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Montana politics, elections and legislative news

Flathead Water Compact Advances To Senate Floor After Contentious Debate

Irrigation sprinklers.

The Montana Legislature took a step toward ratifying the state’s final outstanding water compact this morning, with a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The compact involving the federal government and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes has drawn more heated debate than any issue except perhaps Medicaid expansion. 

Opponents include many Flathead irrigators who fear the long and complex document threatens their water supply, and ultimately their way of life. Their main voice on the committee was Republican Jennifer Fielder, who doubted that the compact’s power sharing arrangement, a board comprised of both tribal and non-tribal members, could fairly represent all parties.

“They are fearful of being placed under the jurisdiction of a tribally-dominated administration, and they have good cause for that and much of that good cause has been submitted for the record, with the way that people who have not supported the compact have been treated by the tribal government," Fielder said.

She said just letting a state water court rule on water claims by the tribes might be the better route than passing a compact since the water court has expertise in the issue, while politicians do not.

Also arguing for the opposition was Bozeman Republican Jedediah Hinkle, who attacked the most disputed part of the compact: the tribes’ right to water outside their reservation boundaries.  This, he said, would essentially turn many of Northwest Montana’s rivers and streams over to Federal Control.

“If off-reservation rights and co-ownership of Montana’s rivers are granted to the tribe, this becomes an asset and a resource of the tribe. Therefore, the federal government has a fiduciary responsibility to protect, thus giving federal jurisdiction over off-reservation waters.”

The bill’s sponsor, Libby Republican Chas Vincent, disputed the claim that water rights should be left up to courts, since that would force many irrigators into lengthy and expensive courts battles that could be avoided by approving the compact.

“I disagree that is in the best interests of Montana for everybody to re-adjudicate from the Idaho border clear to Townsend. I do agree that those that are on the reservation that have not had their claims adjudicated yet should have the ability to do so. That’s why this compact allows it.”

Vincent took issue with Senator Hinkle’s claim that granting off-reservation water rights would essentially hand over Montana water to the federal government. He urged Hinkle, and other opponents to read court cases involving water rights.

“I encourage you to read...all of the case law that is central to this negotiation before you make claims that there is no valid reason to even consider something like off-reservation rights.  If you had," Vincent said, "you would understand that you can’t make those kinds of statements."

This is when things got tense, and a little personal.

"I reject your belittling of me because of the conclusions I have come through because of my studies," Hinkle said. "And I want to remind you a lot of the conclusions I have come through have been through my own questioning process that are on record, both at the informational seminar, and at the hearing. You need to respect if we’re not comfortable with this legislation, then we’re going to vote no."

“Senator Hinkle, it is always your right to vote no.” Vincent replied “My apologies if you consider that belittling. I took some of your press release statement that you read as an affront, so we’re even."

After that testy exchange it was time to vote. Out of 12 members on the committee, eight, including all the Democrats and three of the Republicans, voted to send the compact on to the full Senate, while just four Republicans voted to hold it in committee. After nearly an hour of tense debate, chairman Scott Sales had the last word: Adjourn…

The compact now goes to the Senate floor, for a vote with a vote likely sometime next week.

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