By Sydney Ritter | Mesa Legend
The State Legislature struck down a bill that would have made the non-partisan Central Arizona Project (CAP) to function under a political party label. In January, Arizona Representative Mark Finchem (R) of Oro Valley proposed House Bill (HB) 2112, also know as the Water Partisan Bill. In written reports, Finchem has said the purpose for creating the bill was be to increase funding to help make canal water cleaner. The bill failed to pass in the House of Representatives in mid-February with a split party vote of 27-32. But Finchem wants to bring it back for reconsideration.
A majority of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD) board, the group that manages and operates CAP, also opposed the bill. Mark Lewis, a 20-year CAWCD member, endorsed it, stating the bill could help grow voter participation on water district issues. HB 2112 was also expected to help attract farmers and minorities to participate in the CAWCD board. But opponents like CAWCD member Karen Cesare said the measure is unnecessary.
