U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, faces Democratic challenger Deborah Holmes in the Nov. 4 general election for the House of Representatives. Republican Gregory Nemitz is running as a write-in candidate.

Idaho has two members in the House, where lawmakers serve two-year terms and receive about $169,300.

Simpson, 58, formerly Idaho's House Speaker, is seeking his sixth term in the House, where he sits on the appropriations committee.

"We have a lot of issues facing this country," Simpson said. "I think I've done a job the people of Idaho can be proud of."

Simpson defended his recent vote supporting the $700 billion financial rescue plan. He said Congress needed to help to avoid disaster, and that the money will go back to the taxpayers.

He credits the crisis with too much control in the hands of mortgage lenders Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and has said they should be broken up into small entities. He wants more oversight but said Congress needs to be cautious.

"Over-regulation can be as bad as under-regulation," he said.

Simpson prefers the healthcare plan of presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, and said it stresses more responsibility for individuals from individuals. He wants an expanded use of health savings accounts, but said Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's plan will lead to socialized medicine.

Simpson has pushed for more public land preservation, although his biggest effort - the Boulder-White Clouds bill - remains stalled.

Simpson, who visited Iraq several months ago, said he wants troops to begin moving out within the next year but opposes a timetable for security reasons.

"I think it's time to start bringing our troops home. I'll say that flat out," he said in a recent debate. "We've done about as much as we can do."

Simpson supports domestic drilling and nuclear power but still wants wind, solar and other alternative energy sources.

Holmes, 46, a Boise real estate agent and trained chemist, said political races shouldn't go uncontested and that her reform message is the right one.

"The government has been asleep at the wheel," she said. "The Congress has been asleep and the president has been asleep. We need change in Washington."

Holmes said she supports the economic rescue plan and wants additional laws and oversight. She backs the universal healthcare system proposed by Obama that requires care to all children and makes health care transferable between jobs for adults.

Holmes has criticized Simpson for having an energy plan that's light on alternatives and depends on drilling for oil. She also supports nuclear power. Holmes wants a phased out withdrawal to leave Iraq within two years.

On education, she opposes vouchers and wants to decrease a reliance on testing. She wants to replace No Child Left Behind Act with a system on judging schools as a whole.

Nemitz, 51, a Twin Falls businessman, lost to Simpson in the May primary but was encouraged to run by people upset with Simpson's bailout vote.

"Thousands of people called his office and asked him not to vote on that thing and he did," he said. "We're going to find out after the election that it accomplished nothing."

Nemitz said the bill was politically motivated by the election and he would rather the financial market work itself out.

Elsewhere, he supports drilling for oil, in addition to nuclear and alternative forms of energy; phasing out the involvement of the federal government in education; and nationalizing the Federal Reserve.

Nemitz, a supporter of former GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul, said there's too much federal government involved in the lives of Americans.

Jared S. Hopkins may be reached at 208-735-3204 or jhopkins@magicvalley.com.