Ante up to control climate or not
Sen. Verdell Jackson | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 16 years, 11 months AGO
Global warming is a verifiable fact, but whether it is human caused is still open for debate. According to the Assistant Director of the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. there is no scientific evidence that humans are causing global warming.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer directed the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to establish a Climate Change Advisory Committee. The committee has completed the Montana Climate Change Action Plan. This Plan and a survey can be found on this website: www.deq.state.mt.us. You have an opportunity to vote on the proposed recommendations (regulations) and incentives (money out of your pocket) for controlling the climate. Unfortunately the survey doesn't give you the benefit of knowing the cost of each item.
Please make your vote count by filling out the survey prior to deadline of Feb. 29. Although you don't have to give your name, do so to let them know that you are from Montana.
ARTICLES BY SEN. VERDELL JACKSON
Montana would love a head start
Serving on interim committees is a lot of work but also solves many problems during the off year, saving time during the regular session.
Hellgate Treaty forbids off reservation water rights
The claim of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes for off reservation water rights on rivers in the CSKT Water Compact is based on the 1855 Hellgate Treaty, Article III: “The exclusive right of taking fish in all the streams running through or bordering said reservation is further secured to said Indians; as also the right of taking fish at all usual and accustomed places, in common with citizens of the Territory, and of erecting temporary buildings for curing; together with the privilege of hunting, gathering roots and berries, and pasturing their horses and cattle upon open and unclaimed land.”
CSKT compact creates water market
Absolute control of surface and ground water for irrigation both on and off the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes reservation in western Montana appears to be the goal of the CSKT Water Compact, which affects 350,000 people in 11 counties.