A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
The CSKT water compact has the votes to pass the MT Senate. The proof came on a 33–17 vote to blast SB-262 out of committee and onto the floor of the senate. Some news stories report the second reading could occur on Wednesday, 25 February, but so far the bill isn’t listed on the senate’s agenda.
Flathead senators Mark Blasdel, Dee Brown, Bob Keenan, and Janna Taylor voted against bringing the bill to the floor, while Bruce Tutvedt, a strong supporter of the compact, voted for the blast.
Today’s skirmish in the Senate’s finance and claims committee revealed the strategy of the compact’s opponents: load up SB-262 with poison pill amendments that the CSKT will (rightly) refuse to accept if somehow an amended SB-262 is approved by the legislature. In the MT House, look for the toxic amendments to come in the appropriations committee.
Below, the Republicans who voted to kill SB-262, and who evidently want Montana to suffer years of expensive and divisive litigation that most assuredly will be decided in favor of the CSKT. These are the MT Senate Republicans who don’t know a good deal when they see one.
