McMorris-Rodgers Expected to be named Interior Secretary

[csaaphill]

From the wiki page: Seems like that since she's been involved with veterans affairs would be why Trump is considering her 

[Special T]

One issue is not all states are like WA DNR. In Colorado for example state lands are closed to public access unless opened. The vast majority of the state is closed. Those that are open have an open period season so it's not 24/7/365 like most DNR areas. There are other states with similar regulations.

Its also my understanding that some states have statues which are written in that lands are to be managed in the must fiduciary responsible way, meaning that they are obligated to sell them or only allow the use that is most financially beneficial to the state.

WA DNR is actually not that far off. WA DNR's purpose is to generate $ for schools. DNR is constantly selling lands that generate little to no revenue. DNR sold their chunk of land on Vashon Island because it would cost too much to log it. DNR want's to rid itself of the lands in the San Juans.

I've had more than one DNR employee tell me that the agency really wants to eliminate their desert land and be solely in timber because that is where the $ is. The desert land generates no revenue other than grazing and agricultural leases and compared to timber that's a drop in the bucket.

If range land generates no $ then they should raise the rates or trade it off.  Part of what people fail to understand is that if there is $ to be made the land will be taken care of and maximized.  Truthfully this is my main complaint with the USFS.

[dwils233]

One issue is not all states are like WA DNR. In Colorado for example state lands are closed to public access unless opened. The vast majority of the state is closed. Those that are open have an open period season so it's not 24/7/365 like most DNR areas. There are other states with similar regulations.

Its also my understanding that some states have statues which are written in that lands are to be managed in the must fiduciary responsible way, meaning that they are obligated to sell them or only allow the use that is most financially beneficial to the state.

WA DNR is actually not that far off. WA DNR's purpose is to generate $ for schools. DNR is constantly selling lands that generate little to no revenue. DNR sold their chunk of land on Vashon Island because it would cost too much to log it. DNR want's to rid itself of the lands in the San Juans.

I've had more than one DNR employee tell me that the agency really wants to eliminate their desert land and be solely in timber because that is where the $ is. The desert land generates no revenue other than grazing and agricultural leases and compared to timber that's a drop in the bucket.

If range land generates no $ then they should raise the rates or trade it off.  Part of what people fail to understand is that if there is $ to be made the land will be taken care of and maximized.  Truthfully this is my main complaint with the USFS.

I don't think that everything must generate a profit or a return on investment to be of value. In our society some things should operate at a break even or ecen a loss. IMHO, public land is one of those things

[JDHasty]

She is little more than a Boehner lackey.  Drain the swamp. 

[bigtex]

One issue is not all states are like WA DNR. In Colorado for example state lands are closed to public access unless opened. The vast majority of the state is closed. Those that are open have an open period season so it's not 24/7/365 like most DNR areas. There are other states with similar regulations.

Its also my understanding that some states have statues which are written in that lands are to be managed in the must fiduciary responsible way, meaning that they are obligated to sell them or only allow the use that is most financially beneficial to the state.

WA DNR is actually not that far off. WA DNR's purpose is to generate $ for schools. DNR is constantly selling lands that generate little to no revenue. DNR sold their chunk of land on Vashon Island because it would cost too much to log it. DNR want's to rid itself of the lands in the San Juans.

I've had more than one DNR employee tell me that the agency really wants to eliminate their desert land and be solely in timber because that is where the $ is. The desert land generates no revenue other than grazing and agricultural leases and compared to timber that's a drop in the bucket.

If range land generates no $ then they should raise the rates or trade it off.  Part of what people fail to understand is that if there is $ to be made the land will be taken care of and maximized.  Truthfully this is my main complaint with the USFS.

The state rates are several times higher than the federal rates. In WA the grazing rate for cattle is $13.19 per head of cattle per month. Idaho's is $9.01. The federal rate is $2.11. The feds have tried to increase the rate but ranchers blow a gasket every time they try.

In the 2015 Fiscal Year DNR generated $108 million in timber revenue. In comparison, DNR generated $21 million in agricultural leases which includes grazing, orchards and vineyards, and irrigation leases. I don't know the individual breakup within that $21M. In total DNR generated $302 million from all types of sales, leases, etc. Which means agricultural leases make up 7% of DNRs revenue compared to timber which makes up over a third of revenue. Several have said DNR is completely a self supporting agency, that's not true. In 2015 they brought in $302 million, but spent $331 million.

[pd]

I don't know the Congresswoman, but here is my take.  If she can make it past the Knock-Out Round with the Donald, then we should all hope that she takes the offer.  Remember, as a Republican in Washington state she will never have a chance to represent the state in the federal Senate.  Thus, she would be stuck in the House forever (which nobody wants).  This would be really good experience for her (which would help WA sometime down the road).  Also, it might even get WA better access to DC for land & water issues.

Simply, don't you agree we would all be better off with an advocate for outdoor issues inside the Trump cabinet???

[WAcoueshunter]

Simply, don't you agree we would all be better off with an advocate for outdoor issues inside the Trump cabinet???

I think the concern is she's not an advocate.

[bigtex]

Simply, don't you agree we would all be better off with an advocate for outdoor issues inside the Trump cabinet???

I think the concern is she's not an advocate.

She hasn't tried to really do anything for natural resources. Four resource related bills in 10 years? You have some members of Congress of both parties who do that in one year. To top it off, of those 4 bills two would transfer federal lands into private hands.

Obviously we have no idea why this would be Trump's pick but here's my take. She's high up in the republican party, she's from a western state (Sec. of Interior always comes from the west), her district includes tribal lands, oil/gas friendly (not saying that's a bad thing), and that's really it.

[Jimmybelltown]

I agree with WAcouesdeerhunter. I think she is just another bought out politician. Her GOP rebuttal to the state of the union addressee in 2014 was odd.

[wsmnut]

Like most of the cabinet picks, this is just another political payoff.
Not much swamp draining.

[Elkaholic daWg]

She's represented her base quite well, which has always been Eastern Washington.  She listens to loggers and ranchers, and most of them would like limit federal land ownership. 

I differ in that I want to see most of the federal lands stay open to the public, which means not letting private or state ownership since they tend to not give a crap about access.

Thanks Chris and being from KF you most likely know some people with personal experience with her ( Bob Morton for example)

Would that be federal  ownership, or restrictions? (As far as loggers and ranchers)
Do any of us think about the fact that she just might be able to get leverage on the lock it up greenie, lower Bureaucrats that have created the tinder box  (pun intended) and get some changes that are needed to be made? And they DO

[Jonathan_S]

More swamp draining I see. Really curious who we will get in her seat now.

[81husky]

More swamp draining I see. Really curious who we will get in her seat now.

From KREM news:
"Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart and Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich and State Sen. Michael Baumgartner  announced their intention to run for representative on Friday.  Dave Wilson, a former independent candidate for the 5th District also said he was considering a run."

[bearpaw]

She worked her way up through local politics in my legislative district and I once told her I thought she could make it into national politics due to her ability to avoid controversy. Since becoming our congresswoman she has become more establishment than I prefer, but she is pro small business, pro logging, pro 2nd Amendment, and perhaps it was necessary for her to work within the establishment to get things done? She understands small business must make a profit and she has been an outspoken advocated for logging to reduce forest fires and for multiple use of our forests, she doesn't have the lock-it-up mentality that's been running our public lands the last couple decades. I think overall she will be very good and hopefully can work closely with whomever becomes Secretary of Agriculture to revamp the USFS logging and access policies as well as the BLM over which she will directly administer. I think Trump is making another good choice!

[andersonjk4]

She's represented her base quite well, which has always been Eastern Washington.  She listens to loggers and ranchers, and most of them would like limit federal land ownership. 

I differ in that I want to see most of the federal lands stay open to the public, which means not letting private or state ownership since they tend to not give a crap about access.

  And farmers.  She has been a big advocate for the farmers. I haven't heard anything from her saying she is really pro or con federal land transfers to the states.  I have heard that she has pushed for better funding for the USFS and BLM to help fight fires and to increase logging to help prevent catastrophic fires.  I think she would be a decent pick for the position.