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LCMRCC

Chair’s Column


Tracy Sharp, LCRCC Chair

Austin Knudsen listens to Lake County residents (pictured on April 7)

Attorney General (AG) Knudsen met [April 29] with the Lake County Commissioners at their Conference Room.  Most local law enforcement was present and the AG brought the Colonel of the Montana Highway Patrol as well as a lead attorney from the Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI).  Here are my (LCRCC Chair, Tracy Sharp) conclusions from this meeting:

  • The AG had nothing to offer.
    • He is short staffed.  The Department of Justice has no entity it can send to assume the law enforcement task.
    • The Highway Patrol has legal restrictions that stop them from taking on the job unless the Legislature alters those restrictions.
    • All of the agencies including the Highway Patrol are extremely short on personnel.  
      • Even if granted funding and permission, it would take years to get up to speed with specialized training and personnel. 
      • As with the entire State, it isn’t just the money–it is finding housing and paying a salary that will entice people to stay once trained.
      • DCI handles the most horrible crimes across the State (murder, sexual abuse of a child, etc,.).  They have only 5 attorneys.  (Staff, staff, staff….)
  • The AG said the County should continue to carry the weight of the State and the Feds burden and, in the next legislative session, the Legislature should propose funding and the Governor “would sign it.”
    • Faith in the governor’s signing given his veto of the Bill in the last session smacked of relying on “hope” and was, understandably, not well received.  
    • “Hope” is not a plan, of course, but it sums up the entirety of all the AG could offer (through no fault of his own). 

CONCLUSION/SUMMARY:  Everyone thanked AG Knudsen for showing up in person with his staff.  After years of unresponsiveness from Helena, his attendance was gratefully appreciated by everyone.

  • From the State, it is clear that those who could help won’t, and those that would (AG Knudsen) can’t.
  • After the Bill in the last legislature was vetoed, the notion that Gianforte would approve the next one seems either wishful thinking or a bad joke. 
    • Perhaps the Governor was politically embarrassed by his veto; perhaps he met his promise to unspecified constituencies.  Not knowing means his actions the next time around are equally difficult to predict, and claiming otherwise is, again, wishful thinking.  
    • In the interim, Lake County is left paying for an obligation identified by a judge and agreed to by the AG as a State responsibility.
  • The possibility of a special session of the Legislature to discuss this issue and a few others was held out by Representative Read as well as the AG. 
    • Again we’re talking ‘maybes,’ ‘ifs‘ and ‘perhaps‘; nothing solid.
  • One approach mentioned by the Commissioners in a previous meeting was to withdraw but put forth a decree/resolution/statement that says they will continue, under duress and to protect the citizens of Lake County, to operate as if they haven’t withdrawn.  Lake County would then bill the State for expenses incurred.
    • The Legislature would then meet in 2025 and devise a Bill to address the issue of funding, retroactively refund the County, and put yet another Bill on the desk of the Governor to establish long term funding.  (And then “hope” he signs it.)   
  • No credible way forward was determined during this meeting; no innovative ideas or concepts came forth.
    • It appears the inertia right now is to remain stationary, fear monger about how awful things will be if we abandon PL 280, and to suggest there are really no significant costs to Lake County taxpayers after all.  
  • As of today, 29 April 2024, Lake County is on its own.  Status quo.  

 

* * *

Fellow Patriots,

   Here is the report authored by Bruce Cartwright, Chair of the Legislative Committee, that we discussed at the TIGER TEAM meeting today.  I forward this to you to get you thinking about our committee for this next session and lessons learned.  This is not a front burner issue right now, but we had some good ideas pop up today on how to do this better once the time comes.  
   We will re-attack this topic a bit further down the road.  
 
Thanks,
Tracy
April 24, 2024
 
Please read the report and see how we, the grassroots, can help in the legislative process instead of staying on the sidelines and possibly end up with laws that we do not approve of.
Legislative Committee After Actions Report

* * *

Guest article from Epoch Times:

ACTION-PLAN-FOR-IMMEDIATE-CHANGEDownload

It is however, strongly recommended that you use social media to stay informed and help inform others. See “On the Web” under Resources for suggestions on platforms, websites, books, movies and more that give you tools for Controlling the Narrative!

* * *

21 February 2023

Don-K-State-Republicans-vote-to-rebuke-former-GovDownload

2023 January

LCRCC TS Nothing New Under SunDownload

9/29/2022 Chairman of the Lake County Republican Central Committee Tracy Sharp joins host James White for his weekly visit on NorthWest Liberty News.


Tune in EVERY Thursday at 11:18!

9/22/2022 LCRCC Chair Tracy Sharp on NW Liberty Radio Educates on Redistricting, Water Rights, & Gas Tax issues!

 


LCRCC Resolution on the 2020 Presidential Election!

LCRCC-Resolution-8.22Download

Located Under: Chairman's Column

Lake County MT Voting Districts

The Red Barn | Flathead Lake | Lake County, Montana

Reminder:

>>>

Elections Cannot Happen without Volunteers!

Please contact the Elections Office to sign up for this busy election year. More help is sorely needed to make our elections happen and run smoothly. If you haven’t already volunteered, you’ll be surprised how rewarding it is to engage in the process!

Elections | Lake County, MT (lakemt.gov)

Thank you!

* * *

Lake County Election Maps

Lake County All Elected Officials 

See who has filed for election:

2024 County Candidates

House, Senate, and Congressional Districts

 

Lake County Courthouse

Flickriver: Recent photos from Polson, Montana, United States

 

This link will re-direct you away from this website and to the official Lake County Montana website.

Lake County Polling Locations

 
* * *

Join Lake County America First Patriots for Fun Events!

WE THE PEOPLE! TIME TO TAKE A STAND! PATRIOT or TRAITOR?


Susan Lake’s 4th of July video


This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is line-of-kids-revo-1024x768.jpg



Located Under: Lake County

State & Federal Officials

WORDS OF WISDOM
“The higher we are placed, the more humbly we should walk.”
CICERO

GOVERNOR

GREG GIANFORTE

  • Elected:  3 Nov 2020, re-elected 5 Nov 2024

  • P.O. Box 200801
    Helena MT 59620-0801
                        (406) 444-3111
    Toll Free (855) 318-1330
  • Facsimile: (406) 444-5529
  • E-mail (click here) | Website (click here)

MT Governor Gianforte Q&A


LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR  

  • KRISTEN JURAS
    • Republican
      Elected: 3 Nov 2020, re-elected 5 Nov 202
    • P.O. Box 200801
      Helena MT 59620-0801
      (406) 444-3111
    • Toll Free  (855) 318-1330
      Facsimile: (406) 444-5529
    • E-mail (click here) | Website (click here)

ATTORNEY GENERAL 

  • AUSTIN KNUDSEN
  • This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is LCRCC-Austin-Knudsen.jpeg
    • Republican
      Elected: 3 Nov 2020, re-elected 5 Nov 2024
    •  215 N Sanders St.
      Helena, MT 59601
      (406) 444-2026
    • E-mail (click here) | Website (click here)

SECRETARY OF STATE  

  • CHRISTI JACOBSEN
  • This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Christi-Jacobson.jpeg
    • Republican
      Elected: 3 Nov 2020, re-elected 5 Nov 2024
    • Montana Capitol Building, Room 260
      P.O. Box 202801
      Helena MT 59620-2801
      (406) 444-2034
    • Website (click here)

AUDITOR
TROY DOWNING , to be replaced by James Brown (R)

  • Republican
    Elected:  3 Nov  2020
    Term:    2021 to 2025
  •  840 Helena Avenue
    Helena, Montana 59601
  • Telephone: (800) 332-6148 or (406) 444-2040
  • Facsimile:  (406) 444-3497 or (406) 444-3413
  • Website (click here)

    * * *

 

UNITED STATES CONGRESS

List of all U.S. Senate members: U.S. Senate: Senators

List of all U.S. House Representatives: Representatives | house.gov

 

MATT ROSENDALE, MT 2nd Congressional District 

U.S. Representative Matt Rosendale (house.gov)

To be replaced by TROY DOWNING in 2025.

Troy Downing for Congress | Campaign Website

 

RYAN ZINKE, MT 1st Congressional District

Representative Ryan Zinke | (house.gov)

STEVE DAINES     

  • This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Steve-Daines.jpeg                     

    Republican Senator

    • Elected: 3 Nov 2020
      Term: 2021 to 2027
    • (KM Building)
      40 2nd St East, Suite 211
      Kalispell, Montana 59901
      (406) 257-3765
    • 320 Hart Senate Office Building
      Washington, D.C. 20510
      (202) 224-2651
    • E-mail (click here) | Website (click here)

 

JON TESTER (To be replaced in Jan 2025 by Tim Sheehy, R, timformt.com )
Democrat Senator

Elected: 6 Nov 2019

Term: 2019 to 2024

 14 Third Street East, Suite #23
Kalispell MT 59901

(406) 257-3360

 311 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-2604
(202) 224-2644


ACTION! ACTION! ACTION!

Representative government works best when you have a relationship with the people who represent you. After all, they can’t represent you unless they know who you are and what you care about. Here’s a simple way to tell them.

Please write a ‘Thank You’ note to your elected representatives and senators at the state and federal level. Welcome them to the new legislative session, it introduces you as their constituent, lets them know you are a Christian, reminds them of the biblical values you embrace, and pledges your prayer support during their term.


Contact YOUR Representative in US Congress

 

Located Under: State & Federal Officials

2025 MT Legislature

“Our Constitution was made only for moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” – John Adams

 

 Montana Constitution Download

Mark L Nolan HD 10

SENATE DISTRICT 6
Mark Lee Noland (R)

P.O. Box 1852
Bigfork MT 59911-1852
(406) 253-8982
E-mail: Mark Noland

HOUSE DISTRICT 12

Tracy Sharp (R)

PO Box 548, Polson, MT 59860

(406) 407-2197

E-mail: Tracy.Sharp@legmt.gov


HOUSE DISTRICT 13

Linda Reksten (R)

118 Long Lake Drive
Polson MT 59860
 (406) 471-8359
E-mail: Linda Reksten

See what her key policy issues are for 2025: Key Policy Points

 

HOUSE DISTRICT 15

Thedis Crowe (D)

P.O. BOX 2114
BROWNING, MT 59417

E-mail: Thedis.Crowe@legmt.gov

HOUSE DISTRICT 91

Shelly Fyant (D)
33543 McLeod Rd
Arlee, MT 59821
(406) 546-5633
Email: Shelly.Fyant@legmt.gov

 

 

 

HOUSE DISTRICT 10 

BOB KEENAN
Elected: 6 Nov 2018
Term ends 2025
PO BOX 697
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 250-4111
E-mail: Bob.Keenan@legmt.gov

Click Here for Voting Record

 

 

 

SENATE ~ DISTRICT 7  
GREG HERTZ
Republican
P.O. BOX 1747
Polson, MT 59860
(406) 253-9505
E-mail: Greg.Hertz@legmt.gov


SENATE ~ DISTRICT 8  

Susan Webber (D)

Term: 2019 to 2027
PO BOX 1011
Browning, MT 59417

(406) 450-1894

| E-mail: nitzitapii@gmail.com

 

 

 

SENATE DISTRICT 46

Jacinda Morigeau (D)

2021 S Couture Loop, Arlee MT 59804

(406)298-3416

E-mail: Jacinda.Morigeau@legmt.gov

 

* * *

Note that during the 2023 session, the Lake County Republican Central Committee pioneered a new way for the grassroots to get involved in the legislative process: a Legislative Committee, in which members of the community can assess suggested bills before they are put forward. More active citizens are needed to bring their experience and knowledge in various matters to the table. YOU have more to contribute than you realize.

Read the Legislative Committee report:

Legislative Committee After Actions Report


STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR REPRESENTATIVES!

See if your state has already passed a related bill, or has one in the works.  Go to Bill Explorer

  1. Find your State Representatives. You can find your State Senators and Representatives below. 
  2. Call and Email
  • Know your information.
  • Be kind and confident.
  • Follow-up via call and email.  

Hello, does Representative ______ have any plans to propose or support _________ legislation? This is very important to me. I did my research and saw we have/have not passed a bill on this topic in the past. I am hopeful that we will see a bill that protects all citizens from _______, not just specific industries, or whatever is appropriate to your concern. Please respond and let me know what has happened on this particular bill/subject. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Your Name

 

ACTION! ACTION! ACTION!

Representative government works best when you have a relationship with the people who represent you. After all, they can’t represent you unless they know who you are and what you care about. Here’s a simple way to tell them.

Please write a ‘Thank You’ note to your elected representatives and senators at the state and federal level. Welcome them to the new legislative session, it introduces you as their constituent, lets them know you are a Christian, reminds them of the biblical values you embrace, and pledges your prayer support during their term.


 

 

The 10 Best Places To Live In Montana
State Capitol | Helena, Montana

Legislator’s Scorecard;
Check out how YOUR representative voted during the 68th session!

 



ACTION! ACTION! ACTION!

Representative government works best when you have a relationship with the people who represent you. After all, they can’t represent you unless they know who you are and what you care about. Here’s a simple way to tell them.

Please write a ‘Thank You’ note to your elected representatives and senators at the state and federal level. Welcome them to the new legislative session, it introduces you as their constituent, lets them know you are a Christian, reminds them of the biblical values you embrace, and pledges your prayer support during their term.

 

Located Under: Elected Officials, MT Lawmaking

The CSKT Water Compact

Flathead River

The United States is prepared to accommodate Indian interests, and to provide a substantial degree of self-determination. But there is a point beyond which it cannot go—our federal framework will not be compromised, nor will the rights of non-Indians be ignored. Where tribal aspirations collide with constitutional values, the tribe’s interests must yield. Nor can the rights of the non-Indian majority be compromised to support tribal aspirations. Doing justice by Indians does not require doing injustices to non-Indians.   ~ Lloyd Meeds


We have a member of our community looking for individuals/families who purchased property or inherited property that did not have water rights filed by 1982. Many of the individuals felt it was better to have a land patent instead of a water right so they did not file and now they have to fight for their water.

If you are one of these individuals who have a land patent and did not have water rights filed by 1982, please send me the following:

  • The full name of the land owner(s)
  • The address of the land/water in jeopardy – include city and zip please
  • Phone Number including area code
  • email address.

If you send me the above information, I will forward your information to the individual asking to collect the information. She is working with members of the state legislature to fight this. We need to attack the compact on numerous fronts – this is another one that will help! JR jmreffner@gmail.com


16 August 2023 Crypto & the Tribe


1 August 2023: The Cancer of Government Deemed “Self-Determination


24 July 2023 UPDATE


Saturday, 22 July 2023: Greg and Steve are at it again


Video: Ph.D. Hydrogeologist BLAMES CSKT Water Compact for Low Flathead Lake Levels


17 July 2023 Politics of Lake Draw Down


17 July 2023 | MONDAY: Flathead Lake Levels: Part of a MUCH Larger Problem


13 July 2024: What Happens if the Compact Gets a Thumbs Down?


11 July 2023 The Bigger Picture: Please Don’t Lose Sight of IT!


9 July 2024 Response to a Commenter


19 May 2023 FRIDAY: Tim Orr letter to Editor


Montana Water Compact Gives Away Our RIGHTS! by Bret Bailey

LCRCC Montana Water Compact Gives Away Our RightsDownload

6 December 2022 Water Court Posts Objections


Montana Water Court


The CSKT Compact, Montana Water Rights Protection Act:
Similar Federal Actions; and Making it Work for Montana


Montana Land and Water Alliance


US CONSTITUTION

Article VI.  Debt.  The Constitution, Laws, and Treaties are the supreme Law of the Land.  Operative word is “and”:

All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

Article I. Powers Granted to Congress.  Indian Tribes are not “foreign nations”.

Section 8, Clause 3. “ to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian Tribes”

  • MONTANA CONSTITUTION  

Article I:  Compact with the United States. All provisions of the enabling act of Congress (approved February 22, 1889, 25 Stat. 676), as amended and of Ordinance No. 1, appended to the Constitution of the state of Montana and approved February 22, 1889, including the agreement and declaration that all lands owned or held by any Indian or Indian tribes shall remain under the absolute jurisdiction and control of the congress of the United States, continue in full force and effect until revoked by the consent of the United States and the people of Montana.

  • MONTANA WATER RESOURCES ACT—TITLE 85 MCA

The purpose of the MT Reserved Water Rights Compact Commission is to: “…conclude compacts for the equitable division and apportionment of waters between the state of Montana, its people and the several Indian tribes claiming reserved water rights (MCA 85-2-701) within the state, and the state, its people and the federal government claiming non-Indian reserved water rights within the state (MCA 85-2-703)

  • DEFINITION OF A FEDERAL RESERVED WATER RIGHT

A federal reserved water right arises when the United States withdraws a parcel of land from the public domain for a specific purpose—like an Indian Reservation, National Park, National Forest, etc.—there is impliedly “reserved” an amount of water to fulfill the purposes of that federal reservation of land.  This was decided in a Supreme Court case in 1908 called U.S. v Winters regarding irrigation from the Milk River in Montana.  This is known as the “Winters Doctrine”.

A federal reserved water right has the following characteristics:

  • A discrete amount of water to fulfill the purpose of the reservation. For most reservations the purpose is found in the treaty…irrigation, homesteads, industry, etc.
  • The water right is geographically limited to the land that was reserved. On the map given to participants, each of the Indian reservations—except Flathead—have a discrete amount of water that is geographically limited to each reservation. Similarly, a federal reserved water right for a National Park or Forest is limited to the geographical boundaries of that National Park or Forest. There are no off-reservation water rights for any federal reservation, including Indian reservations.
  • The priority date of the federal reserved water right is the date on which the land was reserved. The priority date for the Flathead Reservation is 1855, NOT “time immemorial”.  This is another violation of the law.

ALL THE WATER RIGHTS CLAIMED BY THE CSKT/UNITED STATES IN THE CSKT COMPACT AND DAINES BILL IS A “TRIBAL RESERVED WATER RIGHT”.  It is thus NOT a federal reserved water rights settlement as defined by federal law or by Montana law. 

The CSKT decided that it, not the U.S. government, reserved the reservation.  Thus, the entire settlement is about ‘tribal reserved water rights’, not federal reserved water rights.  Tribal reserved water rights do not exist in law or anywhere in the United States.

TIMELINE OF IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT DATES

As somewhat of a summary, the CSKT Compact and the Daines bill are  “done deals” in the sense of having passed the Montana legislature and Congress, but that’s all.  Now comes the hard part: the “nuts and bolts” phase, the development of mechanisms for implementation, and the working out of conflicts and issues.  There is A LOT of work to do to make this work for Montana, and it can be done. Also, almost all of the premises of both documents are now ripe for challenges in federal court, as will be any phase of implementation. In this speaker’s opinion, this was a pyrrhic victory—one that causes more damage than the problem it ‘solves’: to existing state and federal law and institutions, the economy of Lake, Flathead, and Sanders Counties; agriculture in eastern and western Montana; and federal Indian law across the western United States. Stay tuned.

Located Under: Pachyderm

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The Republican Central Committee of Lake County Montana consists of the locally elected and appointed officials of the state’s Republican Party.

The Mission of the Lake County Montana Republican Central Committee is to honor and uphold the America-First Patriot Republican and Constitutional values of life, liberty, freedom, self-reliance, self-defense, fiscal responsibility, sanctity of property rights, and the preservation of the Republic.

This mission is accomplished by identifying, recruiting, supporting, and electing America-First Conservative candidates who will, without fail, support and defend the Constitutional values of our country, state, and county.

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Copyright © 2025 · Lake County Montana Republicans

The Republican Central Committee of Lake County Montana consists of the locally elected and appointed officials of the state's Republican Party. The Mission of the Lake County Montana Republican Central Committee is to honor and uphold the America-First Patriot Republican and Constitutional values of life, liberty, freedom, self-reliance, self-defense, fiscal responsibility, sanctity of property rights, and the preservation of the Republic. This mission is accomplished by identifying, recruiting, supporting, and electing America-First Conservative candidates who will, without fail, support and defend the Constitutional values of our country, state, and county.

Paid for by the Lake County Republican Central Committee. PO Box 1052 Polson MT 59860 Linda Stewart, Treasurer