AZ lawmakers may break ranks voting on Colorado River cuts, which will hit some districts hard

Arizona state lawmakers tend to vote in lockstep with their party on water issues, but when it comes to proposed Colorado River cuts, they may break ranks.

Republicans hold majorities in the state House and Senate. Members of each party usually vote in blocs, but that seems likely to change.

Arizona is in the midst of Colorado River negotiations and will likely take a serious water cut.

Unlike other states in the Colorado River Basin, the plan will need to be approved by Arizona’s 90 state lawmakers. But, some legislative districts will be hit much harder than others.

At a local GOP meeting this week, Rep. Alexander Kolodin (R-Scottsdale) said party leaders are already worried about fracturing.

“There was a sheet that’s handed out by [GOP] leadership that’s talking about, ‘Oh no, we don’t want this to split the caucus and put the districts against each other,’” he said. “Meanwhile, all the members in the rural districts are trying to form their own negotiating party to deal with their own Colorado River stuff.”

“Guess who’s getting the shiv in the back? Us, if we’re not really careful," Kolodin told Republicans in his district.

Party fracturing isn't just a possibility for Republicans.

“When we do have to figure out which users take more cuts than others, I think that's where we will start to see the controversy and the concerns and perhaps some increased fighting occur,” Senate Minority Leader Priya Sundareshan (D-Tucson) said.

Typically lawmakers take their lead from a handful of leaders on water issues.

Sen. T.J. Shope (R-Coolidge) chairs the Senate Natural Resources Committee, where water bills are debated. He said most lawmakers don’t like to get into the weeds on water policy, but the Colorado River deal will be a key vote for each of the 90 lawmakers.

“It's probably the single — some of the biggest decisions that anybody will make in their entire legislative or gubernatorial career,” Shope said.

That vote could be years away.

The seven basin states who share the river water are not close to a deal. For the time being, all Arizona lawmakers are united in advocating for the best deal for the state.

If the state legislature can’t get a majority to support the Colorado River agreement, no one knows what will happen next. Shope said the matter would likely end up in court.