Water compact used for political gain
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Editor,
It appears the “Water Opera” in Western Montana is not over. Our “Blue Gold” has put a gleam in more eyes for more reasons than I care to count anymore. Yes, I said “our” because it is our water: tribal, non-tribal, Catholic, Protestant, tall, short, thin, not-so-thin, all of us who reside in this part of the world.
Turns out the Compact Commission hasn’t really reached their “sunset” after all … they buried the bill to accomplish that event when their wonderful Compact didn’t manage to sneak through the legislative session. Now isn’t that a fantastic turn of events. It seems we get to experience two more years of these characters and their machinations to convince someone that their body of work, representing 12 years of paychecks, is somehow a really spiffy idea.
Our illustrious new governor seems to want this unconstitutional, “Grand Bargain” finished, put to bed, blessed by the magicians and buried in the annuls of history. Is anyone getting tired of hearing about how it’s a “good and fair deal, equitable to all,” by those who will not be affected by it and actually may have something to gain … in the way of political advantage? There are more holes in this monument to Schweitzer than a good kitchen sieve. Makes you wonder how it will ever hold water – no pun intended.
We, who would be robbed of our constitutionally-mandated water rights under the state, are not going away; win, lose or draw, our very existence is at stake and I for one will see it through to the sweet or bitter end. How about you — still sleeping?
Michael Gale
Ronan