National news: Minnick home to listen to constituents

An excerpt from the recent New York Times piece about Walt:

Mr. Minnick insists he is positioned well. He said his votes against Democratic leaders on prominent measures like health care and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act reflected the wishes of his constituents and have reassured wary conservatives that he is independent-minded.

“I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, but you vote for the people who work for you,” said Kent Mann, a past president of the Idaho Cattle Association. “The Republicans called me looking for my support, and I said: ‘Well, what are you going to offer me? Because he’s done a fantastic job.’ ”