Idaho Rep. Walt Minnick continues to attract praise in Congress from across the isle.

Minnick testified before the House Resources Committee Wednesday about the impact of bark beetle infestations on Idaho forests.

The former timber industry executive and environmental group board member told the committee:“We all love our forests, regardless of our party or our ideology.”

In response Wyoming Republican Cynthia Lummis urged Minnick to take a leading role in management of our nation’s forests.

“President Obama has appointed a number of czar-type positions,” Lummis said, “And I would encourage President Obama to make Representative Minnick the ‘forest czar’ to address bark beetle issues.”

There was a time when Minnick was a pariah with Idaho's timber industry because of his positions in favor of wilderness in the 1980s and 1990s. But times have changed, the industry has changed and the issue of forest restoration is bridging the old gaps between tree huggers and timber beasts.