Rep. Simpson Rewrites Boulder White Clouds Bill

KETCHUM, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson is working on a scaled-down plan to create a central Idaho wilderness as groups dismayed with his lack of success on previous efforts attempt to persuade President Barack Obama to designate a national monument.

The Idaho Mountain Express reports that Simpson earlier this month showed the plan to central Idaho elected officials in Blaine and Custer counties. The new version would leave the Sawtooth National Recreation Area intact and create three wilderness areas around it. It would contain about 295,000 acres of wilderness, about 37,000 acres less than under Simpson's earlier version that for years has failed to get through Congress.

Idaho Conservation League Director Rick Johnson says he's encouraged by Simpson's continued effort but doubts the Republican-controlled Congress will pass a wilderness bill.