12-16 NWR Otter to USDA

This is your Northwest report for Friday, December 16, I'm David Sparks and a conversation with Idaho Farm Bureau reporter and blogger Jake Putnam could foretell great things for agriculture in the Northwest. Trump considering Otter for Ag Secretary. Idaho Governor under consideration for President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter is being vetted for the secretary of Agriculture position, Otter's press secretary, Jon Hanian, confirmed to the media. Hanian didn't say how far along the vetting process is, or how many other candidates are under consideration. 

The secretary of Agriculture heads up the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a federal department responsible for developing and executing laws related to farming, agriculture, forestry and food. Otter has extensive experience in agriculture, including 30 years working for agribusiness Simplot. 

Elsewhere, according to KOMO news, a federal judge rejected an effort by two Democratic presidential electors in their ongoing quest to deny Donald Trump the White House. The two filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, hoping to block the fines levied against Washington state electors who choose to cast ballots against the winner of the popular vote.