Sen. Crapo Will Be Part of Budget Negotiations

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo has been selected to take part in upcoming congressional budget negotiations. Crapo announced Thursday he will be among 21 senators named to the conference committee tasked with forging a post-shutdown deficit-cutting agreement in the next 60 days. The budget talks were part of a deal approved by Congress and signed by President Obama Wednesday to re-open the federal government and avoid default. Crapo voted against the compromise legislation, but is a member of the Senate Budget Committee, enabling him to take part in the negotiations. Crapo says he's hoping the bipartisan conferees can tackle some meaningful budget cutting and spending reforms in the coming weeks. The conference committee has until Dec. 13 to issue a report on spending levels, deficit reduction and entitlement reforms.