Harry Mitchell dusts off J.D. Hayworth’s river bill
May 24th, 2007, 3:44 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Paul Giblin
Not only is Rep. Harry Mitchell using ex-Rep. J.D. Hayworth’s old office in Washington, now Mitchell is using Hayworth’s old bills.
Mitchell, D-Ariz., and Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., cosponsored the bipartisan Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Act on Thursday, according to Mitchell’s press office.
The measure is designed to create a long-term regional program to protect endangered species along the Lower Colorado River, while addressing Arizona’s, Nevada’s and California’s water and energy needs.
“This bill has been more than a decade in the making, and I believe it is a worthy, bipartisan compromise,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell’s former Republican opponent had a role in that decade-long process, Mitchell’s press office noted. Hayworth introduced the bill in the 109th Congress.
The legislation would:
– Protects 26 endangered, threatened and sensitive species on and along the lower Colorado River in Arizona, California and Nevada from Lake Mead to the U.S.-Mexico border for 50 years.
– Create more than 8,100 acres of riparian, marsh and backwater habitat for protected species, and stock more than 1.2 million fish to augment populations of two endangered fish.
– Condition continued operation of impacted water and power agencies on compliance with the MSCP’s environmental requirements.
– Direct the secretary of the Interior to manage and implement the MSCP.
Mitchell didn’t consult with Hayworth before re-introducing the legislation, because other members in both parties had worked on the measure before Hayworth became involved. Mitchell said he is familiar with the topic because worked on similar measures in the Arizona Legislature before winning Hayworth’s seat in the U.S. Congress.
Since losing the election in the fall, Hayworth has moved onto a radio gig with KFYI-550 AM.
