3-31 IAN Otter on Lodge

 Judge Edward Lodge made a recent judgement that revokes grazing permits on 48,000 acres of BLM rangeland used by a lot of cattlemen in Idaho for grazing. Wyatt Prescott, Executive Director of the Idaho Cattlemans Association isn’t particularly enamorate of this ruling by a big judge in a small town: “Another decision was made in the courtroom instead of out on the ground level with the agency folks who have the expertise and experience to make those decisions. It’s completely frustrating and disappointing for the cattle industry to see this type of ruling.”

There’s another big figure in a small town by the name of Governor Otter. He, like Wyatt, is a cattleman but had a measured response to the decision.

Do I agree with the ruling? No but I’m not as schooled in the law as Ed is. I would tell you that I’ve seen a lot more of Ed Lodge’s decisions that I agre with than I disagree. His decision on what kind of information he would allow in or not. But Ed is confined to reading the law, and what does that law say? If the BLM didn’t do what was in that law, that’s what he’s confined to. He ruled in favor of folks that haven’t been my best friends.