McCain backs away from report on renegotiating Colorado River Compact
By R. Scott Rappold, The Gazette
Published August 21, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Republican presidential hopeful John McCain reversed course Wednesday, saying he would not push Western states to renegotiate the Colorado River Compact, an idea that caused an uproar among Colorado politicians.
"Over my dead body," said Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo.
McCain backed away from comments published last week in the Pueblo Chieftain that suggested he would support renegotiating the 1922 compact that governs sharing of Colorado River water among seven Western states.
"I don't think there's any doubt the major, major issue is water and can be as important as oil. So the compact that is in effect, obviously, needs to be renegotiated over time amongst the interested parties," the newspaper quoted McCain saying in a story Friday.
In a letter Wednesday to Sen. Wayne Allard, a Colorado Republican with whom he has communicated frequently over the years on water issues, McCain wrote that his comments were "mistakenly construed" as a call to rescind the compact and begin new negotiations among the states.
"Let me be clear that I do not advocate renegotiation of the compact," McCain wrote. "I support constructive, continuing cooperation and dialogue among the states and the water users in a manner that is fully consistent with the compact."
Tom Kise, McCain spokesman in Colorado, said the letter speaks for itself, and he had no further comment.
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August 21, 2008
7:29 a.m.
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stevea writes:
Dontcha love it! "...the compact that is in effect, obviously, needs to be renegotiated" really means "I do not advocate renegotiation".
Pol-speak at its finest. The Other Irishman (O'Bama) is every bit as talented in this area as McCain, of course.
August 21, 2008
9:10 a.m.
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jbowen43 writes:
Flip Flop. Flip Flop.Flip Flop. Flip Flop.Flip Flop. Flip Flop.Flip Flop. Flip Flop.