Walter Minnick

Walter Minnick has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 1st district of the State of Idaho, since 2009 (map).

Wall Street Bailout
Minnick does not support the Wall Street bailout, and believes it to be financially reckless because of the lack of taxpayer protections, the increasing national deficit, and amount of spending and earmarks attached to the legislation.

Bipartisanship
Minnick says he will bring legislators together to deal with important issues in a honest, decent straightforward way.

Conservation
Minnick does not believe that protecting the environment and creating jobs and industry should come at the expense of the other. He pledges to use common sense approaches to finding way for both to thrive.

Craig-Wyden
Minnick supports passing permanent extensions of the Craig-Wyden and Payment-In-Lieu-of-Taxes plans for counties where the federal government owns much of the land, but not without multi-year commitments that local government can count on for schools and roads.

Deficit and Earmarks
Minnick pledges to oppose any new spending that does not specify where the funding will come from. He also opposes earmarks, and says he will work to end the practice.

The Economy
Minnick says he will work to partner federal agencies with local businesses to create more jobs, especially ones that are focused on using alternative energies to promote energy independence. He says this plan will be funded by eliminating tax breaks for oil companies and getting the rich who leave the country to avoid taxes to pay their taxes.

Education
Minnick supports expanding funding for Pell grants, and reforming No Child Left Behind so that communities and local government have more input and control over standards while still receiving federal funding.

Bio
Walter Minnick is CEO of TJ International, a $700 million public company in the forestry industry headquartered in Idaho Co-founder and CEO of SummerWinds Garden Centers, Inc., the 10th largest independent garden center company in the United States.

2008 elections
Minnick was the Democratic nominee seeking to challenge Rep. Bill Sali (R-Idaho) in the 2008 congressional elections. Minnick defeated Bill Sali in the November 2008 general election.

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Committees
Minnick will serve on the House Committee on Financial Services

Related SourceWatch articles

 * 2008 U.S. congressional elections
 * 2008 U.S. congressional election dates
 * Portal:Idaho and the U.S. Congress

External resources

 * 2008 Race Tracker page on Idaho's 1st Congressional District
 * Official Walter Minnick for Congress website

External articles

 * Jill Kuraitis, "Andrus Says Minnick Can Win," New West, November 14, 2007.
 * Betsy Z. Russell, "Walt Minnick joins race for Congress," The Spokesman Review, November 15, 2007.