By Russ Pankonin, The Imperial Republican Co-Publi

    Freshman Senator Mark Christensen of Imperial has quickly learned that unicameral politics is a game of give and take, where you don't always get exactly what you want. In the end, you hope the compromises you make are best for the district you represent.
     Such is true for his priority water bill, LB 701, which seeks to create ways the Republican Basin can stay in compliance with a 2002 settlement with Kansas.
     Following its introduction, the bill has undergone two complete re-writes. Christensen molded his initial ideas into the first version, which he later gutted and rewrote just days before the bill was to have its public hearing.
     Water issues throughout the Republican River Basin have taken center stage as Kansas continues to rattle the saber about Nebraska exceeding their water use allocation in the basin.
     As farmers in the basin continue to make strides to keep the state in compliance with the settlement, they've taken another gut shot through the ravages of a drought that could well go into its eighth year.
     Emotions run high as irrigators are realizing that the key to their success-water-is no longer a given.
     A third version of LB 701 emerged during the last several weeks as affected parties sat down at the table to try and hammer out a solution that everyone can live with.
     Is the current version of LB 701 perfect? Absolutely not. However, it provides the means where people in the Republican Basin have control over their own destiny, versus the worst-case scenario of a federal judge shutting down irrigation in the basin.
     Does LB 701 guarantee that Kansas won't still come back and sue Nebraska? No, but it does show a good faith effort that we are trying to be good neighbors.
     It won't be without sacrifice within the basin. Under the bill, irrigators will be asked to pay up to a $10 per irrigated-acre fee. Levy authority for the Natural Resource Districts in the basin also means that Joe Q. Taxpayer could share some of the burden.
     Without the irrigated farming economy, there would not be much of an economy left in the basin. So in my opinion, as one of those taxpayers, I don't object to shouldering some of the burden because we all benefit from the ag economy.
     And while LB 701 provides hope that Nebraska can remain in compliance with the Kansas settlement going forward, it still represents one of the largest tax increases ever in the basin. However, if we want to preserve our livelihoods, we have little choice but to go forward.
     People in the Republican Basin are willing to make a significant sacrifice in the process. As a result, metro senators need to take notice that we are taking the lead role in helping ourselves.
     They must also realize that this bill must be passed and that the state and its citizenry also have a financial share of the burden to bear.
     All of the parties involved in crafting the latest version of LB 701 need to be commended for coming together, putting their cards on the table, and showing a willingness to compromise for the good of the whole basin. That too is one of the realities of politics.
     It may not be the exact bill Sen. Christensen was hoping for when he started but it is a well-crafted, workable solution to what has become a bad situation.
     The fate of LB 701 is now in the hands of the Nebraska Legislature. Our senators will best serve our state, and especially the Republican Basin, by moving this bill forward towards passage.