Slaying the dragon

Good governance. That is what the citizens have a right to expect from their elected officials be they at the local, county, state or national level. Unfortunately, in recent years we have far too many examples of the opposite. Verdell Jackson's public recitations on water rights relate a troubling tale, and unequivocally demonstrate that he misses the point on the imperative of having a government that is responsive to the needs of its citizens. First, let us understand the fundamental point here. Throughout Montana's history, water rights have traditionally stayed with the land, and that is the way it should be. To maintain this practice, it is absolutely essential that Montanans get their water rights properly adjudicated, and that has not been happening. A large part of the problem in this area is the result of our past legislatures' under funding the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), even to the extent that they were unable to adequately staff the process of properly keeping track of who had the water rights name, address phone number, etc. Now, with the belated realization that adjudication of water rights is an area that needs immediate attention, our State government is causing mass pandemonium and understandable angst by sending out $31 million in water rights adjudication bills when they know there are a vast number in error from the start—, as in going to the wrong people. In those instances where you did not even get a bill, but should have, you are to proactively find out why, and correct the problem—assuming you know you should have received one in the first place. It is like the schoolyard quip, "Will all those who are absent please raise their hand." In essence, as is all too often the case in government, we have put the burden on the citizens to straighten out a mess they did not cause. I applaud the efforts of my fellow Republicans who on the margins of the 2005 special session attempted to get $31 million in funding for the Water Adjudication Fund, money that was to be used to speed up the adjudication process. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful. As disappointing and unfair as that is, it is even more unfair that Montana citizens are currently receiving millions of dollars worth of bills that are known to be in error with the expectation that you, the citizen, will sort it out. As Mr. Jackson recently stated with chilling accuracy in the Daily Interlake, "lack of payment will result in a lien being filed against your water rights by the Department of Revenue and you could lose them." In short, those entitled to water rights now have no choice but to proceed with this charade and move forward with proper adjudication of your water rights. What a disappointment! In the future, we have a right to expect better from our state government.

There should be two guiding principles for our elected officials that come out of this experience. First, do better in the future, or at least adhere to the medical profession's credo of "Do no harm." Second, in those instances when you played a key role in creating the dragon in the first place, as is the case with Mr. Jackson, you should not expect much recognition for tepid and belated attempts to slay it no matter how well intentioned.

Don Loranger

Loranger is a resident of Bigfork and a Republican candidate for Senate District #5