total liabilities are in the future.