Idaho's two U.S. Senators, Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, received Silver Mouse awards from an organization that reviews the websites of all the members of Congress as well as congressional committees.  Both Crapo and Risch received "A" grades from Congressional Management Foundation, a non-profit organizations that tracks how members of Congress use the Internet to communicate with and serve citizens.  Idaho's two members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Republican Mike Simpson and Democrat Walt Minnick, didn't receive mouse awards or "A" grades.

Crapo said in a news release that his website scored high for its use of online polls, Facebook, and blogs.  “I often say that my website is my online office and I strongly encourage Idahoans with questions about issues before Congress or my voting record to check in often and thoroughly,” Crapo said.

Risch's website scored highly for its usability and discussion of the legislative process.  “One of my priorities in setting up my website was to make it easy for Idahoans to let me know their views on issues to be voted on," Risch said. "I am very pleased that since the launch of my site in June of last year tens of thousands of messages from Idahoans have been sent to me."

The organization's top honors for congressional websites, the Platinum Mouse, went to Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski and New York Democratic Rep. David Israel.  Six other senators received Gold Mouse awards, one ranking above Crapo and Risch.  Congressional websites were evaluated last summer on 93 different criteria in categories including information on issues, timeliness, and constituent services and casework.  Read more about the awards at the Gold Mouse Project website.