In his weeky Cheers & Jeers column, Opinion Editor Marty Trillhaase gives JEERS ... to Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo, and Rep. Raul Labrador, all R-Idaho:

Why is it every time this nation even flirts with another government shutdown, these three climb aboard? Twice this week, Risch and Crapo found themselves among the right-wing Senate fringe inhabited by Ted Cruz of Texas. They could not even muster more than one-fifth of the Senate to join them, which means they were out-voted 2-to-1 by their fellow Republicans, not to mention Democrats such as Washington's Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. Labrador was among 151 House Republicans who voted no. It took 91 Republican adults - such as Idaho's Mike Simpson and Washington's Cathy McMorris Rodgers - to join with all 186 Democrats to buy another 10 weeks before the next standoff. If Crapo, Risch and Labrador had their way, where would we be? Facing another self-inflicted economic wound. For Idaho, which depends on the federal economic lifeline far more than other states, the pain might be profound. When you know people such as Simpson in the House and Murray in the Senate are going to vote responsibly, pandering to the ideological base of the Idaho GOP is the safest place to be. Risch, Crapo and Labrador won't win any "Profiles in Courage" accolades. But they won't have to worry about keeping their jobs, either. Marty's full Cheers & Jeers column here.

Question: Good question from Marty: "Why is it every time this nation even flirts with another government shutdown, these three climb aboard?" Anyone?