Letter by editor Karla Davenport from iSpyRadio.com

"I’m not real familiar with Ryan Zinke, but I know there are folks in his own state who are not excited about his nomination and have had conflict with him.  My understanding is that the biggest issue that is affecting those relationships is his belief that the federally held lands in western states should remain in federal control.  And I’ve heard Trump say the same.  But, of course, for both of them it’s for different reasons than Obama’s and the far-left.

Both Zinke and Trump believe that the federally held lands should be protected so that they are open for hunters, grazing, and recreational use to the public, as well as, mineral and energy mining.  There are other conservatives who feel somewhat the same such as Lars Larson, although he feels the land should go back to the states but not allowed to be sold into private ownership, if I remember correctly.  The biggest fear for all of them is that the state government will want to reduce debt by taking the lands and selling them to private interest who will keep the general public out of them shut down any commercial use.  And in some ways I can understand that because far-left non-profits have billions of dollars to come in and buy huge chunks of land. 

So for the conservative side, we all have common intent, protect the lands for all, but we’re approaching it from different policy directions.  I think there has to be a policy way for the federal government to pass a law with a policy that the lands are used, mined, etc., with state oversight.  And private interests can lease the property for logging, grazing, and mining but they pay normal property tax rates under that lease agreement and keep it open for public use. In return public holds the leasee harmless for any liability, etc. To me it would protect everybody and get away from having unproductive lands.                                                                                                                                                                                 

Zinke’s climate change approach isn’t that far off and I think he’ll be very supportive of Trump’s position of skepticism.  I do know people who know him personally think he’s an extremely honorable and smart man.  For me, it would be better to have a known person appointed that will be open to other’s point of views and I think Zink is someone who will listen."