If you wonder why Democrats are gaining ground across the West you only have to look as far as a recent exchange between Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester and Mark Rey, the deputy Agriculture secretary who is in charge of the Forest Service.

It’s the latest evidence that the Bush administration’s efforts to support development from the top down has angered state and local governments. States’ rights is at the heart of the Idaho Republican Party credo and has overwhelming support as an ideology across the West.

So when Washington bureaucrats think they know better than states or local governments, and talk to them that way, it makes Westerners angry.

For months Rey and other Bush Administration officials have been meeting with Plum Creek, the timber company turning into a major wild land developer. They have been talking about the road easements the company has across federal land, originally designed for hauling timber.

Plum Creek came into the discussions with the view that the easements gave them the right to access the lands for residential development as well as timber cutting. After months of behind-closed-door talks Rey, a former timber industry lobbyist agrees.

But Tester doesn’t nor does the Missoula County Commissioners. Tester asked Rey to stop the negotiations so the public can get involved. Rey refused.

With concerns over putting more people miles from towns deep into fire-prone forests that would cost local governments the states and the federal government millions to provide services, Rey’s approach would be surprising. When Sen. Larry Craig demanded more hearings on wolf reintroduction and monument designations by the Clinton Administration they cooperated.

But the Bush administration is almost on the way out the door. Plum Creek clearly would rather complete these talks with its old lobbyist than some environmentalist who might get Rey's job in the next administration.

Rey, representing a private-property advocate administration, gives surprising advice to western local governments who may face development from former timber companies like Plum Creek.

“The better discussion to be having is a discussion of local zoning. “ Rey was quoted in the Missoulian.
. “If the state or county or city don't want something to happen, they should just execute their land-use or zoning authority.”

He’s right of course. But in rural counties like Idaho County and others where much of these timberlands lie there remains a strong Republican streak against planning and zoning.

So Rey is not making friends with voters from either side of the isle with his guidance from Washington.