Compact commission’s act illegal
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Editor,
It seems that now is an appropriate moment to begin a review of the infamous Water Rights Compact for the Flathead Reservation. I believe we ought to start this task with the “non-negotiable” heart of the intentionally cumbersome “negotiated” compact: the Unitary Management Ordinance.
Does everyone remember the words from the mouth of the Compact Commission Chairman, Mr. Chris Tweeten, when he said, “we need to remind the tribes that we have done an extraordinary thing, we’ve agreed to move 23,000 non-tribal citizens from under state control and place them somewhere else”? We now know that the somewhere else is under tribal control.
The tribes’ U.S. Congressionally-approved constitution does not give them control of non-tribal members. The U.S. Constitution does not allow U.S. citizens to be controlled by foreign nations, within the borders of the USA. The Montana Constitution does not provide for foreign government control of state citizens and residents. This act, by the Compact Commission, is illegal, unlawful, illegitimate and unconstitutional.
Our current governor, Mr. Steve Bullock, fully supports this compact, as written. He says it is absolutely perfect, better than sliced bread or easy open beer cans, and should be passed through the state legislature forthwith. Its failure to even get through committee reviews and into the last legislative session of 2013 has him completely baffled.
I guess, as a lawyer, he has no qualms about creating precedents and laws that are unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional. What a guy. Never give up. And you all elected him — how special.
Michael Gale
Ronan
