Letter to the Editor - MSGA endorsed CSKT water compact

To the Editor:

There seems to be some confusion in the PSC District 1 race regarding Montana Stockgrowers Association support of the CSKT Water Compact as it made its way through the Montana Legislature. As we all know the legislation supporting the CSKT compact was subsequently passed and sent on to Congress. Following is some of my testimony before the Montana Legislature at a hearing on Senate Bill 262 regarding the Montana-CSKT Water Compact.

“I am here today representing the Montana Stockgrowers Association. I am a rancher, irrigator and current president of the Montana Stockgrowers Association.

“I am here today in Support of the CSKT Water Compact. Our Support is based on policy that was passed by our membership and Board of Directors. Our membership direction was to support a negotiated water compact that protects historical water use, on and off the reservation, and our analysis shows this compact meets those critical components. After a thorough discussion and legal analysis, the Stockgrowers Board of Directors voted unanimously at our January meeting to support this negotiated Compact.”

The MSGA encouraged members and ranchers across the state to contact their representatives and tell their representatives that the compact was the right choice for ranchers in the state of Montana and we appreciate all of those legislators.

Sincerely,

Gene Curry, past president of MSGA