400 Idaho Students Petition Senator Crapo on the National Debt

400 Idaho students are speaking out on the national debt in a big way this week — taking their message all the way to the U.S. Capitol. The students came to Washington to voice their concern with their Senator, Senator Crapo (R-ID). While only 4 of them actually came to Washington, Senator Crapo said that the students told him "they are expressing the sentiment of millions of high schoolers across America.

“These students brought me petitions with the signatures of more than 400 students in Idaho--and reflect many more than that,” Crapo said. “They have asked that we in Congress pay attention to our national debt and our inability here in Congress to achieve fiscal responsibility. These young people said what I and many others have been saying, only they said it best. Our inability to control our fiscal house here in Washington, DC, is jeopardizing their future.”

Crapo noted that some of the Democrats' pending bills in the Senate Environment and Public Works committee he sits on may prove to be costly and could further increase the skyrocketing deficit. ”They looked me in the eye and asked me to do everything that I can to help protect them from what they see as runaway spending,” Crapo added. “While Americans are tightening their belts, this budget grows the size of government for nine percent for non-defense programs in just the year 2010 alone. If you go back to the 2009 budget we just finalized and add the growth there, you will see a twenty percent increase.” Senator Crapo plans to bring the petition to the next committee meeting or to the senate floor on Thursday.

Caldwell, Idaho Mayor Garret Nancolas said the student advisory board has done extensive research about government spending. “They brought this issue to us and they are concerned about what is being asked of them, their children and their grandchildren,” he said. “They sent petitions out across the Valley and sought views from across the State of Idaho.”

“It was nice to know that Senator Crapo agreed with our feelings about the budget,” said Lainey Ritthaler of Caldwell, who attends Vallivue High School. “This gives you a real sense that our democracy works. We have a voice, coming here from Caldwell. Senator Crapo listened to us and he supported us.” The group also collected signatures from Idaho Falls and Twin Falls students.