Sen. Mark Christensen and his wife, Kathy, center, were guests Monday at a luncheon organized by the WIFE organization. WIFE's national president this year is Pam Potthoff, left, who lives in Trenton. (Republican photo)

    By Jan Schultz
    The Imperial Republican
     State Sen. Mark Christensen updated members of the WIFE organization on some of the issues he is dealing with in Lincoln, most notably water.
     With a day off from his legislative duties due to President's Day, Christensen was special guest at a luncheon Monday in Imperial, hosted by WIFE, which stands for Women Involved in Farm Economics.
     Also attending with updates on WIFE activities was its national president, Pam Potthoff, who didn't have to travel too far to attend. She lives in Trenton.
     With the hearing on Christensen's water bill, LB 701, set for next week, the urgency of action on the state's water problems was again emphasized by the senator.
     He said his bill in written "in a broad sense" to let the NRDs decide on what needs to be done, rather than the state.
     Nebraska continues to be out of compliance, according to the Republican River Compact percentages, with its amount of water use and what is flowing from this state into Kansas.
     "If we're not in balance by the end of this year, you will see a judge do something," Christensen predicted.
     "Every business up and down these communities is at risk," he said.
     He told the attendees that water transfers are not new in this state. There have been water transferred out of the Platte River, he said.
     On a question about getting the eastern Nebraska senators on board to support LB 701, Christensen said he has as many supporters among Lincoln and Omaha senators as he does in the rural areas.
     He said the lack of some rural senators' support is because "everyone is nervous about change."
     He noted he does not have the support for his bill from the NRDs along the Platte, and Farm Bureau is among the groups against it.
     Under the "support" column for LB 701, he listed Nebraskans First and WaterClaim. He is expecting support from the Nebraska Cattlemen, but they have not taken a final vote yet, he said Monday.
     Water is a big issue, he said, and predicted that more pressure will be coming.
     He knows people in Lewellen who have told him they receive a call about every 30 days from people who want to be their "agents" when Nebraska begins selling its water to Colorado.
     Christensen believes that by 2015 to 2020, Colorado will be seeking water for public use from other sources
     "And, I predict that if it goes to a judge, he will allow it," he said.
     Christensen also touched on wind energy, ethanol plants, Class I schools and driver's licenses for people who are not U.S. citizens during the meeting Monday.