Don't play politics with North Fork

There’s something liberating about slipping a raft into a river in Western Montana. We are fortunate to have so many clean, free-flowing rivers nearby to enjoy with friends and family. And in my mind, few rivers can match the North Fork of the Flathead.

Other rivers may have more thrilling whitewater or more fish per river mile, but few match the North Fork for clean, beautiful water and stunning, wild scenery. Montana’s congressional delegation happens to agree with me on this point. Walsh, Tester, and Daines are all supporters of the North Fork Watershed Protection Act.  

For this reason, it is especially maddening to read news that the bill was blocked in the Senate by three senators who — in the memorable words of Sen. Tester — “can’t even find the Flathead River on a map.”  Imagine, three Republican senators from Texas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania blocking a piece of legislation that ONLY affects Montana and is very popular here. This is a perfect example of broken Congress.

Montana’s clean water is invaluable. You can’t put a price on it. If we want to protect it then that should be our business. I hope Rep. Daines will reach out to his fellow Republicans in the Senate and tell them that Montanans know what’s best for Montana. We know the North Fork of the Flathead is wild, scenic, and crystal clear. It should be protected as it is, and Sens. Coburn, Cruz, and Toomey have no business telling us otherwise.

Mollie Kieran is a resident of Troy