A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
Former Republican state legislators Verdell Jackson, Jerry O’Neil, and Derek Skees led a group of Flathead residents who traveled to Helena on 16 February to testify against SB-262, Sen. Chas Vincent’s bill to ratify the water compact with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Other prominent Flathead Republicans testifying against the bill included Flathead County Commissioner Phil Mitchell, Mike Hebert, who lost to Albert Olszewski in the HD-11 primary in 2014, and Clarice Ryan, a conservative from Bigfork who has considerable experience promoting conservative causes.
Because time in the 4.5-hour hearing ran short, only Jackson was able to present arguments against SB-262. His Flathead colleagues were allowed only to state their names and say “I oppose this bill.”
Supporters of SB-262 emphasized how much the renegotiated compact differed from the compact that the 2013 legislature refused to approve. Opponents of the compact claimed the changes were minuscule and of no consequential difference. That’s no surprise. But while the differences may not be as sweeping as Vincent claimed, they are significant and should be important enough to give legitimate political cover to 2013’s naysayers who want to change their minds.
Additional information on the compact is available on the legislature’s website.