We have an idea for the next meeting of the Idaho Legislature's Interim Federal Lands Committee studying the pros and cons of Idaho gaining "control" of "our" federal lands. Drop it, disband and find something more productive to do with your time and our tax dollars ($61, 000 and counting). This is never going to happen, the federal capitulation to demands for a takeover: "Yes, Idaho, here are the keys to 27 million to 34 million acres - 64 percent of your state. We'll throw in the surface estate rights and the mineral estate rights because it was our bad to deprive you of this for so many years and decades. Please accept this gift, even though you already have forsaken title to these lands, and we can prove it, and a bunch of our people in your state will lose their jobs. Whatever you want, Idaho." This is the nonstarter of nonstarters/Idaho Statesman Editorial Board. More here.

Question: And yet we routinely elect snake-oil salesmen in Kootenai County & North Idaho who advocate this nonstarter of an issue. What's up with that?