Arizona Lawmakers Demand Greater Involvement in Colorado River Talks
Amidst critical negotiations over the Colorado River’s future, Arizona’s Republican state legislators express concern over being sidelined in updates, suggesting that the governor currently receives more comprehensive briefings.
Governor Katie Hobbs is preparing to convene a special legislative session to deliberate on a proposed water-sharing treaty involving Arizona, Nevada, and California. For more details, see this report.
Tom Buschatzke, appointed by Governor Hobbs and serving as the director of the Department of Water Resources, is leading the negotiations on behalf of the state.
In a recent move, several leaders from the Republican-majority House of Representatives have requested consistent updates from Buschatzke, advocating for weekly briefings. This request was formalized in a letter signed by Representatives Gail Griffin (R-Hereford), Chris Lopez (R-Casa Grande), and Neal Carter (R-Queen Creek).
The legislators articulated their desire to receive unfiltered information comparable to what Governor Hobbs receives, highlighting their right to be equally informed.
The Arizona Department of Water Resources has opted not to comment on the correspondence from the lawmakers.
