In his two terms in the House, Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador says he’s been pushing big ideas like immigration and sentencing reform and has become the “go-to” person on immigration issues among House Republicans. Nothing Labrador’s sponsored has become law, but a couple of his measures on other issues – extending grazing leases, easing regulations on geothermal test wells, and authorizing community forest management projects on federal land – have passed the House once or even twice. Among the 291 bills he’s co-sponsored, the largest number by far were to repeal all or part of the national health care reform law.

“That’s been the issue that has been most pressing in Congress,” Labrador said. He noted that his community forest project bill and his grazing bill both passed the House this year. “If you look at the record, that’s pretty good in the House,” he said. “As you know, not a lot of things are passing. To actually have two bills pass is actually a positive thing.”

Labrador’s Democratic challenger, state Rep. Shirley Ringo of Moscow, doesn’t think Labrador’s record amounts to much.

As an immigration lawyer who made immigration reform a top issue when he ran for office, “One would think he could provide all kinds of leadership, but he’s been there for four years,” she said. “I don’t believe that he has much to show for it.” You can read my full story here from Sunday's Spokesman-Review; Labrador is facing off with Ringo in his bid for a third term.