Conference topics: Water rights, hunters ed, assisted suicide

Rep. Wendy Warburton, R-Chinook, discussed a series of bills with constituents during a legislative video conference in Havre Tuesday.

One of those bills deals with a top priority for Montanans — water.

Warburton answered a question about Senate Bill 19, which would change the definition of combined water appropriations, during the weekly video conference sponsored by Havre Public Schools and the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce.

"What you have right now is, the well drillers and some businesses, realtors, some of those industries, saying we love this bill. We want this bill," Warburton said. "You have the senior water rights people that are saying this bill, you know, terrifies us, and we're very concerned about the impact on senior water rights if this bill goes forward as it is."

When the bill passed out of the Senate, Sen. Greg Jergeson, D-Chinook, voted against it while Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, voted for it.

She said she sponsored an amendment limiting the size of the area of ground impacted, which she said would have sent it back to a House-Senate conference committee.

"I felt there would have been more time for the constituencies on both sides to iron out something that seems fair to everybody," Warburton said. "When the amendment didn't pass, I didn't vote for the bill, but it did make it out, so it will be on the floor. …

"I'm feeling that it's a little one-sided right now," she added.

Andrew Brekke, a Havre insurance agent and member of the Havre City Council, suggested Warburton bring the amendment back up on the floor.

"I think that would be a wise compromise, at least for stockgrowers (and irrigators) concerned," he said.

Another bill discussed was one dealing with assisted suicide, House Bill 505 sponsored by Rep. Krayton Kerns, R-Laurel, which adds physician-assisted suicide to the laws about aiding or soliciting suicide.

"To me, I'm not in favor of assisted suicide, but I don't think that's the right bill," Blaine County Republican Central Committee Chair Richard Cronk said. "I think its a trial lawyer's dream. Any time anybody dies, they would be using that to sue."

Cronk also expressed his opposition to the state expansion of Medicaid allowed under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

"Obamacare kind of is going to put most of these small clinics — if not out of business, practically out of business — all these small clinics and hospitals in Montana. because (Medicare and Medicaid don't pay enough)," Cronk said. "We just don't have enough doctors. I don't think Obamacare helps Montana at all."

Warburton said she supports a proposal by Rep. Cary Smith, R-Billings, that requires the Medicaid expansion be studied for two years, "kind of slow down the rush towards the expansion. I did vote for that.

"I think its always good to go in with full information before jumping into something you can't jump out of," she added.

She said another bill she supported was in the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee, allowing people to go hunting with a mentor before they are required to take hunter's safety courses.

She said the proposal has raised some controversy because it applies to people as young as 9, but that she believes the decision should be left to parents, based on the child involved.

Brekke agreed.

"You might have 35- or 55-year-olds who can't pass a hunter's safety examination because they are not able to properly handle a weapon or hunt, but that doesn't mean that a 9-year-old isn't. It's about ability," Brekke said.

"I would urge you to support that," he added. "I believe Montana is a state that believes strongly in its hunting tradition."