Big names at conference

by The Daily Inter Lake
| June 28, 2010 2:00 AM

Phil Jackson, David Letterman, almost a dozen governors from across the West — there was no shortage of big names at the opening of the 100th annual Western Governors’ Association conference Sunday.

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, the chairman of this year’s three-day gathering, welcomed the diverse crowd from across the West, pointing out that Glacier National Park is also celebrating its centennial celebration.

In front of a large crowd in the Whitefish Performing Arts Center at Whitefish Middle School, Schweitzer gave a brief history of Montana and was gifted a quilt from Blackfeet Chief Earl Old Person following an honor song by students from the Salish Immersion School in Arlee.

Schweitzer introduced Jackson, “a Montana-bred hero” who delivered the keynote address. Letterman, another part-time Montana resident, gave a pre-recorded Top Ten list of Great Things about the West.

“So sorry I can’t be there, I got whirling disease. I got ahold of a bad trout,” Letterman joked.

Montana was listed No. 7, with Letterman chiding, “I never get tired of Gov. Schweitzer telling the old joke of helping a sheep over the fence.”

Discussion at the Western Governors' conference over the next two days will cover challenges and opportunities surrounding issues like water management, wildlife and energy in the West.

Scheduled topics will range from “The Future of Energy Technology” to “Working Across Borders to Conserve Landscapes.”

Later Sunday, Schweitzer announced his hope that Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester and Rep. Denny Rehberg would join the support of the Columbia River Restoration Act of 2010, which would support restoration funds on the Columbia River and sections of the North Fork of the Flathead River.

Only a fraction of the estimated $240 million would be needed for protection of the local river, Schweitzer said.

“This is the cleanest way forward,” he told the Inter Lake. “There are members who should be co-sponsoring this. It’s time to move and why run to get on the bus? Get on the bus as a sponsor.”