Idaho senator goes to bat for welfare ranchers with Interior nominee

Sen. Jim Risch apparently has no earthly idea what "rangeland health" is really all about. Dear senator, rangeland that is in poor shape likely has been stomped and overgrazed into submission by the livestock of welfare ranchers who pay a pittance for the privilege of fattening their cows and sheep on public land. That is the issue, dear senator. How about drafting legislation that would finally make ranchers pay the market-based rate for the privilege of grazing their meat on OUR public lands? The Idaho Statesman's Rocky Barker offers this view of the senator's pleadings to Sally Jewell, the nominee to repalce Ken Salazar as Interior secretary.