House hears Blackfeet water compact bill
ByBy Molly Priddy, Great Falls Tribune
A bill that would define the Montana-Blackfeet water compact was heard again in a House committee Tuesday, despite passing its original committee unanimously.
House Bill 161, sponsored by Rep. Shannon Augare, D-Browning, outlines the Blackfeet Tribe’s rights to water that flows off the reservation in rivers and streams. The compact also provides $4 million from the state’s general fund as a cost-share in the $20 million Four Horns Reservoir upgrade.
“We need to move forward and we need to move forward quickly,” Augare told the House Appropriations Committee.
The bill passed the House Federal Relations, Energy and Telecommunication Committee last month, but was referred to House Appropriations Committee because of the $4 million price tag.
Supporters said the measure compensates the Blackfeet Tribe for not putting downstream water users out of business. One of those businesses, the Pondera County Canal and Reservoir Company, is responsible for irrigating thousands of agricultural acres.
Chris Tweeten of the Montana Reserve Water Rights Compact Commission said that without the compact, the tribe could cut off PCCRC’s water supply from Birch Creek.
Representatives from the Blackfeet Tribe and PCCRC’s lawyer urged lawmakers to pass the bill. There were no opponents. No action was taken on the bill Tuesday.
"I think that it’s going to all work out, with the changes that we have agreed to. It’s not as much (spending for some programs) as I would’ve hoped, but apparently it’s more than other people wanted. As usual, we are trying to find the middle.” 
"[On term limits:] You empower the executive, you empower the lobbyists and that's not good for the system because then we lose what the citizen Legislature brings.” 