By Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror
Gov. Doug Ducey urged lawmakers Tuesday morning in a press conference with leaders from both parties to pass a Drought Contingency Plan before a fast approaching deadline at the end of this month.
The plan is part of a seven-state agreement, including Mexico, that would see all of them initiating certain restrictions and changes to keep the Colorado River from reaching an all-time low.
A federal deadline of Jan. 31, 2019, was imposed on the deal, so all seven states must pass legislation approving of the plan and outlining the finer details before that day.
“This is a huge, monumental task,” Arizona Senate President Karen Fann, R-Prescott, said. “We’re going to work together, we are going to make this happen.”
However, no legislation has yet been written. Ducey said he was “anxious” to see lawmakers introduce bills, a sentiment echoed by others who spoke.
The press conference, held on the ninth floor of the Capitol’s executive tower, included former Gov. Bruce Babbitt, former Sen. Jon Kyl and leaders from both the Arizona House and Senate from both sides of the aisle.
They have 16 days to win approval for some form of legislation or else the federal government will intervene and the plans ratified by other states could become null and void.
