Another week, another controversy!   This week it's HB 2132, which seeks to reclassify 3,500 acre feet of water from "industrial use" to "municipal use."

This bill passed the House 57-0, with no opposition voiced either in committee or in the full House.  It was assigned to the Senate Natural Resources and Rural Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Jake Flake.  I was speaking to Sen. Flake on another bill when he happened to mention that one of the Mohave County Supervisors had called his office in opposition to this bill and to inform Sen. Flake that he would be in Phoenix to testify against it.  My response:  it had to be Buster Johnson, and Sen. Flake confirmed that it was.

I immediately contacted Maureen George, attorney for the Mohave County Water Authority, who said she would have someone come down to testify in favor of this bill.  Supervisor Tom Sockwell, who is the County's representative on the MCWA Board, did appear, and so we had the spectacle of two supervisors testifying on the same bill, one for and one against.  HB 2132 was passed out of this committee on a vote of 5-1, with one not voting.  Sen. Karen Johnson voted against, but I'm told she has vowed to vote no on every bill until the budget crisis is resolved.

Subsequently, Supervisor Johnson issued a press release which contained several inaccurate statements.  His release was picked up by several news outlets, and he was also heard on local radio stations not only stating that this bill should be defeated but also that Rep. Groe and I should never had agreed to sponsor the legislation.  He also urged District 3 residents to voice their disapproval to us, which many did.

Here is the response that I sent out to those who e-mailed me:

First, you'd think that after being his Representative for 3-1/2 years, Buster would have learned how to spell my name.
 
But more substantially, he is wrong on a couple of statements.  "HB2132 gives the water to the municipalities."  It does not -- the allotment remains with the Mohave County Water Authority, but allows the water to be used for "municipal purposes," which can include industrial use.
 
He also refers to "giving away our (the County's) water. . ."  This isn't the County's water to begin with.  Mohave County is member of the Mohave County Water Authority, along with the cities of Bullhead, Havasu, and Kingman and the Golden Shores and Mohave Valley irrigation districts.  Keeping this 3,500 acre feet for "industrial use" only doesn't mean that the MCWA will allocate only to projects in the County areas, but it also doesn't mean that it won't consider these projects.
 
The MCWA Board (which includes Tom Sockwell as the County's representative), voted unanimously to ask for this change, and I was pleased to act as the prime sponsor for HB2132.  I believe MCWA will continue to act responsibly, as it has done for the past 12 years.  I have no intention of "pulling" this bill.
 
Additionally, MCWA has issued their own press release, and I am quoting a portion of it here:

"Contrary to recent news reports: (1) this is a very good thing for residents of the river communities as well as the City of Kingman, which would receive funds for water resource improvements.  It does not take away the water, it in fact makes it available for all uses, including industrial. (2) The water is currently under contract to MCWA and the contract with the Department of the Interior provides that it may be used for all municipal and industrial purposes.  It is a State law restriction which imposes the industrial use limitation.  The water has been available for industrial use for ten plus years and not one application has been requested.  Our members are very concerned about the loss of this water if it is not put to beneficial use by adding it to the water portfolio of our various members. (3) Members Kingman, BHC and LHC already have a portion of their water portfolio used by industry and all are actively pursuing industrial development. (4) The water has not yet been subcontracted to anyone.

MCWA, in 2007, was successful in getting this water under contract.  We need to be sure it is put to the best use, as determined by our various member agencies through their elected or appointed governing bodies.

Mayor Mark Nexsen of Lake Havasu City, Mayor Jack Hakim of Bullhead City, MCWA Chairman Tom Griffin, and Mohave County Supervisor Tom Sockwell have all testified at the Legislature in favor of this legislation which has broadbased support in the water community statewide.

As noted by Chairman Tom Griffin:  'This water is for use by our members and their citizens, not a special interest group.  We ask these citizens to let our legislators know of their support.'"

So there you have the facts.  I do not know the reason Supervisor Johnson is opposed to this bill -- he has never spoken to me about it.  This is not the first time that he has appeared to testify against one of my bills without first talking with me and letting me know of his opposition and/or how I might be able to alleviate his concerns.

Three controversial issues in the past two weeks -- what will this coming week bring?   Until then,

Nancy