McCain’s water remarks spark fire (McCain's comment on Colorado River pact)

[highplainsdem]

http://durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/08/news080816_1.htm

McCain’s water remarks spark fire
Politicians against changing 1922 Colorado River pact

August 16, 2008
By Joe Hanel | Herald Denver Bureau

DENVER - Colorado politicians were quick to say "no way" to presidential candidate John McCain's suggestion that southwestern states rework the Colorado River Compact.

McCain told the Pueblo Chieftain on Thursday that the agreement that divides the Colorado River's water among seven states "needs to be renegotiated over time amongst the interested parties."

The 1922 compact split the river among the Upper Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming; and the Lower Basin of California, Nevada and McCain's home state of Arizona. Coloradans credit the pact for protecting the state's water for almost a century against the fast-growing Lower Basin, and politicians of both parties were quick to rebuff McCain on Friday.

"He will not get a more fierce fight from a United States senator than he will have from me," said Bob Schaffer, McCain's fellow Republican and the party's Senate candidate.

Schaffer's opponent, Democrat Mark Udall, also piled on McCain.

-snip-

In the Chieftain interview, McCain said he supported states' rights and would never do anything to damage Colorado's water supply.

"I think that there's a movement amongst the governors to try, if not, quote, renegotiate, certainly adjust to the new realities of high growth, of greater demands on a scarcer resource," McCain said.

If the governors are talking, though, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter isn't in on the conversation.

"It would be folly, foolhardy and unnecessary" to redo last year's agreement among the seven states on using the river under drought conditions, said Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer.

Kise said McCain was not advocating a reopening of the 2007 agreement.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's spokes-man, Matt Chandler, said the Illinois senator thinks it would be unwise to reopen the compact.

-snip-

This definitely didn't help McCain in Colorado.

[Supersedeas]

1. was McShitz not speaking for the campaign again???

[ErinBerin84]

2. heh

Thanks for posting. Another potential local attack ad?

[highplainsdem]

3. I hope so.

[TwilightGardener]

4. In other words, Arizona deserves more water? What an ass.